Case Technology Validation and Startup Fund Program (CTP)

Funded by the Ohio Third Frontier, the Technology Validation and Startup Fund aims to accelerate and fund the translation of promising technologies into the marketplace through Ohio startup companies with the eventual goal of creating greater economic growth.

Case Western Reserve University is the only institution in Ohio to have received eight consecutive awards of $500,000 per year, administered by the Technology Transfer Office to advance a number of selected programs over a 12-month period. This process occurs through the Case Technology Validation and Startup Fund Program (CTP).

The CTP is intended to be the final bridge between a translational research project and a viable commercial program. Funding will support technologies that require validation/proof that will directly impact and enhance commercial viability and the ability to support a startup company. Projects must have already advanced beyond basic research and should have the equivalent of a laboratory-scale proof of concept prior to applying for funding.

How It Works

Applicants are encouraged to work with potential Ohio licensees and business advisors prior to submitting an application in order to identify critical needs for the technology. Paramount importance will be placed on customer discovery, whether in the form of industry partners or potential end users. Specific milestones related to enhancing valuation and reducing risk should be defined.

Key Information

There are two cycles for the CTP each year: One focused on biomedical, life sciences, and healthcare projects and another focused on non-biomedical and engineering and physical sciences projects.

Submission Process

All submissions for CTP grants will be directly administered by the Technology Transfer Office at CWRU with oversight from the Ohio Third Frontier.

• Step 1: Complete the (CTP) Pre-Proposal Template and submit it to Walid Jalabi, CTP program director, at wxj68@case.edu.
• Step 2: Qualified proposals will be chosen to advance to the full-proposal stage. Each applicant will be contacted individually.

For specific deadlines and request for proposal (RFP) directions, review the table below.

Proposal Information and Deadlines

Award Details

• Anticipated award type: Standard Grant with 1:1 cost match
• Anticipated number of awards: 10-12 per year at $50,000 - $150,000 each (includes cost match)
• Funding period per project: 1 year
• Funding start date: 1-2 months after submission of full proposal
• Cost Match Requirement: cash cost share commitment of at least one dollar for every dollar of project funds requested (i.e., a ratio of 1:1) and must represent a specific new, 
• unrestricted (non-government funding) cash commitment to the project
• Funding Restrictions:
  • Eligible expenses include: personnel time, purchased services from vendors outside of CWRU, supplies, equipment
  • At least 50% of the total budget should be allocated to independent, off-campus, third-party vendors, preferably located in Ohio
  • Personnel expenses cannot exceed 50% of the total budget
  • Indirect costs are not allowed
  • Travel expenses are not allowed

Eligibility

• Applicants must be full-time CWRU faculty, or have joint appointments between CWRU and any of the following hospitals: University Hospitals, VA Medical Center or Metro Health Systems
  Applicants must have at least a provisional patent application on file related to the project with the CWRU Technology Transfer Office
  Priority will be given to projects that have had previous funding from one of the following Translational Research Funding Programs or have been pre-vetted by one of CWRU's affiliated Validation Programs, listed below:

Translational Research Funding Programs

• Case-Coulter Translational Research Program (CCTRP)
• Council to Advance Human Health (CAHH)
• NIH Center for Accelerated Innovations (NCAI)
• Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC)
• Harrington Discovery Institute (HDI)
• High Throughput Screening Program
• OFRN / ARPA-E / Other DOD or DOE

Validation Programs

• Research and Technology Commercialization Visiting Committee (RTCVC)
  I-Corps
  Great Lakes Energy Institute (GLEI)
  JumpStart Venture Validation Program (VVP)
  Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center (TBEIC)

University Contact

If you have any questions about the process, we’re here to help.