University Gap Funding and Accelerator Community News

The Purdue Innovates Incubator, through its Trask Innovation Fund, has awarded $100,000 to support the commercialization of two cutting-edge university innovations in spring 2025: a novel cancer therapy and a waterway management solution for the Panama Canal. The fund, managed by the Incubator, is designed to bridge the critical “valley

The University of Washington’s CoMotion and Population Health Initiative have announced the Spring 2025 Innovation Gap Fund winners, awarding $75,000 each to two research teams for a total of $150,000 in funding. The selected projects are strategically aligned with UW’s goals of advancing population health and driving sustainable commercial or

The Michigan State University (MSU) Research Foundation, in partnership with Michigan Virtual, has launched the Conquer EdTech Accelerator—a 10-week intensive program designed to support early-stage education technology startups focused on K-12 solutions. The accelerator is set to begin in Fall 2025 and is now accepting applications for companies with innovative

The Florida High Tech Corridor in partnership with University of South Florida Research & Innovation is pleased to announce the latest recipients of the Early-Stage Innovation Fund awards. This initiative supports pioneering research projects with significant commercial potential, providing each selected faculty-led team with up to $25,000 in seed funding to advance their innovations

A landmark federal court decision has halted the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) policy to cap indirect research cost reimbursements at 15% for universities, safeguarding billions in critical research funding. The NSF’s policy, announced in May, would have replaced individually negotiated rates—often between 50% and 65%—with a flat 15% cap, severely

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

GLASSBORO, N.J., June 12, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Rowan Innovation Venture Fund (RIVF) today announced the appointment of Garden State Venture Partners (GSVP) as its new management team, marking a significant milestone in the fund’s evolution. This leadership expansion brings together a seasoned group of investment and institutional professionals to

The UK government has announced a transformative £86 billion investment in science and technology, aimed at turbocharging the economy through innovation-driven growth and regional empowerment. This funding, set to reach over £22.5 billion annually by 2029/2030, forms a core part of the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and “Plan for Change.”

GAP Insights Summary: The latest report on the European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept (PoC) Grants underscores their outsized impact on innovation and commercialization, despite representing just 1% of the ERC’s total budget (€259 million from 2014–2023). Targeted exclusively at ERC grantees, these grants bridge the critical gap between