Purdue’s Chiang to Helm U.S. Energy Innovation Foundation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 16, 2026 – Purdue University President Mung Chiang has been elected Chairman of the Board for the Foundation for Energy Security & Innovation (FESI), a pivotal appointment that places a renowned innovator and academic leader at the helm of America's strategy to accelerate energy technology from federal labs to the global marketplace.

Chiang, who has served on FESI's inaugural board since May 2024, now takes on a leadership role at the congressionally chartered nonprofit tasked with bolstering U.S. energy independence and technological leadership. His selection is seen by experts as a strategic move to energize FESI's mission of bridging the gap between government-funded research and commercial success.

An Architect of Innovation

Mung Chiang brings a rare and potent combination of experience from academia, industry, and government. Before becoming Purdue's president, he was a distinguished professor at Princeton University, where he founded the Princeton EDGE Lab in 2009. The lab became a nexus for translating theoretical networking research into practical applications, particularly in the early days of edge computing.

His entrepreneurial drive is not merely academic. Chiang co-founded several startups, including DataMi, which has provided mobile data solutions to over 60 million users worldwide, directly translating lab concepts into market-validated products. With 26 U.S. patents to his name, most of which are licensed for real-world deployment, his career has been defined by a focus on tangible impact. This background makes him uniquely suited to guide an organization focused on commercialization.

His experience extends to the highest levels of government. In 2020, he served as the science and technology adviser to the U.S. secretary of state, where he initiated tech diplomacy programs and advised on the economic security of global technology initiatives, including 5G networks and microelectronics. This role provided him a distinct perspective on the geopolitical stakes of technological leadership, a core concern for FESI.

"At a time when the United States must accelerate innovation to remain globally competitive, Mung's insight and leadership will be invaluable as FESI works to connect breakthrough technologies emerging from the DOE and national laboratories with the capital and partnerships needed to scale," said Rick Stockburger, Chief Executive Officer of FESI.

Bridging the 'Valley of Death'

FESI was established by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 to solve a persistent problem in the American innovation ecosystem: the so-called "valley of death." This is the perilous gap where promising technologies, proven in a lab, fail to attract the necessary funding and partnerships to become commercially viable products. While federal agencies like the Department of Energy (DOE) excel at funding early-stage research, and private venture capital often favors mature companies, many innovations perish in between.

As the official nonprofit partner of the DOE, FESI is designed to be a more agile and flexible entity. It can raise private and philanthropic funds, take calculated risks on emerging technologies, and build public-private partnerships that traditional government bodies cannot. Its mission is to be the critical bridge across that valley.

Since its inception, FESI has already begun to act on its mandate. Initial investments include supporting the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity (RMUC) Program to help secure the nation's electric grid and bolstering the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) to help startups scale from research to deployment. These early moves demonstrate a focus on both infrastructure resilience and fostering the next generation of energy companies.

"As a unique nonprofit organization working with the U.S. Department of Energy, FESI has a special role to play for America's energy security and innovation," said Chiang. "I am honored to serve alongside a distinguished board and a dedicated management team at the Foundation."

Charting a Course for America's Energy Future

Under Chiang's guidance, FESI is expected to prioritize a portfolio of technologies crucial for both national security and the clean energy transition. While remaining technology-neutral, its focus will likely align with national priorities and leverage Chiang's unique expertise. This includes grid modernization, where his background in networking and edge computing could accelerate the development of a smarter, more resilient electrical system.

Other potential focus areas include securing domestic supply chains for critical minerals, advancing next-generation geothermal and fusion energy, scaling up low-carbon hydrogen, and supporting advanced nuclear technologies like small modular reactors. The foundation's ability to create industry-led consortia can help tackle systemic challenges in these fields, moving them closer to market readiness.

With the U.S. making historic investments in clean energy through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, FESI's role as a commercialization engine is more critical than ever. The foundation ensures that these massive public investments translate into durable economic growth and a stronger domestic industrial base.

The Expanding Role of Academia in National Strategy

Chiang’s appointment also underscores a larger trend: the increasing integration of university leadership into national strategic planning. As President of Purdue, Chiang has championed the concept of a "Hard Tech Corridor" in Indiana, fostering deep partnerships between the university, industry, and government in critical sectors like microelectronics and aerospace. His leadership at FESI elevates this model to a national scale.

This reflects a growing recognition that universities are not just centers of basic research but are essential engines for economic development and national security. By placing a university president with a proven track record in entrepreneurship and tech diplomacy at the head of its board, FESI is signaling its intent to tightly couple the nation's academic prowess with its industrial and strategic ambitions.

This sentiment was echoed by the Department of Energy. "Dr. Mung Chiang's experience across academia, industry, and government makes him a strong choice to serve as Chairman of FESI's Board," said Dr. Darío Gil, Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy. "Together, we will continue strengthening the partnerships needed to move DOE-supported technologies from the lab to the marketplace."