The Office of Technology Development at the University of Southern Mississippi has created a new funding opportunity to advance innovations within the community. The purpose of the fund is to further the commercial potential of early-stage “dual-use” (military/civilian) technologies or innovations. Those technologies/innovations that are submitted to the USM Office of Technology Development by Mississippi-located defense companies will be eligible for review for funding.
Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that require prototype development or another next stage of validation to demonstrate the technology (device, software platform or software application) can work and is scalable. Funding targets research conducted through Department of Defense funding and has the potential for commercial applications. Projects should be those that have been or can be moved beyond the basic research stage by demonstrating technical feasibility and verifying that the technology can be placed into a suitable business model. With a relatively small amount of funding, the project should increase the value of the technology and make it suitable for further outside investment, out-licensing, or for forming a company start-up around the technology.
Award will be in the form of “innovation vouchers” that can be used with USM or USM-approved vendors. Award maximum funding for the first-round is $7,500 and will be awarded for projects up to five months in duration or for the duration of the grant, whichever comes first. Awardees of first-round funding will be eligible for one of three second-round funding opportunities of $7,500.
To view the full list of requirements, go to the Office of Technology Development web page.
All responses should be submitted via email to Pam Thornton at Pamela.M.Thornton@usm.edu no later than noon CT on Jan. 9, 2018. Only attached Microsoft Word compatible files or Adobe Acrobat PDF files will be accepted.
