The 2025 Penn State Commercialization GAP Fund has awarded funding to eight innovative research projects, each targeting the critical stage between academic discovery and industry adoption. This competitive, university-wide initiative—funded by the Penn State Research Foundation and managed by the Office of Technology Transfer—provides up to $75,000 per project, along with commercialization support including intellectual property guidance, go-to-market strategies, and industry connections. The GAP Fund addresses the persistent funding gap that occurs after fundamental discoveries but before technologies are validated enough to attract industry investment. This year’s awardees span fields from healthcare and energy to materials science and recycling, highlighting Penn State’s commitment to translating research into impactful, market-ready solutions.
2025 GAP Fund Awardees and Focus Areas
•Lung Cancer Diagnostics: Improved bronchoscopy planning and guidance for better diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
•Energy-Efficient Data Centers: Software to optimize cooling, reducing energy consumption and costs.
•Smart Drilling Materials: Shape-memory materials for sealing fractures during drilling, enhancing safety and efficiency.
•Oral Health Innovation: Oral microbiome transplants to prevent dental decay by restoring healthy bacteria.
•E-Waste Recycling: Mechanical processes to recover valuable materials from electronic waste, making recycling safer and more cost-effective.
•Targeted Drug Delivery: Ultrasound-triggered hydrogels for precise, controlled medication release.
•Osteoarthritis Therapy: Regenerative treatment targeting inflammation to slow or reverse disease progression.
•Advanced Manufacturing for EVs: Cold sintering of soft magnetic composites for more efficient electric vehicle and power electronics production
Full story: Eight Penn State research commercialization projects awarded GAP funding | Penn State University
