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OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY Fall 2024
BIOBASED PRODUCTS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY – INNOVATION GRANT
Background
The Iowa Economic Development Authority and Governor Kim Reynolds have identified four bioscience platforms as key growth engines for Iowa’s economy. Iowa State University (ISU) is uniquely positioned to provide innovation leadership for three of the platforms – Biobased Products, Digital & Precision Agriculture, and Vaccines, Diagnostics, and Immunotherapeutics. ISU is working in partnership with BioConnect Iowa to establish nationally renowned innovation ecosystems in these Iowa-advantaged bioscience platforms, foster commercialization of new technologies and innovations, and help the state continue to grow and diversify its economy. To support these efforts, the state of Iowa has provided new funds to Iowa State University to work across university, industry, and government partners to accelerate transfer of technologies to commercial product development in these three large and growing markets.
The Biobased Products platform includes biobased chemicals and biomaterials, biofuels, biobased fertilizers, ag biologicals and biopesticides, alternative proteins, fermentation and nutritional products, carbon mitigation technologies and upcycling of waste and byproduct streams. A total of $600,000 in awards is available for this grant call.
Award Duration and Size: The projects are generally for 12 months with a maximum of $60,000 per project. Potential for follow-on funding based on progress and availability of funds.
Proposal Due Date: October 16, 2024
Eligibility
• Any applicant meeting ISU PI eligibility guidelines with a desire to develop commercial-relevant expertise in the above Biobased Products categories. Postdoctoral Associates and graduate students are encouraged to apply as Co-PI’s.
• Projects need a letter of support from partner company(s) that must either be headquartered in Iowa or have a significant footprint in the state.
Proposal Requirements and Considerations
The proposal should include the following components:
• The proposal should clearly state the goal of the biobased products innovation project including how the funding would be used to develop expertise and technology relevant to commercialization.
• The proposal should include a clear statement about the economic development potential and impact of the work related to the state of Iowa. This criterion can be met through, for example, the intended commercial product addressing an issue of particular importance within Iowa and/or product development or production providing economic benefit to the state through jobs, tax revenues, etc.
• There should also be a discussion of how the project will be leveraged to create follow-on funding either from the company(s) or through partnered proposals to other funding agencies.
• Special consideration will be given to applicants that are commercializing ISURF intellectual property.
• Special consideration will be given to project applicants that include prior participation or a commitment to participate in I-Corps or Startup Factory training programs.
• Applications from prior awardees are allowed, provided that prior reporting requirements have been met.
Applications
Proposals should be completed in Times New Roman or Palatino, 11-point font size, and not exceed three pages.
Additional documents required are (not part of the above 3-page limit):
1. Cover Page – Title, PI, Co-PI’s and company partner(s)
2. Budget and budget justification (one page)
3. CV of ISU PI (2-page)
4. Letter of Commitment from industrial partner(s) – Company commitments of significant value to the project will be reviewed favorably.
Application and Review Process
Please submit your application as a single, complete PDF file via the Smartsheet form linked HERE by October 16, 2024.
Proposals will be reviewed by a committee convened by the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), with membership including representation from the OVPR, ISU faculty, ISU EDIR, BioConnect Iowa, and industry representatives without conflicts.
Proposals will be evaluated on:
• Potential for impactful development in a Biobased Products scope area
• Project technical merit
• Commercialization potential for Iowa
• Potential for continuation of the work beyond the funding award
• Evidence of prior or commitment to other entrepreneurial activities, including IDF filing, ISURF patents, I-Corps and Startup Factory participation
Selections will be made no later than November 15, 2024. Please contact CTO Kevin Moore, [email protected], if you have any questions about this opportunity.
Reporting Requirements:
A final report will be due to the Office of the Vice President for Research at the completion of the project. The final report should outline progress toward stated goals. Potentially patentable results should include the filing of an Invention Property Disclosure and Record with the OIC. In addition, the final report should describe future plans. Award recipients will receive an email notification containing links to reporting templates several weeks in advance of the due date. Report narratives and supporting material will be submitted via Smartsheet.
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