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Funding Opportunities

Funding Programs

A selection of funding programs geared towards translational research are highlighted below, additional funding opportunities can be found on the Office of Sponsored Programs website.

Gap Fund Pitch Competition

Innovation and Proof-of-Concept Awards

The Division of Research and Economic Development’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) offers grants of up to $20,000 for Innovation awards and up to $10,000 for Proof-of-Concept awards to support the development and/or initial testing of promising innovations and technologies. This program aims to bridge the funding gap in early-stage innovation and facilitate follow-on funding, licensing, and commercialization.

Focus & Scope

These awards support increasing the readiness level of university-owned intellectual property (IP), including patentable inventions, software, and research tools. Innovations must be disclosed to the OTT via the invention disclosure process, with at least one faculty or staff member as an inventor. Student-only projects are ineligible; students with business ideas are encouraged to contact the Boise State Venture College.

Priority will be given to innovations demonstrating high commercial impact, as evidenced by:

  • Creator’s ability to collaborate and secure further funding
  • Clear market need
  • Competitive advantages over existing solutions
  • Defined licensing/commercialization endpoints
  • Market size and accessibility
  • Patentability/protectability
Award Details
  • Up to $20,000 based on identified milestones; potential for renewal based on next stage objectives. 
  • 0-12-month project periods on a rolling basis within each fiscal year (starting July 1), until funds are depleted.
  • Unallowable costs: faculty salaries, external work for hire, student tuition, travel, and indirect costs.
Eligibility

Open to full-time Boise State faculty and staff. Innovations must be disclosed to the OTT via the invention disclosure process before applying. Teams from all disciplines are encouraged to apply if they meet the following criteria:

  • Demonstrated tangible milestones achievable within 0-12 months with the requested budget
  • Current or past participation in a qualifying commercialization education program (I-Corps, Venture College Incubator, etc.)
  • At least one Boise State faculty or staff member on the team
  • Innovation disclosed to the OTT
  • IP owned by Boise State University and not licensed

Application Guidelines

For Proof-of-Concept Funding

Goal: Provide proof-of-concept funding for the development of new Boise State-owned intellectual property. 

Submit a single PDF document (max 3 pages, single-spaced, 1-inch margins, 11pt font minimum) to techtransfer@boisestate.edu, including:

Project Description (2 pages max):

  • Explain how the commercialization education requirement has or will be met.
  • Describe the innovation and problem it solves.
  • Summarize competitive advantages.
  • Identify achievable milestones and describe how achieving those milestones will help move the innovation closer to commercialization,
  • Describe any existing commercial interest.
  • List relevant patent/technology disclosures.

Budget and Justification (1 page max): Detail how funds will be used.

  • Up to $10,000.
For Innovation Funding

Goal: Advance the technology readiness level of existing Boise State-owned intellectual property. 

Submit a pre-recorded video pitch and pitch deck to techtransfer@boisestate.edu

  • Up to 10-Minute Video Pitch and Pitch Deck with 10-12 slides.

This template is just a guide. You can change colors, change titles, etc.

Use minimal words on your slides (see examples). Replace words with icons or pictures. Some slides, like a problem slide, might not need any words at all – it’s just a visual aid to what you will be talking about. (▶️ See Slide by Slide Video Tips)

Some topics, like financials, are easier to explain over two slides. For example, you could have one slide showing cost vs. revenue, followed up with a slide that shows projections. Or one slide could explain a general problem and a second slide explaining why existing solutions in the market are not solving the problem. (▶️ See Video)

Connect with OTT or Venture College for additional guidance.

Budget and Justification (1 page max): Detail how funds will be used.

  • Up to $20,000.

Mentor Availability: Applicants needing guidance on milestones are encouraged to contact the OTT for access to industry mentors.

Submission: Submit the complete application (Project Description or Video and Pitch Deck) to techtransfer@boisestate.edu. 

Review & Selection Criteria: Applications will be reviewed by a panel based on:

  • Ability to improve the commercial potential of university-owned IP.
  • Likelihood of securing follow-on funding or licensing.
  • Probability of achieving a well-defined deliverable (proof-of-concept, prototype, go/no-go decision).

Inquiries: Questions regarding the Innovation and Proof-of-Concept Award and application process should be directed to the Office of Technology Transfer at techtransfer@boisestate.edu.

Transform Seed Grants

As part of the TRANSFORM project awarded to Boise State through the NSF Accelerating Research Translation program. Four faculty research projects will be selected this year – two for up to $50,000, and two for up to $150,000.00 – in direct funding for TR along two tracks.

Track One

Our market-oriented track will support faculty-led research projects that are oriented toward commercialization and traditional technology transfer work that identify innovations in the laboratory and move them efficiently to the marketplace (e.g. problem identification, innovation, intellectual property protection, industry collaboration, and translation through licensing or startups).

Track Two

Our community-engaged track addresses innovations in human systems, healthy ecosystems, public policymaking, and democratic governance. Faculty-led projects will partner with external organizations to better equip federal, state, local, tribal governments as well as NGOs, nonprofits and community organizations with the tools and networks to manage and respond to socio-economic and governance challenges.

For additional information, including the RFP for each track, visit Translational Research: Funding Opportunities.

Boise State NSF I-Corps

  • NSF I-Corps is a 4-week training program for researchers, staff, and students to explore the commercial potential of their technology or service.
  • Participants increase commercial success through assumption testing and customer discovery and establish a product-market fit.
  • Qualify for a $50,000 NSF grant.
  • For more information, cohort dates, and registration, visit Venture College: NSF I-Corps.

Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission Initiative Higher Education Research Council (IGEM-HERC)

IGEM-HERC goals are to: a) leverage the talents and expertise of Idaho’s research-active faculty and staff and the private sector to further the economic vitality of Idaho; and, b) create a platform to facilitate and accelerate the transfer of technology from Idaho’s state research institutions and into the private sector. In short, the IGEM-HERC invests in good ideas that promote economic development.

For more details and information, please view the past year’s RFP available at the IGEM-HERC website.

Proposal Tracks

  1. The Proof of Concept track is a high risk, proof of concept opportunity. Estimated length of project = 1 year. Estimated awards = 3-5. Total funds available for all awards in Track 1 = $400,00.
  2. The Initial Startup track is ideal for seed projects where a concept has been proven and developmental milestones are achievable. Estimated length of project = 1-2 years. Estimated awards = 2-4. Total funds available for all awards in Track 2 = $600,000.
  3. The Commercialization track proposals are reviewed and funded by milestones, or stages, rather than as an all or nothing research project. Commercialization awards are scaled as successive milestones are achieved. Estimated length of project = 2-3 years. Estimated awards = 2-5. Total funds available for all awards in Track 3 = $1,100,000.

Process and Requirements:

  • Pre-proposals must be approved by DRED. For approval, PIs must first submit a must first submit a rough draft of the required pre-proposal to preaward@boisestate.edu. The pre-proposal must be submitted using Form A: Pre-Proposal Template found in the RFP linked above.
  • Pre-proposals will be advanced to full proposal as voted by the IGEM-HERC membership.

FY27 Submission Dates:

  • October 27, 2025 by 6pm MT – Pre-proposal due to IGEM-HERC
  • February 27, 2026 by 6pm MT – Full proposal due to IGEM-HERC

America’s Seed Fund

Looking to advance your research and bring it to the marketplace?

America’s Seed Fund provides non-dilutive funding to help startups and small businesses develop technology and move toward commercialization. This program has a strong track record of helping university research projects become real-world applications by fostering partnerships with small businesses. America’s Seed Fund is a key component of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.

The Office of Technology Transfer encourages all Boise State researchers—faculty, graduate students, and staff—to connect with us. We can help you explore external partnerships and apply for these valuable funding opportunities through America’s Seed Fund.

Contact us at techtransfer@boisestate.edu.