Gap Funding
Gap funding, which fills the “gap” between traditional research funding and commercial investment, supports activities aimed at commercialization such as technology development and demonstration.
The Center ICE Gap Fund serves this purpose for University of Alaska innovations and commercialization opportunities. An example Gap Fund project would sponsor development of a commercial-grade prototype after an academic prototype has been built and proven feasibility of the concept.
The Center ICE Gap Fund sponsors projects performed by faculty, staff, and students at the University of Alaska; external entities/individuals can benefit from Center ICE Seed Funding by partnering with University of Alaska faculty, staff, or students. The Center ICE Gap Fund accepts applications on a rolling basis.
Open Call for proposals from the UA academic community
Proposals may be submitted anytime and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Funding will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis. Follow Center ICE social media or subscribe to our newsletter to learn about occasional RFPs (requests for proposals) specific to certain timely topics of interest and/or new opportunities for growth of the Alaskan economy.
Proposals should not exceed three pages and must include:
- Title of proposed project or activity
- Principal investigator
- Name
- UA affiliation: campus, department, faculty/staff/student
- Description of the project team’s innovation experience or training (e.g., Lean Startup methodology, I-Corps customer discovery, design thinking), or state "none"
- Fiscal officer contact information
- Narrative that addresses each of the following:
- What challenge does your proposed idea help solve? I.e., Pain are you solving; Gain are you providing?
- How is this problem/opportunity currently being addressed?
- How is your innovation novel and what have you built so far?
- Provide a description of the work you will perform to further develop your solution.
- How will you measure success for your project? What opportunities will your pursue as a result of the support? What will be your milestones?
- How could your solution be scaled into a commercial product?
- The project duration, if applicable.
- Provide a statement acknowledging that ICR will not be included in the project. Please contact us if you have any questions.
- List key personnel and provide a very brief biography of each (four sentences is sufficient).
- Provide a budget including totals within each category.
- Proposals should be submitted to centerice@alaska.edu in an email titled "Center ICE Gap Fund" with a copy (cc) to Ashley Guernsey, alguernsey@alaska.edu.
Evaluation of proposals:
Some factors for evaluation include completeness and professionalism, cost relative to likelihood of success and value of successful outcome if achieved, and impact and importance of seed funding to advancing the proposed project. A three-page final report will be required at project completion, and most project teams are required to participate in Center ICE’s I-Corps program or another similar program. Coordination of purchasing/procurement for funded projects will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Center ICE will retain all ICR generated from funded projects.
