The North Dakota Centers of Excellence Commission awarded funding requests for two Venture Grants, two Research ND grants and one Research ND BIO project totaling $1,277,924 at its meetings held February 21 and 28.
Research ND and Research ND BIO promote the development and commercialization of products and processes through industry/university research partnerships. Research ND provides matching funds to help companies pay for the university research.
Through Research ND and Research ND BIO, firms have the opportunity to leverage their research, development and commercialization funds and gain access to the creative talents and extensive research base of North Dakota’s Research Universities. Research ND and Research ND BIO matching funds are awarded on a competitive basis for projects based on proposals submitted jointly by researchers from a North Dakota research university and a private sector partner.
The Venture Grant Program is designed to help move university-developed technology into the marketplace through startup or spinout companies. The Venture Grant Program provides seed grants and matching funds to facilitate startup and spinout companies’ use of university technology.
The following awarded requests were funded:
Research ND BIO
UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences in partnership with Avianax was awarded $1,000,000 to assist in the research, development, and commercialization of novel therapeutic for parvovirus infection in puppies and dogs.
Research ND
UND John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences in partnership with AeroVironment, Inc was awarded $35,466 to study the effectiveness of AeroVironment Unmanned Aerial Systems platforms for use in law enforcement.
NDSU Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering in partnership with Pulsar Operational Boundaries, Inc. was awarded $42,935 to verify the effectiveness of UAS-mounted sensors in field crop and livestock production management.
Venture Grant Phase I
(This grant phase is used to determine the feasibility of building a business around university technology.)
UND Institute for Energy Studies, Petroleum Engineering was awarded $100,000 to address the feasibility and market potential of using sorbent technology for the separation and storage of natural gas and lean gas as an alternative to flaring in the Bakken.
NDSU Center for Surface Protection was awarded $99,523 to address the feasibility and market potential of utilizing NDSU anti-fouling coatings as a means to mitigate colonization of underwater structures, such as municipal and industrial water intake pipes, by zebra mussels.
The next deadline Research ND and Research ND BIO applications is May 23, 2014.
The overall goal of Research ND, Research ND BIO, FAST Track and the Venture Grant programs is to have a long term positive economic impact on the State and Private Sector through various means including, but not limited to; economic diversification, improved production factors, and the development of new markets. For additional information, please visit www.ResearchND.com.
