Now in its 25th year, the program began late last month with the release of a solicitation calling on the nation's colleges and universities to propose new projects to enhance the long-term use of coal.

Proposals are due by December 4, 2003, and the department expects to name the winning projects in July 2004.

Academic institutions can submit proposals in one of three categories including:

A "Core Program" that will provide up to US$1.85 million for projects that complement ongoing applied research in the department's Fossil Energy program. A major focus of this year's core program is to carry out exploratory research that could benefit the President's FutureGen initiative - the world's first integrated sequestration and hydrogen production research power plant.

An "Innovative Concepts Phase I Program" that will offer US$0.60 million to projects that encourage "out-of-the-box" ideas that might lead to future breakthroughs

An "Innovative Concepts Phase II Program" that will provide approximately US$0.40 million to promising projects that were supported previously with Phase I funding.

This year DOE anticipates funding at least one proposal in each of the following focus areas within the core program: material for advanced fossil energy systems; sensors and controls; measurement and technology for gasification; mercury detection and control; solid oxide fuel cells sealing systems; and turbine combustion.