Innovation Park

2012 Technology Commercialization Grant Program

The Leon County Research and Development Authority Technology Commercialization Grant program is designed to support the development of innovation technology into commercial products or services. By providing up to $15,000 per grant, the Leon County Research and Development Authority will support local technology research and development efforts, while fostering economic development in the community. Grant funds are available to entrepreneurs and individuals from local businesses, universities and research labs on a competitive award basis. Click on the following link to download detailed information about the 2012 Technology Commercialization Grant Program.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

The Technology Commercialization Grant Program benefits new and expanding businesses through financial support to help secure matching funds from other grants, bank loans and angel investments.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

The Technology Commercialization Grant can be utilized for laboratory and analytical services, patent consultation and research instrumentation. The grant program also allows funding to be used for prototype development, production equipment and test marketing.

BUSINESS AND COMMERCIALIZATION SERVICES

The Technology Commercialization Grant can also be used for unique marketing and strategic planning assistance such as accounting, licensing and legal services. Facilities within Innovation Park can also be leased based upon availability.

USE OF FUNDS

Grants may not be used for the following purposes: Payroll, travel expenses, indirect cost recovery or administrative overhead. College and University employees should seek approval from their organizations to apply for a Technology Commercialization Grant prior to submitting an application.

Grant funding may be used for the following purposes:

Product Development – such as production equipment, test marketing, prototype development, product evaluation and testing, research instrumentation, and patent consultation.

Financial Support Leverage –matching funds for SBIR or STTR grants, bank loans, or angel or other investment

Business and Commercialization Services – such as accounting, legal, licensing, marketing, facility leasing within Innovation Park

Other uses approved in writing by the Leon County Research and Development Authority

PRIOR GRANT AWARD RECIPIENTS

Between 2005 and 2010, the Authority awarded seventeen grants totaling $247,000 to thirteen companies through its Technology Commercialization Grant Program. Eleven of the companies are still in business in Leon County.

	Award Recipient & Purpose	Year	Amount
1	Innovations Inc. (now Avocare), Automated Medication Delivery System	2005 2006	$15,000 $15,000
2	nanoStrata Inc, Robotic Multi-layering Tech for Laboratory Slides	2005	$15,000
3	Intellectual Property Solutions, To create a virtual Technology Transfer Office	2006	$15,000
4	Tai-Yang Research Company, High Temperature Superconducting Magnets	2006	$15,000
5	Comm-Engines, Anti-shoplifting RFID for retail	2007 2008	$15,000 $15,000
6	DiscovRx, Pharmaceutical Start-up	2007 2010	$15,000 $15,000
7	Seva Technologies, IT firm developing database driven web enabled software for data collection and reporting	2007	$15,000
8	TEAM Simulations, Technology for Disaster Risk Analysis and Simulation Training	2008	$15,000
9	Transformational Technologies Innovations, Commercialize Bucky Paper	2008	$7,000
10	Elections by the People Foundation	2009	$15,000
11	Baycom Diagnostics, Veterinary Diagnostic Test	2009	$15,000
12	Florida Custom Synthesis, Service Laboratory for Organic Molecules	2009 2010	$15,000 $15,000
13	Clean and Green Enterprises, Renewable Energy and Alternative Water Systems	2010	$15,000

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The Technology Commercialization Grant Program is for innovative early stage companies located in Leon County, Florida. The Leon County Research and Development Authority created the grant program to serve as a springboard to propel small technology businesses into the marketplace.

*Important Dates (may be updated)*
February 1, 2012:	Grant Applicant Orientation, 5:00 to 6:00 PM, at the Knight Administrative Center
March 1, 2012:	Complete Applications Due – includes Technology Grant Program Application Form, Company Profile, Signed Applicant Agreement, and 10 page Business & Commercialization Plan
March 15, 2012:	Top 6 Companies invited to present to Selection Committee
April 3, 2012:	Grant Award Recipients Announced at the Leon County Research and Development Authority’s Board of Governors Meeting

How to Apply

Applicants for the Technology Commercialization Grant Program must submit an Application, Company Profile, Applicant Agreement, and a detailed proposal to the Leon County Research and Development Authority. The proposal, a brief Business and Commercialization Plan, should define the project objectives and the commercialization opportunities for the technology.

The following elements must be included in your proposal or your application will not be considered. Please limit the number of pages submitted to ten (10). Additional attachments are acceptable.

I. Overview of the Project - What company does; technology solution; uses of the technology; market size and growth; positioning of company relative to competitors.

II. Management Team - This would include the biographies of the management team and key team members, their relevant experiences for this venture, and their roles in the company.

III. Business Structure and Company Background - Describe the current business structure and the proposed structure if it is different than the current. Will this be a for-profit or not-for-profit venture? Is/will it be organized as a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership etc.

IV. Business Assets/Intellectual Property - Describe the tangible and intangible business assets including patents and technology licenses.

V. Commercialization Plan - Describe the potential for the product/service you are proposing to develop. Why is this product/service offering is superior to existing technologies? Include any information you have gathered on the market potential, pricing etc.

VI. Business Development Schedule - Outline a timetable of events including the use of requested funding.

VII. Business Location - Describe the current physical location of the project and what the future needs are for a facility.

VIII. Project Funding - List any university, government or industry collaborations and/or funding. Include a detailed budget for the project. This should include an operating budget and a pro forma statement. Detail the amount of the grant request including schedule of draws. What other funding, current or future, will be needed to grow the business? How will the Technology Commercialization Grant accelerate the company’s success?

RULES

Each company/individual must complete a Technology Grant Program Application Form, Company Profile, Signed Applicant Agreement, and a Business & Commercialization Plan (10 pages maximum) on or before March 1, 2012 to enter the competition. Please submit documents as PDF files to LCRDA@inn-park.com.
Proposals must be based on original work: creating a new business or substantially improving an existing business.
Incomplete applications and those where the Business and Commercialization Plan exceeds 10 pages will not be reviewed.
The top 6 companies must be able attend the March 1 meeting with the Selection Committee.

If you have any questions, contact us at (850) 575-0343 or LCRDA@inn-park.com

Selection And award Process

The Leon County Research and Development Authority will establish a Selection Committee to review all applications. Committee members will have expertise in technology, business development, and finance. The members will review and rank the applications for potential for commercialization and business success. The Committee will select those with the greatest potential and request a presentation of their proposal to the committee. The Committee will then make final recommendations to forward to the Authority for awards. The Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all recommendations. Grant recipients will be notified of the award during the second quarter of 2012.