Event Type : Pathways Newsletter Events

UF Innovate, in collaboration with IP attorneys from Wolf Greenfield is hosting a two-day workshop designed to equip UF innovators with essential knowledge on protecting ideas and creating value through intellectual property.

This training opportunity will include small group discussions and expert guidance, offering practical insights into critical IP practices. The workshop is open to all UF innovators, with participants receiving certification upon completion.

The workshop will be held on October 27, 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM, and October 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM. To register, please visit the registration page.

Activate is now accepting applications for its two-year entrepreneurial fellowship designed to support scientists and engineers who are ready to turn their cutting-edge research into impactful products. Founded in 2015, Activate has built a robust ecosystem that empowers first-time hard-tech founders through funding, technical resources, mentorship, and access to a dynamic network of innovators, investors, and industry partners. The fellowship provides a living stipend, benefits, and customized support to help fellows fully commit to developing their technologies.

This opportunity is intended for individuals with a bachelor’s degree and at least four years of post-baccalaureate experience in scientific research, engineering, or technology development. Applicants must be first-time founders of a physical or biological science-based innovation and committed to working full-time on their project. Eligible projects must be in the development stage and based in the U.S.

The final deadline to apply is October 28, 2025. To learn more about the fellowship and begin your application, click here.

NASA Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students (NASA SUITS) is a design challenge hosted by NASA that engages college students from across the United States in creating innovative user interface solutions for future spaceflight missions. The program supports NASA’s Artemis campaign and aims to develop technologies that enhance the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of astronauts during lunar and Martian surface exploration.

This opportunity is specifically for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at accredited U.S. institutions, Applications are due October 30, 2025, and proposals must be submitted via STEM Gateway. Learn more here.

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is hosting transformative research programs designed to accelerate bold ideas in health and biotechnology. ARPA-H funds high-risk, high-reward projects aimed at tackling some of the most pressing challenges in medicine and public health. Current programs include:

GIVE (Genetic Medicines and Individualized Manufacturing for Everyone): Expanding access to genetic medicine through scalable and individualized approaches. Currently open.

THRIVE (Treating Hereditary Rare Diseases with In Vivo Precision Genetic Medicines): Advancing in vivo genetic medicines to address rare hereditary diseases. Currently open.

These opportunities are geared toward researchers, innovators, and interdisciplinary teams developing next-generation solutions in health. The next application deadline is October 31, 2025. Learn more here. 

The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program is accepting applications for its 2026 Partnership Grant Program. This grant is designed to foster collaboration between agricultural professionals and small groups of farmers or ranchers to catalyze on-farm research, demonstration, and education projects that advance sustainable agriculture.

Grants fund projects for up to 24 months with awards of up to $50,000, and about 20 projects are funded each year. Applicants must be agricultural or natural resource professionals in the North Central region, such as university educators, NRCS field staff, agricultural consultants, or nonprofit/agency staff who work directly with farmers and ranchers. 

There are currently two grant opportunities available with deadlines in November 2025 ( November 4th and 20th). To learn more visit the site here. 

The RepAir: Advancing Aircraft Maintenance challenge is part of NASA’s Gateway to Blue Skies (GBS) Competition, hosted by NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD). This competition invites post-secondary student teams to conceptualize innovative aviation maintenance solutions that improve efficiency, safety, and costs in the U.S. aviation industry. 

The competition is designed for multidisciplinary student teams from all academic levels from undergraduate through graduate, across any field of study. 

A Notice of Intent (NOI) submission is due by  November 4, 2025. To learn more about the competition, visit the website here. 

The National Science Foundation is currently accepting proposals for its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, part of America’s Seed Fund. These highly competitive programs provide early-stage, non-dilutive funding to small businesses pursuing high-risk, high-reward research and development with strong commercial potential.

This opportunity is designed for U.S.-based startups and small businesses working on transformative technology across all areas of science and engineering. To begin the application process, companies must first submit a Project Pitch (a brief overview of their innovation) to determine fit for the program. If the pitch is accepted, applicants are invited to submit a full Phase I proposal, which includes more detailed technical and commercial information.

The proposal submission deadlines is November 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM in the submitter’s local time zone. To learn more, visit the NSF webpage here.

The 2025 ASEMFL Annual Meeting hosted by the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL) and organized by Annual Meeting Planning Committee is open for registration.

This statewide gathering brings together stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and the community to explore timely issues in science, engineering, and medicine. The event is open to faculty, students, postdocs, industry professionals, government employees, and community members interested in research, innovation, and policy.

The meeting will take place on November 7, 2025, at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management in Orlando, Florida, with accommodations available at the Rosen Centre Hotel. To learn more about this opportunity visit the site here or contact the Events Manager, Natasha Coleman at Natasha.Coleman@ucf.edu.

Science2Startup is an invitation-only symposium for biotech entrepreneurship co-organized by Atlas Venture, F-Prime Capital, Osage University Partners, 5AM Ventures, and RA Capital.

The event connects academic researchers with venture capitalists, startup founders, and senior executives in biotech and pharma. Participants present their research or spin-out ideas to a curated audience, with opportunities for mentorship from experienced investors and advisors to refine strategies and pitches. Selected researchers will also join a mentorship program with seasoned investors and advisors to refine their strategy and pitch

The symposium is open to researchers globally, and submissions are due November 14, 2025, by 11:59 ET. To learn more visit the website here . For questions reach out to info@science2startup.com.

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is inviting submissions for its Project G.I. Challenge, a recurring opportunity designed to accelerate the development and fielding of advanced uncrewed systems (UxS) that can meet the urgent operational needs of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

This challenge is aimed at technology developers and companies with solutions that can enhance U.S. military capabilities in three key mission areas: operations in contested electromagnetic spectrums, rapid targeting for small tactical units, and ISR and strike capabilities in Arctic and extreme cold environments. Participants will engage in a competitive, phased process where selected companies can receive up to $50,000 in Phase 1 and up to $500,000 in Phase 2 for live demonstrations, with further potential for continued collaboration and integration.

Two upcoming deadlines are tied to specific challenge tracks. Submissions for the Kill Chain challenge must be received by August 15, 2025. Submissions for the Emerging Problem Set are due by November 15, 2025. To learn more about the specific challenge tracks visit the DIU event webpage here.

The Longitude Prize on ALS, initiative of Challenge Works, the Motor Neurone Disease Association and partners, is an international challenge prize offering £7.5 million GBP ($10 million USD) to incentivize the use of AI-based approaches for therapeutic discovery in treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of motor neuron disease. This prize is part of the modern Longitude Prize series, following the previous prizes on Antimicrobial Resistance and Dementia.

The prize is open to organizations worldwide, including academic groups, companies, non-profits, and partnerships between these entities. Individuals are not eligible to apply. The program provides seed funding, expert support, and capacity-building for competitors, with the top prize awarded to the solution that demonstrates the greatest effectiveness.

The deadline for applications is December 3, 2025. To learn more, visit the webpage here. 

The NOURISH (Nutrition for OUR Immune System Health): Autoimmunity Challenge is a competition hosted by the NIH. The challenge seeks innovative ideas on integrating diet and nutrition studies into autoimmune disease research, focusing on dietary interventions that are feasible, testable, scalable, and broadly impactful. Participants are encouraged to explore the role of diet in autoimmune disease inception, progression, flares, and symptom management.

This opportunity is open to individuals, teams, and entities including people living with autoimmune disease, patient advocacy groups, caregivers, dietitians, nutritionists, lifestyle medicine experts, physicians, and scientists.

The deadline is December 4, 2025. To learn more visit the website here. 

The Third Annual Warren B. Nelms IoT Conference will be held on December 4-5, 2025 at the University of Florida campus. It will feature an excellent line-up of speakers, industry panels, and research talks, covering a broad spectrum of topics on Internet of Things (IoT) and AI technology and their applications. Network with IoT experts, leaders, researchers, and enthusiasts from across the country to learn, share ideas, and spark new collaborations. Registration is complementary (including breakfast and lunch both days). Learn more here.