Grants

Questions? Reach out to Justin Streuli.

The UNCW Office of Innovation & Commercialization’s “New Invention Grants” are specifically aimed to stimulate commercially-focused research and creative activity that result in societal impact and practical application. The Grant is awarded to support Faculty projects focused on transforming fundamental research or early-stage innovations into commercially viable products and services or even a new business. Awards $5,000-$15,000. 

Broad examples of projects faculty may propose could:

• Advance research reducing to practice or developing technology with commercial potential.
• Activities to further the technology readiness level of an existing innovation.
• Projects developing a proof of concept that could result intellectual property such as patents, copyrights or tangible property.
• Expanding existing UNCW resources to new markets, customer segments, or partners.

OIC hopes that projects will result in invention disclosures, innovations, technology, scholarship, or other outcomes that have practical application off-campus through licensing, external partnership, or another pathway. 

Innovation Research Grants not only award funding, but also include other benefits like entrepreneurial training, consulting and other benefits to help researchers amplify outcomes.

Grants are open to all full-time EHRA faculty are eligible to serve as lead principal investigators (PIs) on externally sponsored projects.

Eligibility

• All full-time EHRA Faculty are eligible to serve as Lead Principal Investigators (PIs) on externally sponsored projects.
• Must have an Invention Disclosure on file with OIC tied to the proposal.
• Innovation outlined in disclosure cannot already be licensed.
• Must be a qualified use of fund criteria.

Funding Amount

1. 1-3 Awards 
2. Awards $5,000 to $15,000

OIC New Invention Grant

The NCInnovation (NCI) Pipeline Program provides short-term, targeted funding and innovation infrastructure to support projects at the pre-TRL 3 stage, advancing technical validation while refining commercialization pathways through market research and customer discovery, ensuring these projects are primed to enter NCI's technology development pipeline and semi-annual RFP or attract other external funding.

Program Objectives

• Advance Pre-Commercial Research from Exploration to Validation: Support faculty in moving promising early-stage projects from pre-TRL 3 to TRL 3 or higher, enabling downstream engagement with commercialization pathways.
• Encourage Industry Collaboration: Support faculty in identifying opportunities for market relevance and potential industry engagement that could improve market fit and funding prospects.
• Refine Commercialization Pathways: Support structured market research and customer discovery efforts to validate use cases, refine value propositions, and inform go-to-market strategies prior to entry into the NCInnovation RFP pipeline or other external funding programs.

Eligibility

• All full-time Faculty (as defined in the UNCW Faculty Handbook) across academic disciplines may apply.
• All PIs must have completed their annual Conflict of Interest Disclosure.
• Applicants must have an Invention Disclosure – tied to the proposal and not already licensed – on file with the Office of Innovation and Commercialization.
• All underlying IP of projects must be owned, in whole or in part, by UNCW.
• The department chair.school director must support and approve the project through the InfoReady routing system.

Funding Amount

• $5,000 to $25,000

NCI Pipeline Grant