Brown Technology Innovations has launched the Brown Deep Tech Impact Fund to help move promising university research from scientific discovery toward company formation and commercialization.
The new program is focused on pre-seed companies built around technologies and intellectual property emerging from Brown University.
Selected projects can receive up to $100,000 in early-stage funding.
The program will combine financial support with industry mentorship, project management and commercialization guidance.
Eligible activities include translational research, consultation with independent advisers and exploration of potential commercial development paths.
The fund is intended to address the gap between university research and the point at which a technology is sufficiently developed to attract outside capital or support formation of a startup.
Eligible investigators must be covered by Brown University’s intellectual property policy and have an obligation to assign relevant intellectual property to the university.
Researchers interested in participating must submit an expression of interest by November 9.
Applicants will then meet with members of the Brown Deep Tech Impact Fund and Brown Technology Innovations teams to discuss their technology and proposed development plan.
Full proposals will be accepted by invitation.
Brown expects to notify researchers selected to submit full proposals by December 4.
KEY QUOTES:
“The launch of the Brown Deep Tech Impact Fund marks a defining step forward in how we bring breakthrough research from initial scientific discovery to venture creation. By pairing up to $100,000 in early-stage capital with tailored industry mentorship and project management, BDTI will aim to empower Brown’s innovators to build high-impact technologies and investable startups across a wide range of vital fields. We are eager to see the ground-breaking innovations this initiative will unlock.”
Greg Hirth, Vice President for Research at Brown University
