Event Type : Pathways Newsletter

The AI Open Innovation Challenge (AIOIC), in collaboration with Enterprise Singapore and Agorize, provides a global platform for startups and SMEs to showcase their AI expertise and drive the next wave of innovation. This challenge focuses on AI applications for operational efficiency, guest experience, social and environmental impact, and surveillance and security, offering an opportunity to push the boundaries of AI technology. Participants will have access to over $550,000 in paid trials and grant support, along with mentorship from leading technical partners, including Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud.

This opportunity is open to startups and SMEs specializing in AI solutions. Applications are due by February 10, 2025. For more details and to apply, visit the AIOIC website.

America’s Seed Fund Week 2025, a free online event, kicks off with a Virtual Road Tour to connect entrepreneurs with the nation’s largest source of early-stage funding. America’s Seed Fund provides $4 billion annually to help startups take their technologies from R&D to commercialization. 

Attendees will learn the basics of America’s Seed Fund, understand evaluation processes, and engage with federal agency representatives to start their funding journey.

The online event will run from February 11th-13th, 2024. To learn more and register, visit the America Seed Fund website.

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) hosts an Student Showcase, an annual event celebrating exceptional student inventors and a platform for student innovators to present their groundbreaking ideas to leading inventors, university leaders, and industry experts.

As a part of the event the Genspiration Prize, awarded by the Genspiration Foundation and NAI, recognizing excellence in student innovation with significant societal impact. 

University Prize winners will receive a $5,000 cash award to further develop their innovation. Teams and individuals are welcome to apply, with up to three team members eligible to attend the Annual Conference if selected.To qualify, university inventors must be enrolled at an NAI Member Institution and must submit an endorsement from their faculty advisor. 

Applications are due by February 11th, 2025. For more details on the Genspiration Prize visit the Academy of Inventors webpage.

The GHP PATHs Prize, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy, offers a total of $3 million to accelerate the hiring, certification, and training of geothermal heat pump (GHP) workers. Open to U.S.-based individuals, teams, and organizations, the competition consists of three phases—Connect, Engage, and Execute—with cash awards for successful workforce development solutions. Participants will build partnerships, identify workforce gaps, and implement sustainable training and hiring programs.

Applications are accepted up until February 12th, 2025. For details and to apply, visit the American-Made Challenges website.

​​The U.S. Department of State, through its U.S.-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership (USASCP), is offering the Smart Cities Business Innovation Fund 2.0, a $3 million initiative designed to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in ASEAN member states. Track 2 of this program focuses on partnerships between ASEAN entities and Singaporean companies to develop innovative, carbon-neutral solutions to urban challenges.

Applicants will submit a joint narrative and itemized budget via the application portal, while Enterprise Singapore will provide supplementary funding to the Singaporean partner. This opportunity is ideal for MSMEs, NGOs, and universities in ASEAN nations collaborating with Singaporean companies to tackle pressing urban sustainability issues.

The application deadline for Track 2 is February 15, 2025. For more details, including access to templates and resources, visit the Request for Proposals page.

The Nurse Innovation Fellowship, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and powered by Penn Nursing and the Wharton School, is now accepting applications for its one-year, team-based program. This groundbreaking fellowship is designed for Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs), nurse executives, and senior nurse leaders to cultivate nurse-led innovation and leadership within healthcare systems, ultimately fostering transformative change for both nurses and patients.

The program blends human-centered design and design thinking principles from Penn Nursing with business acumen, change management, and strategic leadership training from Wharton Executive Education. Over the year, two nurse leaders from 15 U.S. health systems will tackle real-world healthcare challenges and pitch innovative solutions for implementation in their organizations. Must be regiostred nurses that reside in U.S or territories.. 

Johnson & Johnson’s sponsorship fully covers attendance and travel costs, making this an exceptional opportunity for healthcare leaders to drive impactful change.

Applications close on February 17, 2025. To learn more about the fellowship and begin your application, click here. 

The Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab (ASCE-SPIL) is an initiative from Clemson University, The Foundation for Fresh Produce (FFP), and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). The program aims to develop sustainable packaging solutions for specialty crops, in response to emergent regulations on single-use and plastic packaging in key global markets like the EU, UK, Canada, Japan, and more.

FFAR is accepting applications for the program to create packaging alternatives that can replace single-use plastic while maintaining functionality in a cost-effective manner. There are three tracks within the program:

• Track 1 (Applied R&D): Proposals aimed at innovative solutions still in the laboratory stage but showing promise for pilot-scale manufacturing.
• Track 2 (Technology Accelerator): Proposals focused on scaling sustainable packaging innovations within the fresh produce industry.
• Track 3 (Scale-up and Pilot): Proposals to run pilot-scale manufacturing projects for commercializing packaging solutions for specialty crop exports.

]Applications are due by February 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM. For more details and to apply, please visit the program website.

CSL, a leading global biotech company dedicated to developing innovative biotherapies for life-threatening medical conditions, is now accepting applications for their 2025 Research Acceleration Initiative. This initiative aims to fast-track the discovery of breakthrough treatments through strategic partnerships with global research organizations.

Selected applicants will receive up to $400,000 USD in funding over two years to support research projects that align with CSL’s Therapeutic Areas—including cardiovascular and renal diseases, hematology, transplant and immunology, vaccines, plasma protein research, and gene editing—and incorporate CSL’s advanced platform technologies.

Interested researchers are encouraged to attend informational webinars on Thursday, January 23 at 1 p.m. ET or Wednesday, February 5 at 11 a.m. ET to learn more about the initiative.

Contact Anita Rao (arao@ufl.edu) to express interest and receive online application instructions. Submission deadline for the 300-word non-confidential abstract is due CSL by February 20, 2025. To learn more about the initiative, click here.

Data Center World is hosting its annual Innovation Challenge for data center organizations to pitch groundbreaking technology solutions to the data center community. This competition is designed to provide exposure, networking opportunities, and mentorship, empowering companies to gain visibility and scale their businesses effectively.

This opportunity is open to small businesses and technology companies focused on solutions that directly impact data center operations and professionals. Applications will be evaluated based on key criteria, including Business Model, Customer Validation, Go-to-Market Strategy, Execution & Design, and Team Composition.

Applications must be submitted by the deadline on February 21, 2025. For the full challenge details and to apply, visit the Data Center World website.

The 2025 RASC-AL Competition, hosted by NASA, challenges participants to develop innovative concepts for advancing space exploration. This year’s competition focuses on designing scalable lunar infrastructure, advanced Mars science missions, and small lunar servicing robots. Participants must propose novel technologies and operational models that enhance humanity’s ability to thrive beyond Earth.

To participate in the competition, students must be full-time or part-time undergraduate and graduate level at accredited U.S. colleges and universities. Each team must have at least one faculty or industry advisor and two students from the same institution who will present at the RASC-AL Competition Forum.

The deadline for applications is February 24, 2025. For more details, please visit the competition webpage here. 

The Launch Your Venture 2025 Student Venture Pitch Competition invites university student-led startups with innovative ideas that could revolutionize the aviation, aerospace, and engineering industries. This competition seeks projects with scalable, transformative technologies and strong management teams capable of launching disruptive innovation. 

Eligible teams must include at least one full-time student (undergraduate or graduate) enrolled in an accredited Florida-based university during the academic year of the competition. The student must hold a major role in the venture and will deliver the in-person pitch if selected as a finalist.

The deadline to apply is February 24th, 2025 EST. To learn more about the competition and get started on your application, click here. 

The National Technology Alliance (NTA) in partnership with SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the United States Space Force (USSF) is hosting a free webinar to explore how companies can engage with the United States Space Force 

This session will explore how commercial space enterprises can collaborate with SpaceWERX, with insights into funding opportunities and strategic partnerships. Attendees will also have the chance to participate in a live Q&A to address high-level inquiries about engaging with SpaceWERX.

The event will take place February 26th at 2 PM EST. To register for this opportunity, please visit the registration webpage.

The Wilkes Climate Launch Prize, hosted by the University of Utah has opened applications for its 2025 awards. The prize recognizes top global climate change solutions, awarding $250,000 to accelerate innovative ideas. 

Organizations at all stages, both for-profits and nonprofits, anywhere in the world are eligible to submit ideas to be considered for the prize. Pitch submissions will be evaluated based on scalable impact, feasibility and co-benefits to the community. 

The selection process occurs in two phases, with first round submissions due February 28th, 2025 at 11:59 PM MST. To review frequently asked questions and begin your application, click here. 

The Crop Innovation & Business Conference is offering a pitch opportunity for academic institutes and early-stage companies to present their innovative products, services, or technologies for the agriculture industry. This conference brings together experts from breeding, AgBio, AgTech companies, and the international agri-food sector, to connect startups and academic institutions to investors and accelerate product development..

Selected pitch participants will have the chance to give a 6-minute pitch to over 200 executives, investors, and potential collaboration partners.

The application process involves a test pitch with applications are due by March 1, 2025. To apply or for more information, visit the pitch webpage or contact leon.mur@cropib.com.

The 2nd annual Smart Cities Smart Bases Innovation Challenge is now accepting submissions! This challenge invites bold, innovative thinkers to propose cutting-edge, dual-use technologies that address the shared technical, environmental, and security challenges faced by both smart cities and military bases. 

Key focus areas include AI and Autonomous Systems, C5ISR and Sensor Systems, Cyber and Infrastructure Security, and more.This challenge offers participants the chance to present their innovations to industry leaders and decision-makers, build valuable connections in the smart city and defense sectors, and gain recognition for their contributions to advancing technology.

Submit your proposal by March 1st 2025, for an opportunity to present on stage at the Smart Cities Connect Conference on April 15, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. To begin your application and learn more, click here.

The International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) is hosting the 2025 Innovation Challenge, focused on identifying groundbreaking chemistry or chemical technology innovations that tackle climate change mitigation and adaptation. This challenge contains three key focus areas: 

1. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in chemical production
2. GHG mitigation through chemistry and biotechnology solutions
3. Chemistry-based climate change adaptation technologies

This opportunity is open to all innovators and entrepreneurs developing chemistry solutions. The finalists will receive tailored support, including pitch training and potential features as Start-up of the Month. Winners will share a total prize pool of 25,000 EUR.

Applications must be submitted by March 3, 2025. To apply, visit the ISC3 website and register using their provided online form.

The Human Lander Challenge (HuLC), presented by NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD), invites students to develop student teams to develop innovative, systems-level solutions to understand, mitigate potential problems, and mature advanced cryogenic fluid technologies that can be implemented within 3-5 years. This competition aims to advance human landing system (HLS) technologies, with a focus on on-orbit cryogenic propellant storage for extended space missions.

The challenge is open to full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from U.S institutions. Student teams, guided by faculty advisors, will propose systems-level solutions in areas such as cryogenic propellant transfer, mass tracking, insulation, and heat reduction. 

The deadline to apply for the challenge is on March 3, 2025. To learn more and view the full opportunity listing, visit the HuLC website.

The American-Made Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, offers $10+ million in cash prizes to U.S.-based individuals and organizations developing cattle agrivoltaics—the co-location of solar photovoltaics (PV) and cattle grazing operations. This initiative aims to reduce land-use conflicts, preserve agricultural land, increase revenues for farmers and ranchers, and support sustainable energy practices.

The competition is open to solar developers, ranchers, farmers, and other stakeholders, including hardware and software manufacturers, researchers, universities, local governments, utilities, and historically underserved producers. Participants must form multi-stakeholder teams to build pilot sites, identify best practices, analyze costs, and explore business models for integrating PV with cattle grazing.

Applications are due on March 6, 2025, by 5:00 PM ET. For more information on the opportunity and to begin your application, please visit the prize webpage. 

The EmPOWER Air Data Challenge, organized by the EPA, presents innovators with the opportunity to use power sector and environmental quality data for innovative analyses, tools, and visualizations. The overall goal is to enhance understanding of electricity generation impacts by leveraging datasets such as eGRID, Power Sector Emissions Data, CASTNET, and Allowance Trading Program Data.

Anyone who is affiliated with an accredited college or university, or a research organization (e.g., think tank) is encouraged to apply. Proposed projects may range from one semester to one academic year. Applicants may incorporate additional datasets but must use at least one of the provided datasets. 

The deadline to apply is March 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM. For more information on the challenge and the applicable datasets, visit the challenge announcement here. 

The CELI Fellowship, hosted by the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI), is accepting applications for its 2025 cohort. This program is designed to equip early-career to mid-level professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to lead in the clean energy sector. The fellowship offers a rigorous curriculum covering energy policy, market structures, equity in energy transition, leadership development, and solution scaling.

Eligible applicants must live and work in the United States and have a minimum of three years of experience in the field. The 2025 program runs from July 30 to December 4, 2025, with both virtual and in-person cohorts available in San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, and Washington, DC. 

Final applications are due by March 19, 2025, with an early bird deadline (no fee required) on February 17. Accepted fellows will be notified on May 20, 2025. To learn more, visit the application webpage here.

The Hamlyn Symposium on Medical Robotics has opened applications for its Surgical Robot Challenge. This competition seeks innovative submissions with a focus on frugal innovation, practical application, and thoughtful design, especially in enhancing surgical procedures in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Prototypes should be affordable, simple, and scalable, addressing surgical gaps in resource-constrained environments, and ultimately improving access to surgical care and reducing mortality rates in these regions.

The winning teams will receive free registration to attend the Hamlyn Symposium on June 25-26, 2025, and select demos will be invited to showcase their work at the symposium. Teams are encouraged to incorporate new developments into existing ideas, focusing on improving functionality, and design.

This opportunity is open to academic institutions globally, and industry applicants collaborating with academic partners. The application deadline is 23:59 GMT  (8 PM  EST) on March 21, 2025. For further details and to apply, visit the Hamlyn Symposium website.

The 2025 Saving Time Practice Innovation Boot Camp, hosted by the American Medical Association (AMA) STEPS Forward® Innovation Academy, is a two-day, in-person workshop designed to equip clinical and operational leaders with practical tools for workforce sustainability and quality improvement.

This interactive event focuses on eliminating unnecessary work and optimizing time management to prioritize patient care and professional well-being. Through breakout sessions, interactive activities, and tactical strategy breakdowns, attendees will gain actionable insights to drive meaningful change within their organizations.

The registration deadline is and the event will take place from March 31 – April 1, 2025, at the American Medical Association Headquarters in Chicago, IL. For explore the key focus areas and register, visit the AMA event webpage.

The NCI SBIR provides funding and non-funding support to small businesses and entrepreneurs developing novel cancer technologies.

For FY 25, there are funding opportunities for 13 different Contract Topics:

·     NIH/NCI 466 – Novel Delivery Systems for RNA-based Cancer Vaccines

·     NIH/NCI 467 – Development of Cancer Immunoprevention Agents

·     NIH/NCI 468 – Synthetic Microbes (Excluding Oncolytic Viruses) for Immuno-Oncology Therapies

·     NIH/NCI 469 – Development of Novel Therapeutics for HPV-related Precancer

·     NIH/NCI 470 – Precision Nutrition Interventions to Reduce Cancer-Related Symptoms

·     NIH/NCI 471 – Drug-Loaded Carrier Particles for Improved Oral Delivery for Colon Cancer Prevention

·     NIH/NCI 472 – Antibody-Drug Conjugates as Radiopharmaceutical Theranostics for Cancer

·     NIH/NCI 473 – Point of Care Detection of Antibodies Against HPV16/18 E6 and E7 Oncoproteins in Oropharyngeal Cancer

·     NIH/NCI 474 – Point of Care Technologies for GI Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

·     NIH/NCI 475 – Development of Digital Biomarkers and Endpoints for Clinical Cancer Care

·     NIH/NCI 476 – Digital Twin Software for Optimization of Cancer Radiation Therapy 

·     NIH/NCI 477 – Wearable Technologies to Facilitate Remote Monitoring of Cancer Patients Following Treatment·    

NIH/NCI 478 – Advanced Biomaterials to Improve Cancer Modeling for Research

To learn more about these opportunities, click on the topic links or visit the SBIR page here.

The Florida High Tech Corridor provides a comprehensive resource hub designed to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in accessing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding. Through initiatives like the  FL FAST initiative, the Corridor provides training workshops, one-on-one assistance, and strategic guidance in areas like award identification, budget preparation, proposal review, and research partnerships. 

The initiative also offers on-demand virtual training sessions to equip entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders with the knowledge needed to succeed. To learn more, access training resources, or join upcoming sessions, visit the Florida High Tech Corridor website.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SBIR/STTR Office is offering the Phase 0 Application Assistance Program to support first-time applicants preparing their SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications. This free program is designed to help eligible small businesses navigate the application process, offering guidance on proposal development and submission.

The Phase 0 program is open to first-time DOE SBIR/STTR Phase I applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached. Eligible participants will receive tailored assistance to improve their chances of securing funding for their innovative projects.

To review eligibility and apply for Phase 0 assistance on the DOE website here.  A free online DOE SBIR/STTR Phase I Grant Application Guide, a searchable and well-organized resource designed to streamline the application process, is also available here.

NASA, CCRPP for Fiscal Year 2025

The Civilian Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program (CCRPP) is a funding opportunity available to small businesses with a primary objective of accelerating the near-term transition of SBIR- and STTR-funded technologies to infusion and/or commercialization, not an incremental improvement in technology maturation alone. How to Apply

Opportunities will be updated as they become available.

Visit here

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is a research funding agency that supports transformative biomedical and health breakthroughs – ranging from the molecular to the societal – to provide health solutions for all.

There are various programs covering different areas of medical innovation, which include (but aren’t limited to):

ADAPT — ADvanced Analysis for Precision cancer Therapy

APECx — Antigens Predicted for Broad Viral Efficacy through Computational Experimentation

DIGIHEALS — ARPA-H Digital Health Security Initiative

PSI – Precision Surgical Initiatives

LIGHT — Lymphatic Imaging, Genomics, and Phenotyping Technologies

NITRO — Novel Innovations for Tissue Regeneration in Osteoarthrtis

OCULAB — Ocular Laboratory for Analysis of Biomarkers

 Programs have various application deadlines. To learn more and apply, visit the ARPA-H website here.

Foresight Science & Technology, in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), is excited to announce the launch of the Innovator to Entrepreneur Program (ITEP). This program is designed to support inventors developing innovative products who have little to no experience in entrepreneurship or business grantsmanship. 

Eligible participants must have no prior NIH SBIR/STTR awards, minimal entrepreneurial experience, and products aligned with NIAID and NHLBI areas of interest. 

The program opened on January 8th and is currently accepting applications. For more details and approaching deadlines, visit the ITEP announcement webpage. To review the slide from the recent ITEP informational webinar, you can view them here.

The AI for Good Innovation Factory, led by the AI for Good Global Summit, is seeking AI-driven startups focused on advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This global competition program evaluates promising startups and offers investment, mentorship, and partnership opportunities. The winners of the monthly pitching sessions will advance to the Grand Finale at the AI for Good Global Summit 2025, held July 8-11, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Startups can apply for monthly pitching sessions, where selected teams will deliver a 5-minute pitch followed by a 10-minute Q&A with expert judges. Top teams will receive mentorship, matchmaking with UN partners and governments, investment opportunities, and access to acceleration programs. 

To submit your application for an upcoming session, visit the AI For Good Pitch webpage.