NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR PROSPECTIVE CENTERS
This year, the program has authorized a new program for university teams which are interested in becoming a Center of Excellence. The Centers of Excellence program is quite competitive and only a few new proposals are accepted on the "first try" each year, but proposing teams which receive Business Team help are far more likely to be successful with their proposals. This year, potential Centers are invited to apply for a Pre-Proposal Business Team Grant. Those selected will be assigned seasoned technology executives, paid by the program, to help them prepare the business and market portion of their proposal. To apply, click here.
October 16, 2006 - Application Deadline for the Pre-Proposal Business Team Grant Application. This is an exciting opportunity to have experienced business people, paid by the COE program, work with you to develop the business and market opportunity sections of a winning COE proposal.
Reminder: This is a NEW program aimed at helping prospective new university teams develop a successful Centers of Excellence proposal. This is ONLY for teams that did NOT apply to the program during the 2006-07 main solicitation which ended on March 14, 2006.
Successful applicants to the Pre-Proposal solicitation will receive the help of a seasoned technology executive, paid for by the Centers of Excellence program, who will assist in preparing the market and business information for a full application to the COE program for the 2007-08 fiscal year. Many successful Center Directors have indicated that getting seasoned business help to prepare the business and market portions of the proposal are VERY important.
Reminder: These instructions and the Associated Template are for use ONLY for those teams intending to submit a NEW proposal to the Centers of Excellence program for the 2007-08 year and who did NOT apply to the program for the 2006-07 year.
Due Date
Business Team Grant Proposals for FY 2006-2007 are due in the COEP office on or before 5 PM on October 16, 2006.
NEW this year: Please submit your proposal electronically ONLY. Please complete this proposal and return it IN PDF FORMAT ONLY to Sharon Cox via email (scox@utah.gov) ONLY (including all signatures). This form must be received by the Centers of Excellence Office on or before 5 PM on October 16, 2006. Any Questions on submissions may be directed to Sharon Cox (scox@utah.gov) or by phone at 801-538-8770.
Proposal Format
The proposal body should not exceed 10 pages (excluding the appendices, Table of Contents and the Executive Summary) and should be single-spaced, double-sided on 8 1/2 x 11" paper. Margins should be 1" top, bottom, and sides. Font size should be no smaller than 11-point Times or equivalent. Begin each main section on a new, right-sided page. Please include a Table of Contents. An Application Template is available.
Review Process
The Review of this Pre-Proposal Business Team Grant Application will be conducted by members of the Centers of Excellence Advisory Council based only on the paper Application and, upon their discretion, correspondence with the applying team. There will NOT be an in person presentation or review for this phase.
Matching Funds
No matching funds are required for Business Team Grants. No funds are paid directly to the university team, instead the state funds the business team member to work directly with the university team to develop the market and business portions of a full proposal to the Centers of Excellence program. Note that if a team receives a Business Team Grant, they are expected to submit a full proposal to the COE program for the 2007-08 fiscal year (deadline March 2007).
Updated Guidelines (Approved Feb. 13, 2006)
The Centers of Excellence Program fosters and supports the commercialization of technology from Utah's Colleges and Universities. Some researchers have a history of successful commercialization. New guidelines (approved by the SAC on 2/13/06) for the program clarify that researchers may return to the program for a new series of COE funding years, if they bring new technology that presents new market, business and licensing opportunities.
If the PI of this proposal has been a Director or co-Director of a Center previously, it is important to highlight that for the reviewers with particular emphasis on the successful outcome of the previous Center in helping to grow Utah's economy. If the previous Center was NOT successful in helping to build Utah's economy, for example the technology ended up out of state, the PI needs to explain the circumstances and identify ways that the current proposal has a higher likelihood of in-state successful commercialization.