The University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) is announcing a call for submissions for the twelfth annual UTRF Technology Maturation Grant program. The annual maturation program aims to assist researches in advancing new technologies on the path to market by awarding up to $15,000 in direct costs to the highest ranking proposals. The program is open to researchers, faculty, staff, and students across all University of Tennessee campuses and institutes. Proposals are due to your Campus Research Office by 5:00 p.m., October 24, 2019.
Please note the new format: All applications must use the official UTRF Technology Maturation Grant Proposal template.
Guidelines
- Open to all UT researchers, faculty, staff and students at all campuses and institutes.
- Projects must be related to an existing UT invention disclosure, OR a proposal can be accompanied by a new UT invention/creation disclosure. (Visit idea.tennessee.edu to submit a new invention disclosure.)
- All proposals should clearly respond to the four questions.
- Proposals that only generate basic research results should not be submitted.
Proposal Requirements
- NEW FORMAT: Please read the application overview and complete the UTRF Technology Maturation Grant Proposal application. Other forms of submission will not be accepted.
- The proposal should not exceed 2 pages, excluding references and figures. One page of references and one page of figures may be included as appendices. Half a page is allotted for each question on the application. Therefore, the proposal plus the appendices must not exceed 4 pages.
- The proposal should be received by the campus-specific research office (through CayuseSP/Evisions) by 5:00 p.m., October 24, 2019. Do not submit directly to UTRF.
Judging Criteria
A panel of technical and business experts from inside and outside of the university will rank-order projects based on the following criteria:
- Demonstration of a Path for Commercial Development
- Market Potential
- Stage of Development
Examples of Eligible Projects
Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to:
- Establishment of application or proof-of-concept.
- Prototype development.
- Addressing specific questions or suggested improvements from potential licensees.
- Meaningfully improving intellectual property related to a technology.
Important Dates
printable pdfs:
UTRF Technology Maturation Grant Proposal
Health Science Center Office Overview
Multi Campus Office Overview
| Proposal receipt by your Research Office | Oct. 24, 2019, at 5 p.m. |
| Awards announced on or before | Dec. 4, 2019 |
| Project start date | Jan. 7, 2020 |
| Project completion date | Oct. 2, 2020 |
| Final report due | Oct. 26, 2020 |
Past Winners
To date, more than $1,000,000 in awards has been made to more than 90 projects.