The preferred web browser for submitting internal grant applications is Google Chrome. 

NOTE: 

Category A and E applications should be created by the Tech Manager. The faculty inventor and and MSUT Grant Administrator, Weian Ou, should be added to the proposal as collaborators and given view and edit access. This can be done once the application has been created (under the collaborator tab located on the left side of the application menu). 

Category B, C, and D applications should be created by the faculty inventor. The Tech Manager and MSUT Grant Administrator, Weian Ou, should be added to the proposal as collaborators and given view and edit access. This can be done once the application has been created (under the collaborator tab located on the left side of the application menu). 

Objectives

The creation of MSU Technologies (MSUT) has enabled the implementation of a comprehensive process for commercial assessment of MSU’s patent estate and its intellectual properties related to future technology disclosures by MSU inventors. This ongoing essential function is the basis for identification and prioritization of inventions with commercial potential and triggers strategic business development operations within MSUT ranging from technology licensure to new company creation. The Targeted Support Grants for Technology Development (TSGTD) program is intended to leverage the commercial assessment of all disclosed MSU technologies (TECs) to identify and prioritize those demonstrating potential for commercial development and to provide support to generate new information to overcome gaps limiting business development.

The TSGTD program at MSU will provide timely funding for the enhancement, optimization and/or other development of selected technologies that have commercial potential as identified by MSUT Management and Tech Managers on an ongoing basis. As such, these grants should accelerate the process of transforming promising technologies into products that are responsive to market demand. If appropriately targeted and leveraged, they should increase the commercial value of technologies and enable MSU to retain a greater share of ownership by providing “in-house” funding for their development. TSGTD support is also intended to supplement and synergize with concurrent business development activities by MSUT staff with potential commercial customers on behalf of MSU inventors.

The amount and duration of funding by this mechanism for individual projects will depend on the relative commercial priority assigned, the availability of alternative research funds, total costs requested, and the estimated requirements and milestones to achieve or enhance commercial viability. The use of discretionary funds for the TSGTD initiative by the Office of Research and Innovation (OR&I) emphasizes the commitment of this office to commercially leverage MSU’s IP estate and rich technological potential campus-wide.

The nomination, application and review processes leading to TSGTD awards (as detailed below) have been designed to be completed expeditiously and responsive to opportunities on an ongoing basis. As such, applications can be submitted to this program at any time and serve to support projects for which other sources of support are unavailable, limited or only awarded periodically.

Categories of TSGTD Awards - Funding Allocations, Timelines and Review Process

TSGTD funds are available to support all MSU disclosed technologies contingent upon achievement of intellectual property (provisional or issued patents) and perceived commercial viability. This program is sufficiently funded by the OR&I to enable multiple awards at any time throughout the fiscal year. A major determinant of funding of submitted applications is a demonstration that TSGTD support will sufficiently address technical gaps of information required to enable commercial interest and business development activities. Based on the maturity of the TEC and extent of new information required, separate categories of TSGTD applications provide variable levels of funding and timelines for project completion. Narrow commercial or research milestones managed by MSUT staff are supported by Category A awards, while greater levels of support for more complex research plans are facilitated by Category B or C awards to MSU inventors. Category D applications are designed for collaborative projects conducted with corporate partners. The approximate levels of funding, timelines for project completion, and the review process for each category are shown below.

Category A Awards

• Generally, < $10,000 awarded, but larger amounts are possible in exceptional cases
• Research or commercialization activities are managed by MSUT staff  
• Immediate or short (2 months) timeline for completion
• Direct payments to MSUT without peer-review

Category B Awards

• Generally, < $20,000 awards
• Focused scope of work; includes technical goals
• TEC screening or commercial assessment is a pre-requisite for funding
• Timeline for completion is generally < 3 months
• Payments support inventor activities and research goals
• Applications are peer-reviewed and funding recommended by the TSGTD Research Review Committee

Category C Awards

• Awards range from $20,000 to $100,000 dependent on complexity of experimental plans
• Work scope and research aims are required to address technical gaps limiting commercial translation
• TEC screening or commercial assessment is a pre-requisite for funding
• Timeline for completion ranges from 6 months to 1 year
• Payments support inventor activities and research goals
• Applications are peer-reviewed and funding recommended by the TSGTD Research Review Committee

Category D Awards

• Involve collaborative work and contributions by MSU inventors and a corporate partner
• Awards range from $50,000 to > $100,000 including contributions by a corporate partner
• Work scope and research aims are required to address technical gaps limiting commercial translation, specifically of high interest to the corporate partner to enable business options and negotiations
• TEC screening or commercial assessment is a pre-requisite for funding
• Timeline for completion ranges from 6 months to 1 year, with options for renewal in a subsequent fiscal year
• MSU payments support inventor activities and research goals in addition to in-kind or $$ support from corporate partners
• Applications are peer-reviewed and funding recommended by the TSGTD Research Review Committee

Category E Awards (Copyright Development Fund)

• Innovative and commercially viable copyright-related TEC (software or non-software)
• Generally, < $15,000 awarded, but larger amounts are possible in exceptional cases (likely with peer review)
• Research or commercialization activities are managed by MSUT staff  
• 12 months or less timeline for completion
• Application should include information on the commercial opportunity and development milestones
• Typically direct payments to MSUT without peer-review

Eligibility and Qualifications

Qualifications for nomination include: evidence of intellectual property protection (IP) or potential for the same (filing of a provisional patent or an issued patent) and a completed assessment of the potential for commercial translation of the technology proposed for funding (a completed Technology Screen generated within MSUT or a formal commercial assessment conducted externally). Only under exceptional circumstances will applications be accepted for review submitted without patent protection and/or a commercial evaluation, unless a written explanation is provided. As an example, a Category A application could be accepted if its objective was to pay for processing of a patent filing itself, in turn, as a basis for IP viability and eligibility for future TSGTD applications. Technology Screens should be reported using a standard template on file in MSUT.  Commercial evaluations of TECs leading to TSGTD submissions should demonstrate that:

• The underlying science or technological concept is valid and of high merit
• The IP rights for MSU are protected
• There is evidence of commercial markets and/or interest of specific technology companies for this TEC or technological field
• Commercial assessments have identified technological gaps of information needed to enhance business development opportunities with commercial entities
• TSGTD support if provided, would/could sufficiently eliminate technological gaps, thus enabling commercial contacts and enhancing business development opportunities

Nomination and Application

Nomination Process:

MSUT Tech Managers will identify technologies to be nominated for TSGTD funding. Nominations will be based on eligibility criteria dependent on commercial assessment data, in addition to other considerations of commercial potential and development strategies. The Executive Director of MSUT will review and approve nominations prior to formal application processing and requests for funding.

Application Process:

For Category A project applications, Tech Mangers complete Category A templates to be submitted to the TSGTD RRC Chair in the OR&I after approval by the MSUT Executive Director. Executive RRC funding recommendations enable payments directly to MSUT, and the Tech Manager manages operations of the project 

For Category B-D applications, the Inventor(s) must complete a nomination application including research plans together with the MSUT Tech Manager. These are submitted to the OR&I grant administrator (buellm@msu.edu) and the RRC Chair (ander507@msu.edu) for peer review processing after approval by the MSUT Executive Director. Category D applications require an additional authorized signature and/or letter of support from the corporate entity collaborating on the project.  

Etransmittals are required for all nominations to be submitted by the MSUT Grants Manger.

Application Review Process

The MSU OR&I is the governing entity responsible for evaluating and funding TSGTD applications submitted by MSUT Tech managers. A confidential peer-review process is conducted by administrative staff together with the Chair of the TSGTD Research Review Committee (RRC) within the OR&I. The Chair identifies internal (MSU) experts and/or external authoritative reviewers to assemble a specific virtual RRC panel review for each application. Formal critiques are solicited by RRC Chair using a template/scorecard and instructions on file in the OR&I. Completed critiques are compiled and summarized by the RRC, who in turn, forwards funding recommendations to the OR&I. As for most scientific grant in aid programs review criteria for TSGTD awards include the technical strengths and weaknesses of the research plan including the capabilities of the inventor applicant. However, most importantly, TSGTD applications must demonstrate how support will enhance commercial opportunities for MSUT. The following evaluation criteria are among those considered by the RRC panel when determining fundability of applications:

• Potential long-term impact and likelihood that funding will stimulate broader discoveries in an emerging high impact and priority commercial area in which the inventor is or will be a leader
• The availability of alternative funding sources to support the project which may indirectly synergize with TSGTD project support but are not redundant in terms of funding for the same work scope
• An understanding of a technology’s “real world value”, including translational applications, current or future markets and competitive landscapes
• Possible strategies, tactics and costs for achieving commercial success of the overall project
• Potential licensees and specific enabling elements to achieve business development goals for the project
• Opportunities or need for creation of “incubator” infrastructure supports or “start up” companies
• Opportunities to attract external investments of venture capitalists towards short term commercial objectives and long-term efforts to grow emerging technology areas within MSU

Award Notice

The TSGTD RRC will forward recommendations for funding to the OR&I for consideration. For projects approved for funding, an award announcement and expensing and reporting guidelines will be disseminated from the OR&I to the inventor, their fiscal officer, and the MSUT Tech Manager. Disapproved applications will be returned to the review committee to consider alternative application options together with the inventor and MSUT.

Reporting Requirements:

A Final Report documenting progress and/or completion of research goals by the inventor, remaining technical gaps requiring future support, and the status of ongoing commercialization activities and potential business development plans. For Category C or D projects awarded >$50K, an oral presentation to OR&I, MSUT and MSU Innovation Center management is required annually. The format for presentations by inventors and Tech Managers is on file in the OR&I. 

TSGTD Grant Program Contacts

OR&I

Melissa Buell; Grants Administrator - buell@msu.edu

Donald C Anderson MD; Chair, TSGTD Research Review Committee - ander507@msu.edu

MSUT

Weian Ou; Program Grant Manager – ouweian@msu.edu