Funding Opportunities for Faculty

We provide funding opportunities to validate your technology and bring it to commercialization.

• CONCEPT VALIDATION THROUGH CUSTOMER DISCOVERY

  If you have an innovative idea or techology and want to increase the chances of successful commercialization the NSF I-Corps Workshop is for you.   

  • Dedicated Mentorship: Receive 1:1 mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs who will guide you through the Lean Launchpad methodology to see if your idea has market potential.
  • Transferable Business skills: Sharpen presentation skills, learn basic business concepts and how to effectively present your idea or technology to non-technical audiences.
  • Expanded Network: Connect with fellow innovators, industry experts, and potential customers, partners, investors, and stakeholders to validate your idea or technology through interviews.
  • Access to Funding: Upon completion, qualify for $50,000 in additional funding from the NSF and secure special preference for Proof of Concept grant funding of up to $35,000 through the Office of Technology Partnerships.

  Application for the NSF I-Corps Winter 2023 cohort is now open!

• INTENSIVE CONCEPT VALIDATION THROUGH CUSTOMER DISCOVERY

  If you have  completed the UCR NSF I-Corps workshops or are a recipient of NSF grants you are eligible for the I-Corps National Program.   

  • Funded by the National Science Foundation I-Corps.  

  • NSF provides $50,000.  

  • 7 week intensive workshop offered in National I-Corps sites across the country. 

  • For more information about participating in the NSF National program, visit the NSF I-Corps’ National Program site or contact us.

• PROOF OF CONCEPT FUNDING

  If you have an invention with commercial or business potential this grant is available to you.  

  • Funded by the UCR Research and Economic Development Office.   

  • We provide faculty with grants of up to $50,000. 

  • Funds can be used for prototyping or to conduct translational experiments to bring a technology closer to commercialization.  

  • Five to eight awards are distributed annually through a competitive process. 

  • For more information on the Proof of Concept funding, contact Brian Suh brian.suh@ucr.edu.  

  • Applications that have been validated through the I-Corps program secure special preference for Proof of Concept grant funding.

• NON-DILUTIVE FUNDING THROUGH THE FEDERAL SBIR/STTR PROGRAM

  Our SBIR/STTR Resource Center is here to help you develop and submit winning proposals.  

  • Programs are structured into 2 funded phases, with awards typically between $150,000 - $1,000,000.  

  • UCR’s SBIR/STTR Resource Center provides one on one mentorship and a robust training program that provides insights on preparing competitive proposals.  

  • For more information about preparing an SBIR or STTR proposal, contact Misty Madero misty.madero@ucr.edu.  

• VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDING

  If you have a UCR affiliated company you can apply for venture capital investment through the Highlander Venture Fund.   

  •  Investments between $250,000-$500,000. 

  • For more information about the Highlander Venture Fund, contact Scott Brovsky scott.brovsky@ucr.edu

External Funding Opportunities

• Industry and Sponsored Research Opportunities

  • The Gastric Cancer Foundation
    • Currently accepting applications from select institutions for new research grants of up to $100,000.
    • Due 06/15/2020
    • Applications can be forwarded by email to grants@gastriccancer.org.  Funding decisions will be announced in September 2020. 

  • Harrington Scholar-Innovator Award (all-disease programs)
    • M.D. required, open to physician-scientists in US and Canada.
    • LOI due 04/10/2020
    • If invited to submit full application, due 05/22/2020
    • $100,000 guaranteed; opportunity to qualify for up to $700,000
    • Dedicated drug discovery and development support
    • For more information, visit https://www.uhhospitals.org/harrington-discovery-institute/funding-and-programs/scholar-innovator

  • Alzheimer’s grant program with the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF-Harrington)
    • PhD or MD or equivalent required, open to researchers in US, UK, and Canada.
    • LOI due 05/18/2020
    • If invited to submit full application, due 08/10/2020
    • Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Of particular interest are targets related to proteostasis and neurovascular health.
    • Researchers working on drug development programs that are relevant to, but not presently focused on, the Alzheimer’s field are encouraged to apply.
    • Financial support of up to $600,000 over two years.
    • Dedicated drug discovery and development support.
    • For more information, visit https://www.uhhospitals.org/harrington-discovery-institute/funding-and-programs/alzheimers-drug-discovery-foundation-harrington-program

  • Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology – Global Research Outreach (GRO)
    • Call for 2020 proposals expected to be announced 04/05/2020
    • https://www.sait.samsung.co.kr/saithome/about/collabo_process.do

  • Baxter Research Awards in Water, https://www.halocures.com/research/water
    • Small, in-line sensor for detecting total chlorine in water
      • $150,000 to $300,000 in funding
      • Pre-proposal due 04/07/2020
      • https://www.halocures.com/research/water/detecting-chloramine-in-water
    • Small technology for removing total chlorine from water
      • $150,000 to $300,000 in funding
      • Pre-proposal due 04/07/2020
      • https://www.halocures.com/research/water/removing-chloramine-from-water
    • Low-maintenance technology for removing water hardness
      • $150,000 to $300,000 in funding
      • Pre-proposal due 04/06/2020
      • https://www.halocures.com/research/water/reducing-water-hardness

  • Facebook Research Awards, https://research.fb.com/programs/research-awards/
    • 2020 Networking request for proposals
      • Applications due 04/30/2020
      • https://research.fb.com/programs/research-awards/proposals/2020-networking-request-for-proposals/#About
    • AI Systems Hardware/Software Co-Design request for proposals
      • Applications due 04/30/2020
      • https://research.fb.com/programs/research-awards/proposals/ai-systems-hardware-software-co-design-request-for-proposals/
    • Foundational Integrity Research: Misinformation and Polarization request for proposals
      • Applications due 05/06/2020
      • https://research.fb.com/programs/research-awards/proposals/foundational-integrity-research-misinformation-and-polarization-request-for-proposals/
    • Statistics for Improving Insights, Models, and Decisions request for proposals
      • Applications due 04/29/2020
      • https://research.fb.com/programs/research-awards/proposals/statistics-for-improving-insights-models-and-decisions-request-for-proposals/
    • Economic Impact of Digital Technologies 
      • Applications due 05/20/2020
      • https://research.fb.com/programs/research-awards/proposals/economic-impact-of-digital-technologies-request-for-proposals/
    • Explorations of Trust in AR, VR, and Smart Devices
      • Applications due 06/12/2020
      • https://research.fb.com/programs/research-awards/proposals/explorations-of-trust-in-ar-vr-and-smart-devices-request-for-proposal/

  • Boston Scientific – Investigator-Sponsored Research Programs
    • Submissions are rolling
    • https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/investigator-sponsored-research.html

  • Amazon Web Services (AWS)
    • AWS is offering technical support and AWS promotional credits for diagnostic solution research
    • https://aws.amazon.com/government-education/nonprofits/disaster-response/diagnostic-dev-initiative/

  • SBIR/STTR Opportunity:  NSF Dear Colleague Letter on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
    • Eligibility:  US-based small businesses
    • Up to $256,000 for Phase I awards
    • Areas of Research:  artificial intelligence, digital health, diagnostics, distributed ledger, environmental technologies, medical devices, pharmaceutical technologies, disinfection and sterilization, and filtration and separations
    • Submit a project pitch – response for proposal initiation expected within 5 days
    • https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20052/nsf20052.jsp?org=NSF

Programs + Services

We provide you with an integrated approach to protect, validate and transfer intellectual property; secure industry collaborations and funded sponsorships; as well as obtain entrepreneurial education and start-up development support.

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND LICENSING

  We facilitate Intellectual Property (IP) protection and transfer for UCR researchers and faculty.

  Our services include:

  •  Invention evaluation
  •  Patent filing and prosecution
  •  IP marketing
  •  Licensing to startups or established companies
  •  Issuing of options to sponsors

  Learn more

• CORPORATE SPONSORED CONTRACTS

  We assist UCR researchers and industry with the legal elements that facilitate a successful funded research partnership. We also help UCR and community members with guidance to obtain federal research funding to advance their research toward commercialization.

  Our services include:

  • Contract Negotiation, preparation and management for sponsored research engagements to ensure both parties are aligned and protected. We look after the contract so that the focus remains on the research and the opportunities ahead.
  • Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) development to facilitate the shipping and receiving of research materials from and to UCR.
  • Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) development to facilitate potential research partnership and business discussions protecting confidential information.
  • Assistance navigating the application process for SBIR/STTR federal grants from the Small Business Administration. Our SBIR/STTR resource center offers guidance and expertise to maximize the chances of applicant success.

  Learn more

• ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT

  Our Entrepreneurship Proof of Concept and Innovation Center (EPIC) provides entrepreneurial education and start up formation support to entrepreneurs from UCR and the community.

  Our services include:

  • Entrepreneurial Training through structured programs such as the NSF I-Corps as well as ongoing workshops on topics from IP protection to startup funding delivered regularly by a team of industry experts.
  • Startup Mentorship to help future entrepreneurs, startups and small technology-focused businesses develop and succeed in the market. Our team of Entrepreneurs-in-Residence has deep experience mentoring and directly leading, creating, developing, growing and/or successfully selling their own startups.
  • Incubation at our local Riverside ExCITE incubator to help startups accelerate their development and growth in a dedicated co-working space where crosspollination and learning is facilitated by our team.

  Learn more