University of Iowa Accepting Pre-Proposals For Commercialization GAP Fund

The University of Iowa Research Foundation announced today that it will begin accepting applications for its Commercialization GAP fund program. The UIRF Gap Fund is a phenomenal example of a proof of concept and seed fund managed and sustained by university foundation/tech transfer management through a campus-wide integrated approach through its Centers for Enterprise programs.

University of Houston Professor Invents App to Diagnose Skin Cancer

The University of Houston division of research backed Dr. George Zouridakis with $50,000 in gap funding to support proof of concept work and to upgrade the app software for commercial application. Questions remain about the accessibility (or justification) of use by the general public with the associated cost of the necessary dermoscope hardware ($500). However, […]

MIT MISTI GLobal Seed Funds enable mult-disciplinary, multi-university collaboration

MISTI Global Seed Funds grants enable participating teams to spend time together, either at MIT or abroad, with the aim of developing and launching joint research projects. To date the funds have supported 304 projects through awards of $6M. This program is in line with the future vision of an open university approach with lower […]

TAKEOFF Seed Fund Launches in Malta

In Malta there is no shortage of good ideas for innovative products and services, nor is there a lack of talented people capable of taking these ideas to market. What is often missing is the practical support and initial funding necessary to take the innovations to a stage where they can attract investment or the […]

Life Sciences Discovery Fund Announces $1.25M In POC Awardes

SEATTLE, Washington, April 21, 2014 — Five for-profit and non-profit organizations in Washington will receive a total of $1.25 million in Proof of Concept grants to accelerate maturation of promising health-related technologies from ideas into commercial products, the Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) announced today. Also announced was a $300,000 Entrepreneur Mentoring Program grant to […]

Report challenges the role of public entities in innovation funding

Great example of what we are up against in securing continued innovation support from public entities. There is a natural, and understandable, tension in maintaining long-term commitment from sources that require tangible near-term, demonstrative impact for their supporters. It starts with shifting focus from a narrow, financial ROI mind-set to a larger discussion on community-building, […]

UK Tech-out Fund (TSF) Announces Up To £1M Loans to Spin-outs

Local Partnerships has launched a fund to provide public sector spin-outs with access to loans to invest in technology to improve health and social care services. The loans, which will range in value from £250,000 to £1 million, will help spin-outs gain access to finance that they would otherwise be unavailable to them in the […]