AUSTIN, TX -- National Instruments announced its 2011 Green Engineering Grant program, a worldwide competition to foster rapid design, prototyping and commercialization of promising new renewable energy, energy efficiency and smart grid systems.

Through the program, NI will donate up to $25,000 worth of its LabVIEW graphical system design software tools and training services to eligible startups to help advance clean energy development in applications such as solar, wind and biofuel technology. The 2011 program has a special focus on technologies that improve the smart grid and provide the foundation for a clean energy future.

"For more than 30 years, engineers and scientists around the world have used NI software and hardware to implement their world-changing innovations more quickly and efficiently," said Dr. James Truchard, president, CEO and cofounder. "The NI Green Engineering Grant program helps remove technological barriers by providing access to the training and tools needed to bring smart grid and renewable energy solutions to market."

The program has delivered software and training to more than 40 startups and small companies working on a variety of revolutionary renewable energy applications, the electronics design automation company said.

To register for the webcast and learn more about the program, visit ni.com/greengrant.