Event Type : Pathways Newsletter

The Space Edge Accelerator, a collaboration between the University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Blue Origin, Space Florida, Arizona State University and Vanderbilt University, will offer training to help innovators develop their space strategy, prepare to activate plans and compete for funding and flight opportunities. The 2024 Space Access for Biomedical Innovators program is a 12-week hybrid accelerator designed for researchers, entrepreneurs, and businesses interested in leveraging the unique space environment for biomedical R&D and manufacturing.

Participants will develop space strategies, gain skills for entering the space ecosystem, and network with experts to implement their plans. Participants must be based near one of the participating universities and meet the requirements of their Space-Edge hub.

To apply visit: https://www.space-edge.org/apply. Applications are due September 8, 2024

For more information visit space-edg.org. Or contact Jamie Foster.

The Space Force Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) Challenge, a joint project developed by various agencies including CTIO, HQ SAF, NSIN and more, invites Space Force Guardians to develop AI-driven solutions.

This hybrid-virtual hackathon offers participants opportunities to leverage Generative AI, participate in specialized training, and create impactful solutions to Space Force problems. Top participants will advance to a capstone event, where they will have the chance to pitch their innovative solutions to senior Space Force leaders.

The event kicks off in person at several locations and virtually through Teams, on September 12th at 12 pm EST. To attend the virtual event and learn more, click here.

OUP is hosting a webinar to introduce the Activate Fellowship, a two-year program that supports early-stage hard-tech entrepreneurs. The fellowship offers $100K in research funding, a $100K yearly stipend, entrepreneurial training, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

Eligible applicants must be leading the commercial development of a hardware-based technology innovation.

The webinar will take place on September 12th, 2024 at 1pm EST. Learn more about the fellowship on the Activate Application site, and register for the event here.

The NSIN Propel Maritime Digital Defense accelerator, in partnership with the U.S. Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR), invites U.S.-owned startups to collaborate to enhance the operational resilience of Industrial Control Systems (ICS) aboard U.S. Navy platforms.

This program seeks early-stage ventures with innovative technologies to secure ICS against cyber threats, ensuring minimal impact on DoD critical infrastructure. Participants will engage directly with DoD end-users, design pilots for national security applications, and connect with private investors and commercial partners.

Applications are due by September 13th, 2024. Application information can be accessed through the NSIN website here.

The NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs offer non-dilutive funding for groundbreaking, use-inspired research and development. These programs support startups and small businesses working on leading-edge technologies with potential societal impact, aiming to address major challenges through innovative solutions.

The programs exist for Phase I, Phase II & Fast-Track based on status of research investigation and previous funding awards.

Proposals are accepted multiple times a year. The final two deadlines for this year are September 18th and November 6th. To learn more about the different SBIR/STTR funding programs visit the general solicitation website.

Wolf Greenfield counsel Usha Parker and Ryan Van Olst are offering an intellectual property (IP) workshop in Washington, DC and virtually through Zoom. This workshop will cover the fundamentals of IP, including legal best practices, patent and trademark processes, and strategies to protect and maximize your IP’s appeal to investors.

This event is open to all and caters to early-stage companies and entrepreneurs interested in intellectual property basics.

The workshop will occur on September 19, 2024, at 4:00 PM. You can register for the virtual event here.

The NCI Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Innovative Concept Award offers $300,000 to small businesses developing transformative technologies for pediatric and rare cancers. This award is a contract funding opportunity that emphasizes highly innovative projects with the potential to establish new scientific paradigms to improve research, detection, prevention and care.

Proposals from eligible small businesses will be considered for the award. Participants are expected to participate in the NIH I-Corps program for entrepreneurial training.

Proposals must be submitted through the Contract Proposal Submission website by September 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Learn more about the award requirements and guidelines here.

OUP is hosting the second session of their two-part CEO recruitment series. OUP Managing Partner Matt Cohen will moderate a panel discussion focused on sourcing C-level candidates for your academic startup company. Panelists each come from different perspectives of the recruitment process – a talent partner at a startup studio, a serial academic startup founder, and a recruiter.

The event will occur virtually on September 24th, 2024, at 12 PM EST. Attendees can register for the event and submit their questions here.

This SBIR program under the Chemical and Biological Defense (CBD) Program invites proposals for innovative technologies addressing chemical and biological threats. This program seeks advancements in detection, protection, hazard mitigation, medical countermeasures, and digital systems to enhance defensive capabilities.

Proposals should align with the goals of improving military readiness and transitioning technologies to practical use. The deadline for submission is September 24^th, 2024. Access the full solicitation documents and instructions here or visit the DSIP Innovation Portal.

The American-Made Solar Prize, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), offers $4.2 million in prizes for innovative hardware and software solutions that enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. solar industry.

Competitors, including entrepreneurial individuals, teams, and organizations, can secure funding and networking opportunities through three core contests – Ready!, Set!, and Go!

Applications are due September 26^th, 2pm PDT. Learn more about the competition on the American Made Challenges website or apply on the official competition platform here.

The BIOPITCH competition, part of the Florida Innovation Conference hosted by BioFlorida, invites seed and early-stage life science companies to pitch their life science innovation. Ideal applicants are those developing products in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics digital health, health services or plant and animal sciences.

Companies, universities, incubators and research institutions are welcome to apply. Selected semi-finalists will pitch to top life science investors, gain high-profile exposure, and compete for awards at the conference in Orlando from November 18th to 20th, 2024.

The deadline to apply is September 27th, 2024. For more details visit the event website or apply here.

Shoots by Syngenta is hosting science-based challenges aimed at solving complex issues related to climate change, biodiversity, and agriculture. This opportunity invites academics, research institutes, startups, and cross-industry sectors to participate.

Challenges have various deadlines ranging from September 30th, 2024 and onward. For more information about the various challenge topics and application requirements, visit the challenge exploration webpage.

The E-Team Program, organized by the VentureWell Accelerator, is designed to support student ventures by providing up to $25,000 in grant funding, entrepreneurship training, and mentorship. This opportunity is for early-stage innovator teams aiming to address significant social, health, or environmental challenges. Teams must consist of at least two enrolled students and a faculty advisor.

The application deadline is October 2nd. Visit the VentureWell E-Team Program page to learn more or visit the FAQ webpage.

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) launches the Patch Forward Prize, a $50 million prize pool competition aimed at advancing microneedle patch-based RNA vaccines for COVID-19, seasonal influenza, and pandemic influenza. This opportunity is designed to propel patch-based vaccines toward Phase I clinical trials and is open to domestic and international legal entities.

The concept stage submission deadline is due October 3rd. Visit the FAQ page for more information or begin your application visit the competition website.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is inviting applications for the Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI) Mentored Entrepreneurial Career Development Award program. This program will provide three to five years of funded support and protected time in career development for early-career scientists in biomedical, social, or behavioral sciences. NIH will contribute up to $90,000 per year toward the salary of the career award recipient.

This K01 award offers intensive, supervised career advancement and entrepreneurial training to help participants transition to research independence. Ideal candidates are experienced postdoctoral researchers or junior faculty members interested in entrepreneurial careers in research areas supported by NIA.

Applications must be submitted by October 17^th, 2024. For more details about this funding opportunity announcement, click here.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is accepting applications for the Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI) Entrepreneurship Enhancement Award. This program supports the development of educational activities that enhance the entrepreneurial skillset of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career scientists in NIA relevant fields, such as aging and Alzheimer’s disease research. NIA intends to commit $700,000 in general NIA funding and $1.1 million in NIA AD/ADRD funding to support a total of 8-10 awards.

Participants will develop the skills necessary for diverse career paths beyond the traditional research environment. Deadline is October 17^th, 2024. Learn more about the award and application requirements on the grant website.

NASA Aeronautics invites teams to participate in the 2025 Blue Skies Competition, focused on identifying novel aviation systems to revolutionize the agriculture industry by 2035. This competition challenges teams to think beyond current mainstream technologies that could address critical agricultural needs, such as crop and livestock management, pest control, and weather prediction.

Open to students, senior capstone projects, clubs, and multi-university teams. Each team must include a faculty member as part of their submission.

The deadline for the Notification of Intent (NOI) is October 22, 2024. Learn more about the competition requirements and how to get started here.

The Health Entrepreneurial Leader Network, hosted by Babson College, is a collective hub for innovators and leaders focused on reducing drug misuse and addiction. This opportunity is ideal for innovators, researchers, entrepreneurial leaders, and professionals across various fields looking to connect within this commercialization ecosystem.

The next virtual meeting is on October 24^th. To learn more about this opportunity, visit the network application webpage.

The GLIDE program, created by ARPA-H, is seeking proposals to develop innovative therapies and interventions for lymphatic dysfunction. This initiative is designed to address both primary lymphatic diseases and chronic conditions associated with lymphatic issues. The program is open to universities, non-profits, and small businesses.

The proposal submission deadline is October 31^st 2024. For more details on the program and requirements click here.  

The ANA Innovation Awards, sponsored by Stryker, supports nurse-led innovations that improve patient safety outcomes.

The awards offer $25,000 for an individual nurse and $50,000 for a nurse-led team. The innovation categories include Care Delivery Models, Medical Device or Product, Educational Interventions, New Business, Program, or Service, Research, and Technology.

Applications for the next cycle of the ANA Innovation Awards are due by November 1st, 2024. Guidelines for applications can be found on the ANA Innovation Awards page.

To learn more about upcoming opportunities to click here.

ARPA-H offers funding opportunities throughout the year through transformative biomedical and health programs. These programs support innovative research and development in areas such as cancer therapy, viral efficacy, digital health security, precision surgery, and tissue regeneration.

Eligibility varies and often includes small businesses, research teams, and other life sciences innovators.There are multiple deadlines apply depending on the specific program. For detailed deadlines and application information, please visit the ARPA-H program site.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is accepting SBIR/STTR applications that focus on developing innovative biomaterials-based technologies with high commercialization potential. Applicants should be working on cutting-edge biomaterials, including AI-mediated design, tissue organoids, nanotechnology integration, and novel biomedical products relevant to heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) diseases.

Visit the SBIR notice webpage for more detailed application deadlines and guidelines.

Fostering the growth of a globally competitive and diverse research workforce and advancing the scientific and innovation skills of the Nation is a strategic objective of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF and Center for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration (BETA) housed in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) have entered into a partnership to support the training of graduate students to meet both the NSF’s strategic workforce development objectives as well the NIBIB’s mission to transform through engineering the understanding of disease and its prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment and NIBIB’s support of the next generation of diverse, interdisciplinary researchers across the career continuum.

Learn more about the internships being offered, submissions due any time.

As part of its robust portfolio of education and workforce development efforts, MLSC reminds our community that applications are open year-round for the their Internship Challenge, High School Apprenticeship Challenge, and Data Science Internship Programs. Opportunities abound for students and startups!

Click here for internship challenge. Click here for High School Apprenticeship Challenge. Click here for Data Science internship Program.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), in alignment with the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research, is issuing a Notice of Special Interest to receive research applications focused on diseases and health conditions that predominantly affect women, present and progress differently in women, or are female-specific.

Small business concerns developing new technologies that may improve the treatment, diagnosis, prevention, of conditions in female patients should apply through this NOSI. Applications are accepted through November 5th, 2027.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) invites Small Business Concerns (SBCs) to apply for SBIR/STTR grants to develop and commercialize technologies from the BRAIN Initiative. This opportunity supports the translation of innovative neurotechnologies from academia and small businesses into the marketplace to advance brain research.

Eligible applicants aiming to optimize, validate, and scale technologies may submit applications for the upcoming SBIR/STTR deadline on September 5, 2024. You can find more information about the grant here.

The Molecular Foundations for Sustainability: Sustainable Polymers Enabled by Emerging Data Analytics program (MFS-SPEED) is a cross-directorate funding call in response to The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 and the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. It is supported by the NSF Directorates for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) and Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP), and five industry partners: Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, BASF, Dow, and IBM.

The goal of MFS-SPEED is to support fundamental research enabling the accelerated discovery and ultimate manufacturing of sustainable polymers using state-of-the-art data science, and to enhance development of a cross-disciplinary workforce skilled in this area.

The total funding amount includes a $500,000 in-kind contribution from IBM in the form of Access to Accelerated Discovery services (SaaS, Software as a Service).

Learn more.