Small Company Innovation Program

The College of Engineering (CoE) and the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) present the Small Company Innovation Program (SCIP). This pilot program provides financial incentives to small companies with significant operations in Michigan to establish research partnerships with the University of Michigan College of Engineering.

CoE faculty led collaborative research proposals with small companies can qualify for matching support from CoE and OVPR. For each project, the company (ies) must provide cash support of at least $30,000 and the CoE and OVPR will provide matching support of up to $30,000. CoE will also waive the indirect costs on company support. It is expected that the total support (company and U-M match) will enable the faculty to support one graduate student research assistant for one year. Five such awards will be made during FY2009. It is expected that up to 10 such awards will be made in FY2010. Projects are expected to begin in Spring 2009. Project duration is expected to be 12 months with a possible one time extension. It is expected that this will be an annual process. Projects receiving support are not eligible to apply a second time..

The office of the CoE Associate Dean for Research and OVPR will organize the review of the proposals.  Proposals will be ranked based on the following criteria:

• Originality and innovativeness of the proposed research
• Ability and plan of the team to seek continued support from other sources after the first year.
• Potential economic impact for the State of Michigan.

February 11th, 2009: Program will be announced at the MPowered Career Fair for small companies.
March 20, 2009: Proposals due to the Office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, c/o Elizabeth Wagner, (elwa@umich.edu; 647-7030, 2404 LEC).

The proposal should include:

• SCIP Project Cover sheet
• Two page project summary, and a budget
• Company contact and signature on the Cover Sheet indicating acceptance of the matching obligation.

If the Project is selected for matching support from CoE and OVPR, the PI will submit a PAF to DRDA through normal channels and will attach the approved SCIP Cover sheet to the PAF. DRDA will negotiate award terms with the Company and after agreement will establish a project grant with an accompanying cost-sharing account for the CoE and OVPR matching funds.

3 months after project completion the PI will submit a project report to the University describing the SCIP results and suggestions for improving the Program.

Please direct any questions regarding this Program to:
Amy Klinke
Assistant Director of Corporate Relations and the Center for Entrepreneurship
734-647-7071
amyklink@umich.edu