CWRU Technology Validation & Start-Up Fund Program (CTP)

CWRU Technology Validation & Start-Up Fund Program (CTP)

Key Deadlines:

• Pre-Proposal due Friday, March 22nd, 12:00pm                            
• Full Proposals due Monday, April 8th, 12:00pm

The Technology Validation and Start Fund (TVSF), funded by the Ohio Third Frontier, aims to accelerate and fund the translation of promising technologies into the marketplace through Ohio start-up companies with the eventual goal of creating greater economic growth.             

CWRU has received its third consecutive award of $500,000 from the Ohio Third Frontier, which is administered by the Technology Transfer Office as the CWRU TVSF Program (CTP) to advance a number of selected programs over a 12-month period.

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 start-up 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. 

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, which can include any of the following:                                                         

• Prototyping, scale-up, animal and/or clinical testing, addressing regulatory or                     reimbursement requirements        

Technology Focus Areas:

• All proposals must fall into the State of Ohio’s technology focus areas below:

• Biomedical/Life Sciences
• Advanced Materials
• Energy
• Software/Information Technology
• Sensors
• Advanced Manufacturing

Award Information

• Anticipated award type: Standard Grant with 1:1 cost match required by applicant
• Anticipated number of awards: 10 -12 per year at $50,000 - $100,000 each (includes cost match)                        
• Total CTP funding amount: $500,000 + $500,000 cost match by awardees
• Number of RFP’s: March 2019, June 2019, October 2019
• 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 cash commitment to the project.

• NIH funds and other State of Ohio grants do not qualify as cost match
  • Submitting an LOI to the Case-Coulter Translational Research Partnership does not qualify as cost match

• Funding Restrictions:
  • No more than 25% of the total project budget may be allocated to personnel costs.
  • 75% of budget must be spent with independent off-campus/3^rd party vendors
  • Indirect costs are not allowed