Background: The UMBC Office of Technology Development (OTD), under the Office of the Vice President for Research, is continually seeking ways to help bridge the funding gap - support that can be difficult to obtain from traditional funding sources. With support provided by the State of Maryland, we are happy to announce our annual Request for Proposals for the UMBC Technology Catalyst Fund, a source designed to advance innovations originating from UMBC research to more commercially viable technologies. Additional proof-of-concept studies, extending data collection and prototype development are examples of the essential steps needed to demonstrate commercial potential.
A total of $100,000 is available annually for this initiative. UMBC plans to make several awards up to $25,000. Projects will be funded at the level deemed necessary to achieve the goals outlined in the proposal. Awards will be for a six- to twelve- month period and only proposals that can demonstrate achievable milestones within that time period will be selected for funding. One-time, no-cost extensions may be granted, subject to approval by the review committee. No overhead will apply.
Requirements: All UMBC members with Principal Investigator status are eligible to apply as long as the technology to be developed has been previously disclosed to OTD. We welcome projects from all disciplines and encourage interdisciplinary collaborations.
Criteria: All
proposals will be reviewed by a committee comprised of internal and outside
reviewers from the business community, and will be held confidential. PI's
whose proposals are selected to continue onto the final round of evaluation
will be notified, and the PI will be invited to give a presentation to the
Review Committee.
The evaluation criteria will include factors such as:
-Significance of the market need and opportunity to impact the public.
-Competitive advantage the technology presents over current solutions.
-Probability that the project will result in additional funding or licensing.
- Probability that the research results will strengthen the patent position.
- Probability of reaching milestones within the time frame and budget.
Deadlines: OTD must be notified of your intent to submit a proposal by Friday, September 22, 2023. The final deadline for proposal submissions is Friday, October 13, 2023. Please be advised that several preliminary steps must be completed prior to final submission. Finalists must be available to present their proposals to the review committee on Friday, November 3, 2023. Awardees will be notified by the end of the year, with an anticipated starting date of January 8, 2024.
Contact: Interested applicants should contact Wendy Martin, Director, OTD at wmartin@umbc.edu to request the Proposal Process and Executive Summary Checklist and the Cover Form
]]>You can apply online by September 18, 2023.
What is AI4ALL Discover AI?
Earlier this year, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced an Outreach and Engagement Initiative for Aspiring Principal Investigators (PIs) with a goal to increase the number of cybersecurity education and workforce development-related proposals submitted to EDU programs by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs), and investigators who are underrepresented in accordance with NSF’s priority goals. The activities include webinars, 1-1 and small group mentoring sessions, and engaging non-profit organizations that support black communities in cybersecurity awareness and privacy issues.
As a designated Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), UMBC is eligible for this opportunity.
In continuation of this effort, NSF is organizing a virtual Aspiring PI Engagement Session on Sept 7, 2023, from 9:30 A.M. to 12:00 PM.
Registration is required: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EngagePI
Agenda
9:30 A.M. - Welcome (NSF)
9:40 A.M. - Introduction (Participants)
9:55 A.M. - Overview of NSF Programs of Interest (NSF)
10:15 A.M. - Break
10:30 A.M. - Panel Discussion of PIs with Active SFS and SaTC-Edu awards (Moderated by NSF)
11:30 A.M. - Breakout Rooms for Networking
12:00 P.M. - Path Forward and Conclusion (NSF)
12:30 P.M. - Adjourn
On Wednesday, September 6, a construction crane will be delivered on site near the end of Walker Ave. This crane will provide material delivery to the upper portions of the Library for the ongoing roof replacement project. The delivery is anticipated for the morning around 7 AM and construction staff will provide flaggers for the duration of delivery. The crane will remain on site for approximately one month and portions of the south sidewalk along Walker Ave. will be temporarily closed and two ZipCAR spaces will also be temporarily relocated along the same row of parking spaces. The contractor will provide appropriate pedestrian and vehicular signage. They will also provide a protected temporary pedestrian path while the sidewalk is closed.
A similar notice will be sent out for the crane removal from campus, once the exact date is confirmed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Jason Orozco (jorozco@umbc.edu).
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to improve our campus!