Spring 2021 cycle Accelerator Award pre-proposals due Mar. 1

The Accelerator Awards program is now open for spring 2021 cycle pre-proposals, due March 1, 2021. The Accelerator Award program aims to generate the proof needed to advance Ohio State technologies to the point that they are either ready to be licensed by an Ohio-based startup company or are determined to be unfeasible for commercialization.

The program is funded by the Ohio Third Frontier Technology Validation and Start-up Fund (TVSF) and administered through Ohio State’s Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship. “Many discoveries are early stage and need additional funding to help advance the technology,” says Cheryl Turnbull, senior director of the Keenan Center. “If we can help bridge that gap, the technologies are better positioned for becoming a successful startup and ultimately improve lives.”

The Accelerator Awards fund milestone-driven projects designed to obtain the proof needed to license the technology to a startup company. All finalists invited to submit a full application will work with an industry expert to assist the PI in developing a commercialization-focused milestone plan. Applicants may request a total award of up to $100,000. Because biomedical technologies typically require greater resources, a total award for a proposal relating to a biomedical technology may be up to $150,000. The average award amount is expected to be about $75,000. Learn more about projects that were funded in a previous Accelerator Awards cycle.

During the 2021 academic year, there are two rounds of funding. Finalists for the fall RFP cycle will be notified by the end of January. Key dates for the spring cycle are noted below.