Illinois Proof-of-Concept Program (IPOC)

• 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.

• 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 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. 

Examples of project types include, but are not limited to: 

• Building a prototype

• Commercial feasibility testing

• In vivo testing using a relevant disease model

• Pre-clinical animal testing and medical device testing

• Creating a mobile application or software to disseminate information or educational materials

• Demonstrating mitigation of risk for potential licensees

• Addressing a specific gap identified by industry that impairs the ability to license or attract capital

• Creating a mobile application or software to disseminate information or educational materials

• Addressing issues identified by industry that impair the ability to license or attract capital

Projects are awarded in amounts up to $50,000 with funding distributed in tranches. The timing and amount of each tranche will correspond to the budget request submitted as part of the application. 

Intellectual property resulting from proof-of-concept funding is wholly owned by the University of Illinois

A high-level overview of your innovation and the problem it solves

Describe the market your innovation would compete in. Highlight the features of your technology (such as better/faster/cheaper) that will make your product competitive in that marketplace.

How will IPOC funds help you address a technical or commercial hurdle that, once overcome, will make your innovation more attractive to potential investors and industry partners.

Details about your project goals and tell us how much money & time you will need to reach each one. 

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

Discuss your future plans for the technology if your proof-of-concept is demonstrated.

Highlight the Principal Investigator’s background and, if applicable, commercialization and entrepreneurial experience and/or interest in starting a company.