Kickstart Awards are a part of the MTRAC for Life Sciences Innovation Hub – a statewide program that accelerates the transfer of technologies from Michigan’s institutions of higher education to the private sector for commercialization.
Made possible by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, MTRAC for Life Sciences Innovation Hub, the U-M Medical School Office of Research, and the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR), Kickstart Awards offer early-stage funding to biomedical researchers across the state of Michigan. This award is aimed to enhance the commercial potential of a technology owned by any Michigan-based non-profit to the point of demonstration of utility and possible inclusion in the MTRAC for Life Sciences Innovation Hub or other research funding programs.
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The Kickstart Awards offer funding up to $42,500, with all awarded projects requiring a cost share from the investigator/institution. Proposals are reviewed and awarded semi-annually, with due dates on February 1 and August 1.
All interested researchers must complete a pre-submission application before submitting a full proposal.
Proposals must address a discrete milestone that is critical to the advancement of research to the point of product development. This milestone will increase the commercialization potential of the overall research project to the point where it can be considered a strong candidate for further translational research funding and ultimately commercialization. Examples include in-vivo testing, prototype development, beta development and testing, or drug-candidate pre-clinical work.