Overview and Program Goals
The Translational Opportunity Fund grant program provides funds to UO innovators for services, tools and other resources needed to successfully translate their research and launch new UO research-based startup companies. The three funding tiers of the program align with different stages in the innovation and company spinout trajectory.
In order to support economic development that is more fully equitable, The Translational Opportunity Fund particularly seeks applications from individuals that come from populations that are historically underrepresented in translational research and research-based entrepreneurship.
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Deadline: Rolling
Applications will be reviewed on the 1st and 15th of each month. An expedited application review may be requested.Eligibility
Awards can be made to a UO faculty/ research group, or to a UO research-based spinout no older than five years. Applicants may receive more than one Tier One or Tier Two award for different aspects of their commercialization effort.
Requirements to engage with Industry, Innovation, and Translation (IIT): Please see details within each program tier.
Applications are allowed from the following:
- UO tenure-track faculty: All tenure-track faculty members are eligible to apply.
- UO research faculty: Research faculty who hold a full-time appointment (.75+ FTE) that includes substantial research responsibilities, have been employed by the university for at least one year at the time of application, and will hold a UO appointment during the academic year of the research award may also apply.
- UO spinout company: Companies must be in good standing (e.g., corporate records and taxes are in good order, payments to UO, research collaborations with UO, any UO employees are current with COC/COI management plan), and the project must be related to UO IP optioned or licensed to the company.
- In addition to the above, for Tier Two applications (only): Prospective (internal) UO research-based spinout concepts/projects.
Note that students are not eligible to lead research groups but may be members of research groups. Students working on a Tier Three project are expected to prioritize their FTE to the project.
Review Process
Research Development Services will conduct an initial review to ensure that proposals are in compliance with all guidelines and confirm the Department/Unit head's approval of faculty applications. Proposals deemed non-compliant will not be reviewed further. The Associate Vice President for Innovation, the Associate Director of Industry, Innovation, and Translation (IIT), and a Research Development Officer will review proposals for funding and make recommendations to the Vice President for Research and Innovation, who makes the final funding decisions.
Reporting
A final report is required and must be submitted no later than one month (30 days) after the conclusion of the project period. Eligibility for other tiers or any other UO internal funding awards may be contingent upon the timely and successful submission of such reports.
Inquiries
Before applying to any tiers in this program, proposers should have an established relationship with the Innovation Partners office, either through prior consultation, an innovation disclosure, or the incorporation of a UO-based spinout company after pre-approval through a Conflict of Commitment-Conflict of Interest Management Plan.
Questions about the grant program should be directed to Jim Deane, Associate Director, Industry, Innovation, and Translation (IIT) jdeane@uoregon.edu and Mara Fields, Research Development Officer, Research Development Services mfields@uoregon.edu.
Tier One
This tier of funding addresses an immediate and well-defined need in support of developing an idea or company with high-growth potential. This tier supports the delivery of rapid resources to fill the gap for ongoing internal UO research commercialization projects or provide key services to support UO research-based spinout launch. This opportunity is designed to enable quick turnaround to support and facilitate innovation activities that are highly time-dependent.
Requirements to engage with Innovation Partners: Funding in this track for internal projects may be pre-IP disclosure but requires communication with Innovation Partners in advance of any application and establishment of a Project Management Plan. Spinout proposals must be in support of UO IP optioned or licensed to the company.
Budget and Use of Funds
Amount: Up to $10,000
Length of project: Up to 6 months
Allowable costs:
- Research and activities to confirm if spinning out is the appropriate next step. Examples include: pilots, prototyping, regulatory analysis, pitch documents, market analysis and validation.
- Business services to support spinout launch. Examples include: business research, legal services, accounting, SBIR development support, coaching, web design, and branding.
Ineligible costs:
- Replacing or funding tenure-line faculty salaries during the academic year
- Graduate student employee (GE) costs (salary, tuition, fees)
- Instructional release/course buyouts
- Construction or facility renovation
- Curriculum development or career development
- Dissertation research costs
See the guidelines above for required application materials, templates, submission process, and review criteria.
Tier Two
Goals and Objectives: The purpose of this award is to support activities to advance UO research-based spinouts with high growth potential that are in a later stage of development or require more funding than is available in Tier One.
Requirements to engage with Innovation Partners: Funding in this track requires an IP disclosure and active IP management prior to any application.
Budget and Use of Funds
Amount: Up to $25,000
Length of project: Up to 12 months
Allowable costs:
- Activities to confirm if spinning out is the appropriate next step. Examples include: pilots, prototyping, regulatory analysis, pitch documents, market analysis and validation.
- Business services to support spinout launch. Examples include: business research, legal services, accounting, SBIR development support, coaching, web design, or branding.
Ineligible costs:
- Replacing or fund tenure-line faculty salary during the academic year
- Graduate student employee (GE) costs (salary, tuition, fees)
- Instructional release/course buyouts
- Construction or facility renovation
- Curriculum development or career development
- Dissertation research costs
See the guidelines above for required application materials, templates, submission process, and review criteria.
Tier Three
Goals and Objectives: Tier Three awards allow established research teams or UO spinouts to take final steps from their basic research discoveries and transform them into an innovative commercial product or service. Innovations must be far enough along in their development that all basic research is complete. Translational research projects that are ready for a Tier Three application are those where the faculty has been working with an IP manager, and has disclosed (or is in process of disclosing) an innovation that the faculty and the Innovation Partners staff have determined has the potential to be a platform for disruptive innovation. In addition, the project must have a clear and feasible roadmap forward, and that both the Principal Investigator and Innovation Partners are on board with the process. Finally, the Mentor Catalyst will have been engaged with the design/plan/project as well.
Funding must be used to enhance the probability that pre-existing research discoveries will be transformed into new products and services, and awardees are expected to pursue additional funding with UO assistance to accelerate the impact of their research. Translational research activities represent a portal for entry into external sources of funding such as SBIR/STTR, industry funding, and state grant programs.
Successful Tier Three projects will lead to technologies, works (content, multimedia, etc.) or services that are strong candidates for further market analysis and potentially new venture creation catalyzed by participation in such programs as the West Coast I-Corps Hub, Onward Eugene’s ID8 Pre-accelerator, and other similar programs. In the language of some federal agencies, the application of TRA funds will be expected to increase the Technological Readiness Level (TRL) of the innovation.
Requirements to engage with Innovation Partners: Funding in this track requires an IP disclosure, active IP management, and consultation with UO’s Mentor Catalyst prior to any application.
Budget and Use of Funds
Download Tier Three Budget Template.
Amount: Between $50,000-$250,000, depending on the type of project proposed.
Length of project: 6- to 12-month maximum project period
Allowable costs
- Acquiring statistically meaningful proof-of-concept testing data or performance demonstrations
- Creation of a working prototype, or the creation of a next-generation prototype from an earlier version
- Create or extend intellectual property that will be licensed by a start-up or by an existing company
- Purchase or build equipment, or pay for a sub-contract, that is required to demonstrate the utility of the innovation
- Please note that salary support should align with the overall translational goals and long-term entrepreneurship activities. The Tier Three award is not intended to be used for salary replacement for Tenure-Track Faculty or for the indefinite extension of postdoctoral or graduate student presence on campus. Therefore, requested salary support should focus on specific contributions to the translational goals. Those individuals receiving salary support under TRA awards are expected to have a significant post-grant entrepreneurial role in this project (startup entrepreneurial lead, advisory board, etc.) and provide specific information supporting their interest and commitment to doing so.
Ineligible costs
- Funding to advance basic research (supplies, personnel, travel, etc.)
- Replacing or funding tenure-line faculty salary during the academic year/ course buyout
- Equipment that is general research equipment
- Travel to meetings, publication charges
- Patent fees (OVPRI supports patent and copyright protection through other operational funds)
- Construction or facility renovation
- Curriculum development or career development
- Dissertation research costs
- Market analysis or business plan creation (these are funded under Tier One and Tier Two)
See the guidelines above for required application materials, templates, submission process, and review criteria.