SBOE Idaho

Incubation Fund
Workshop
Office of Technology Transfer
Idaho Incubation Fund Program

The Idaho Incubation Fund is designed to

provide critical "gap" funding that will help
promising innovations and inventions that
have a high degree of commercial
potential to move forward to commercial
application.
What is GAP Funding?

The final infusion of funds for

additional research or prototype
development that will make the
innovation or invention market-
phase ready or as the basis for a
new company start-up.
Why is GAP funding used?
o Most university innovations are early
stage

o Very little external funding available for

applied research

o Companies/individuals tend not to invest

in early stage innovations

Gap funding creates the proof of concept

and reduces the investment risk
What is the SBOE GAP Fund?
The Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE)
has made monies available to support
innovations that are:

1) developed at the Idaho universities,

2) have a high chance of commercialization,

and

3) where GAP funding can accelerate the

commercialization process.
Origination of the SBOE GAP Fund
From the Higher Education Research
Council (HERC) believing that GAP money
is needed

1) to fully realized the potential of

innovation advances from the universities,

2) to meet the expectations of

stakeholders, and

3) to create opportunities for retaining

students within Idaho after graduation.
Who is Eligible?
Researchers at:

o Boise State University

o Idaho State University
o Lewis-Clark State University
o University of Idaho
Award Sizes
Highest ranking proposals will be
funded up to the level of funding
available.

Most projects will be funded in the

range of $10,000 - $50,000 per
project for a period not to exceed 12
months.
OTT Goals and Expectations
Researchers and project teams at
University of Idaho should establish a
long-term team relationship with OTT to
develop and submit a proposal.

Types of projects that would tend to fit

in the GAP funding criteria include:

Prototype development
Software completion
Beta testing
Scale-up of process
Proposal Submission Through the
University of Idaho
1) First meet with OTT to discuss research
idea and submit preproposal.

2) Upon OTT invitation, assign technology

to University.

3) Work with OTT as a team to develop

full proposal.

4) Submit full proposal through OTT to

SBOE GAP Fund.
Submission Timeline
1) Pre-proposal due to OTT 8:00 am October 18, 2010

2) OTT respond to pre-proposal with invitation to submit

full proposal 5:00 pm October 18, 2010

3) OTT and Investigator prepare full proposal and submit

for internal review by November 15, 2010

4) Selected full proposals submitted to HERC for external

review by December 6, 2010

5) External review results to HERC by January 7, 2010

6) HERC recommendations to Board for approval

February 16, 2010
Pre-proposal Content

Brief description of the innovation

Describe the innovations current state
Identify the potential product/service
Identify potential customers
Identify any commercialization partners
Briefly describe how the requested funds
will be used
Pre-proposal review

Pre-proposals due to OTT@uidaho.edu no

later than 8:00 am Monday, October 18,
2010
Gut Check!
Is there a product/service?
Does innovation meet customer need?
Can this funding get it ready for Angel level
funding?
Full proposal invitation EOB October 18
Full Proposal Format (10 page limit)

Executive Summary
Gap Project Objective & Total Requested
Name of Idaho public institution
Name of faculty member directing project
Description how project reflects priorities
of UI
Evidence of potential impact on economy
of Idaho
Partnerships or new company formation
Proposal Format (10 page total)

The Market Opportunity

The Technology
Commercialization Partners
Specific Project Plan and Detailed Use of
Funds
Education and Outreach
Institutional and Other Sector Support
Appendices
OTT will assist in determining Market
Opportunity such as:

Market need
Customer / end-user
Is innovation better, faster and/or
cheaper than current products/services?
Market barriers
Market drivers
Competitive climate
Etc
Full Proposal Review
Fullproposal received at ott@uidaho.edu
by EOB November 15, 2010
Internal Review Team
Satisfies Intent
Clearly describes Market Opportunity
Clearly demonstrates viability of Innovation
Believable plan for Commercialization Partners
Specific Project Plan
Recommendations for external review by
December 6, 2010
External Review
Overseen by HERC
Coordinated by the Idaho Technology
Council
HERCs recommendation to Board in time
for February 16 17 meeting.
Funding should be available shortly after
February 17.
Awarded Proposals
Business Plan Development
On-going review with OTT
Mentors
Commercialization partners
Licensing
Revenue sharing