Illinois Proof of Concept Program (IPOC)

Advance Your Research Innovation Toward Market Application and Public Use

Applications are being accepted now. Apply by February 27, 2026.

The Illinois Proof-of-Concept program (IPOC) supports projects that bridge the gap between University innovations and the marketplace. The program provides funding up to $50,000 to facilitate the transformation of research innovations into products and services that benefit society. IPOC proposals should contain defined steps and a tangible set of milestones that would overcome a specific, identifiable hurdle to commercialization and demonstrate an innovation's market viability to potential investors and partners. Proposals are encouraged from all fields of research.

Awards will be announced in May 2026 for projects commencing summer 2026.

What is proof-of-concept funding?

Traditional sources of research funding are typically intended for basic research. However, discoveries resulting from this research often need additional development to reach important milestones that are critical to commercialization. These milestones help "de-risk" a technology, making it more attractive to licensing partners.  Download our program guide for more information. IPOC Program Guide 2026.pdf

To apply

1. Download the application form
2. Submit your application
3. Submit a disclosure for the innovation your project is based on, if you don't have one on file already

Process for proposal evaluation

• Applications are evaluated by an internal review committee.
• Finalists are determined.
• Finalists present to an external review committee that includes industry and venture representatives.
• Awardees are determined.

Principle Investigator & Personnel Eligibility Requirements

• The PI must currently be a full-time academic researcher at Illinois, or an emeritus faculty member who maintains an active research group.
• The PI must have an invention report on file with the OTM upon which the proposed project will be based. Applications will not move forward if an invention report is not on file with the OTM.  The invention report can be made at the time of the application.
• External organizations should be identified within the application and their role within the project should be defined. Use of funds to pay external organizations is subject to limitations.
• Applicants may participate in multiple proposals per funding round (either as a PI or collaborator), however an applicant can only receive one award.
• Applicants can only have 1 active IPOC project at a time; new proposals involving personnel already participating in an active IPOC project will not be considered.

Project Eligibility Requirements

• Project goals should preferably be achievable within 6-8 months of the start of funding and must be within the requested budget. Proposals that require more than 8 months are still encouraged to apply.
• The applicant must either have a disclosure on file with the Office of Technology Management or file a new disclosure prior to submitting the application.
• The innovation which provides the basis for the proposal must not be encumbered by any other prior obligations that would preclude the University from moving forward with commercialization (i.e. exclusively licensed, or rights already committed under the terms of a sponsored research agreement or an ongoing collaboration with an industrial partner). Please note that technologies that have been optioned or non-exclusively licensed may be eligible for the program, depending on the circumstances. Please contact the OTM if you are unsure whether your innovation is eligible.
• The innovation that is the basis for the proposal cannot have been part of a previously awarded IPOC project.
• The intellectual property surrounding the invention must be owned or co-owned by the University of Illinois. If co-owned with another academic institution, the University of Illinois must be the lead institution. Please contact the OTM if you are unsure about the ownership of your invention.
• The project must be focused on advancing the innovation towards licensing and/or use outside of the University. IPOC funding cannot be used for basic exploratory studies or as general funding for the PI’s lab or research group. 

Application slide deck template includes

• Project & technology description: a high-level overview of your innovation and the problem it solves
• Business opportunity: the market your innovation competes in and the features that make your innovation competitive 
• Funding impact: how will IPOC funds help you address a technical or commercial hurdle that, once overcome, will make your innovation more attractive to potential investors or industry partners
• Budget: detail about the time and money needed to reach your project goal. Note: Funding cannot be used to provide salaries for faculty or external collaborators at other research institutions. Funding cannot be used to purchase laptops or large equipment, for travel (except when it directly supports project completion), for publications, or to cover legal costs or obtain intellectual property protection. Furthermore, funds cannot be used as general support for the investigator’s lab. Funding may be used to provide salary support for U. of I. graduate or undergraduate students involved in the project. Some questions have come up about whether fringe benefits and tuition waivers need to be included in personnel calculations. Your budget should include fringe benefits. For tuition waivers, you do not need to budget for tuition reimbursement if: 1) You plan to hire students from their own college, 2) You plan to hire doctoral students, 3) You plan to hire master’ students who matriculated at the university prior to Fall 2020
• Next steps: future plans once your project is complete
• Investigator profile: the PI's background and, if applicable, and entrepreneurial experience

For questions, please contact Nicole Nair (nnair@illinois.edu) or your technology manager.