In partnership with LINK + LICENSE + LAUNCH, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties (VTIP) is seeking a second round of proposals from Virginia Tech researchers for Proof of Concept grants designed to help bridge the gap between Virginia Tech research and the commercialization of inventions from that research.

The submission deadline is Jan. 15, 2021, with an anticipated award date of Feb. 28, 2021.

The grants will combine up to $50,000 of funding and LAUNCH support services to validate technology and market applications and attract future funding, such as federal SBIR/STTR grants, NSF I-Corps grants, and seed funds. Grants will be made multiple times each calendar year. The intent of this program is to provide paths to market for technologies with potential for societal and economic benefit.

During the summer, five projects were awarded funds as a result of the first round of call for proposals. 

Visit the webpage to learn more to apply.

Submissions of Proof of Concept grant proposals will be made on a rolling basis, but evaluated in batches. In addition to the Jan. 15 deadline, there is an anticipated third call slated for the spring.

For additional questions, contact Mark Mondry, associate director of LAUNCH: The Center for New Ventures at mmondry@vt.edu.