SCRA-Academia Collaboration Team Industry neXt Feasibility Grants

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ANNOUNCEMENT: Notice of Solicitation for Grant applications as funded by the SCRA Academia Collaboration Team (SACT)

AWARD TYPE: Grant

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF AWARDS: up to 3 awards

MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNT: up to $100,000, inclusive of 20% indirect costs (if applicable)

SOLICITATION PERIOD: February 1st, 2019 to March 29, 2019

PERFORMANCE PERIOD: Not to exceed 12 months

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: The deadline for receipt of applications under this Solicitation is March 29th, 2019 at 5:00 PM EDT. No applications or supplemental materials submitted in response to this solicitation will be accepted after the deadline.

BACKGROUND:

SCRA fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by accelerating technology-enabled growth in academia, entrepreneurship and industry. SCRA works with industry to identify market trends and validate the commercial relevance of academic research that it funds. SCRA and the Comprehensive Research Universities (CRUs) executed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement to build the State’s innovation economy (Collaboration Agreement), which is located in Appendix A. The Collaboration Agreement outlines the services SCRA will provide to deliver the following goals:

• Increase research funding via multi-institutional grants and other new funding vehicles • Create and advance early-stage, technology-based companies • Increase total capital investment • Form public/private partnerships generating growth of the state’s industry.

The signatories of the Collaboration Agreement agreed that it would serve as the foundation for SCRA’s support to not only the CRUs but to all public academic institutions within the state. The SACT was formed to design and implement programs to fulfill the Collaboration Agreement. The SACT is a nine-member committee with representatives from the CRUs, public primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), the public technical college system, industry and SCRA.

The initial efforts of the SACT have focused on the formation of Research Alliances (RAs) to expand the economic impact of academic research in South Carolina. The RAs are founded on a critical mass of high caliber talent, infrastructure, financial resources, intellectual property and research with translational relevance. The RA primary objectives are to cultivate national recognition as a leading research center, foster industry engagement, and create high-wage jobs. The SACT defined the key criteria for qualifying as an RA as the following:

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• Addresses industry needs in a growing market with economic significance for the state • Brings together existing resources across multiple institutions to rise to a level of national

repute • Has a clear path to attracting follow-on funding and resources • Creates an opportunity for jobs, workforce development and business growth

In furtherance of its mission, the SACT is evaluating the feasibility of establishing a Research Alliance in advanced manufacturing. SCRA and its academic partners are branding this potential Research Alliance as Industry neXt. As part of the feasibility assessment, the SACT is issuing this solicitation to ascertain engagement, sustainability, and potential impact of the Research Alliance.

In addition to SACT funding, the SCRA Academic Programs division awards grant funding through the Academic Startup Assistance Program, the SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program, and the Maturation Fund Matching Grant to advance technologies or enable academic engagement with industry.

SCOPE:

Industry neXt is the convergence of digital information and communications technologies with manufacturing processes to drive real-time control of energy, productivity, and costs across factories and companies. Smart manufacturing and the digital thread are encompassed within this scope. SCRA’s academic constituents prioritized ten sub-programs within Industry neXt that draw upon the expertise and infrastructure available within South Carolina. For this RFA, proposals must entail research in at least one of the following fields:

• Robotics, Sensors, and Control Systems

• IIoT: creation of innovations including smart products, smart production systems, smart factories, and smart logistics running in a decentralized and dynamic fashion

• Additive Manufacturing: enabled by IIoT or smart manufacturing

• Digital Manufacturing, Design, and/or Visualization

• Human/Machine Interface

• Artificial Intelligence: includes machine learning

• Human/System Training: includes innovative training modalities (virtual, augmented, or mixed reality)

• Logistics/Risk Management/Supply Chain Management: enabled by IIoT or smart manufacturing

• Big Data and Cloud Computing for manufacturing

• Cybersecurity for manufacturing

Applications must either advance commercially relevant research or acquire equipment that will be used by multiple Constituent Institutions and made available on a state-wide basis. Applications must establish how the funding will contribute to the state-wide Industry neXt Research Alliance and lead to obtaining follow-on funding from sources such as industry and the federal government to continue development. The SACT is requesting applications from collaborative teams involving multiple Constituent Institutions and industry that will provide near-term, measurable outcomes and create potential commercial viability

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or industry validation in this field. Priority will be given to applications that address challenges presented by a South Carolina-based industry partner. For applications engaging with an industry partner, applicants must provide an accompanying Letter of Support verifying the unmet need.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Applications will be accepted only from degree-conferring, public institution of post-secondary education in South Carolina, including CRUs, PUIs and technical colleges (defined herein as “Constituent Institutions”).

All applications must include collaboration between or among: 1) at least two Constituent Institutions or2) one Constituent Institution and at least one industry partner.

Previous recipients of SACT Feasibility Grant funding are not eligible to submit under this solicitation during the performance period of their previous grant.

SELECTION PROCESS AND DATES:

The deadline for submitting applications is 5:00 PM EDT, March 29th, 2019. Applicants who fail to complete an application in accordance with this solicitation and the application guidelines are subject to disqualification at the outset of the review period or any time during the review period.

SCRA will undertake a preliminary review for alignment with the strategic criteria (see “Review Criteria”) and compliance with this solicitation. Compliant applications that meet the strategic criteria will be sent for external technical review. The SACT will convene in May 2019 to determine the awards based on the results of the external technical review and the strategic review conducted by the SACT. Approval for projects will be based on the vote of SACT members in attendance (in person or via phone).

INFORMATION SESSION WEBINAR:

SCRA will host a Question and Answer webinar on February 14, 2019 at 10:00 AM EST. During the webinar, there will be an opportunity for manufacturers to share their Industry neXt challenges with academic researchers to enable collaboration for this solicitation. The session will also be recorded and subsequently posted on the SCRA website at https://scra.org/academia/sact-grants/. Below is the link to register for the webinar:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2685222196127641867

SCRA will send information on how to join the webinar upon registration.

REVIEW CRITERIA:

Applications will be evaluated pursuant to the Technical and Strategic Criteria. SCRA engages external subject matter experts to conduct the technical review, the results of which are provided to the SACT. The SACT then conducts a review of the strategic criteria, which has been informed by the results of the technical review, to determine each application’s score.

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Technical Criteria:

The external technical review will be conducted substantially in accordance with the National Science Foundation Merit Review Criteria on a scale from 1-5, with 5 being the highest score and 1 being the lowest. The criteria are as follows: Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and

Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes. The following elements should be considered in the review for both criteria:

1. What is the potential for the proposed activity to:

a. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and b. Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?

2. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts? 3. Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success? 4. How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?

5. Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities? In addition to the National Science Foundation Merit Review Criteria listed above, the external technical review will also include the following criteria: Follow-on Funding: Applications will be reviewed based on the potential, once the research is completed, to obtain additional extramural funding, including, but not limited to, federal funding and industry sponsored research. Scores for this category will range from 1-5.

Strategic Criteria:

Applications that qualify for funding will be scored based on their ability to meet the criteria outlined below. Additionally, most criterion will be scored on a scale from 1-5, with 5 being the highest score and 1 being the lowest. SCRA places special emphasis on an application’s ability to impact the state’s innovation economy, and therefore, will score that criteria on a scale from 1-10.

• Impact the state’s innovation economy (e.g., generation of new jobs, startups, intellectual property and workforce development, Foreign Direct Investment attracted, number of organizations affected, and/or number of people affected). Scores for this category will range from 1-10.

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• Involve a PUI or a technical college. If an application involves no PUIs or technical colleges, it will receive a score of 1; if it involves 1 PUI or technical college, it will receive a score of 3; and if it involves multiple PUIs or technical colleges it will receive a score of 5.

• Establish new academia/industry collaboration. If an application creates no new collaborations between academia and industry, it will receive a score of 1; if it creates one new collaboration, it will receive a score of 3; and if it creates multiple new collaborations, it will receive a score of 5. New collaborations are determined at the PI level, not at the institutional level.

• Demonstrate significant translational relevance (clearly defined and validated market need and size of potential impact on field). Scores for this category will range from 1-5.

• Attract follow-on funding (number of potential sources, amount of funding available, project continuation after grant ends). Scores for this category will range from 1-5.

• Demonstrate commitment from the applicants’ institutions (e.g., matching funds, in-kind matching, etc.) or industry partners. Matching funds must be documented in the “Funds Cost-Share” column of the Budget Form. Scores for this category will range from 1-5

• Measurable interim and final milestones during performance period (clearly defined and understandable, objectively measured). Scores for this category will range from 1-5.

• Involve South Carolina-based industry partners (Letter of Support required, outlining the unmet business need). If an application involves no South Carolina-based industry partners, it will receive a score of 1; if it involves 1 industry partner, it will receive a score of 3; and if it involves multiple industry partners, it will receive a score of 5.

• Involves Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), which are companies with no more than 500 employees. If an application involves no SMEs, it will receive a score of 1; if it involves 1 SME, it will receive a score of 3; and if it involves multiple SMEs, it will receive a score of 5.

• Technology has potential utility across multiple SC-based industry sectors. Scores for this category will range from 1-5.

FULL APPLICATION CONTENT

The sections below represent the body of the application and all applications should be labeled as such. Failure to submit the required sections will result in the application not being accepted or being returned without review. Each section must be formatted with margins no less than 0.5 inch using Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman with a size no less than eleven (11) points. Note: Where indicated, the number of pages refers to the maximum number of pages allowed and must not be exceeded.

1. Cover Page

Complete the Cover Page form found in Appendix B. The cover page must be signed by the Authorized Organizational/Institutional Representative.

2. Project Summary (1 page)

Provide an overview of the activities that would result if the application is funded. The Project Summary must also include a statement of objectives and methods to be employed, a statement on the intellectual merit of the proposed activity, and a statement on the broader impacts of the proposed activity.

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3. Project Description (3 pages)

Research Proposals: Provide a clear statement of the industry need to be addressed. The Project Description must include the scientific and strategic (long-term) objectives of the proposed work, milestones, success metrics, preliminary data, expected commercial significance, the relationship of this work to the present state of knowledge in the field and the work plan.

Equipment Purchase Requests: Provide a clear statement of the industry need to be addressed, summary of potential use cases, evaluation of alternative means to access the equipment (e.g. leasing, availability elsewhere in South Carolina), equipment specifications, and a quote for the equipment.

4. Intellectual Property (1 page) – optional for equipment purchase applications

Summarize the status of any existing intellectual property (pending patent applications, issued patents, copyrights, know how) at the Constituent Institution that is relevant to the application and identify if such intellectual property is available for licensing.

5. Project Collaboration (1 page)

Research Proposals: Identify the nature of the engagement between the Constituent Institutions (if applicable) or with the industry partner (if applicable). The Collaboration section must specify which parties (Constituent Institutions or industry partners) will be performing each element of the work plan. Additionally, describe how execution of this proposed research will enable and expand potential future collaborations.

Equipment Purchase Requests: Provide a listing of South Carolina researchers and their academic affiliations that could make use of the equipment. If industry would potentially use this equipment, list target industry partners. Describe how the equipment will benefit research in the field across the state.

6. Plans to Leverage Funding (1 Page)

Describe the plans to leverage the grant funding and explicitly address the targets and opportunities for future project funding and sustainability of the project. Outline a plan for submitting research applications to national and private funding agencies to attract research grants and industry partners to attract sponsored research. The plan must include the names of potential agencies and/or industry partner and the programs and dates (if known) that will be targeted. Also describe any matching funds or in-kind matching from the Constituent Institution.

7. References Cited

Reference information is required. Each reference must include the name of all authors (in same sequence in which they appear in the publication), the article and journal title, book title, volume number, page numbers, and year of publication.

8. Biographical Sketches Provide biographical sketches for individuals identified as senior personnel, including senior personnel of all Constituent Institutions. NSF format is required. Biosketches are not required for industry partners. 9. Budget Use the Budget forms in Appendix B. When completing the form for the lead PI’s institution, Section F,

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line 5 is to represent the total of all subawards. Submit a separate budget for each subaward, as well, to clarify how the funds will be distributed among the collaborating institutions. 10. Budget Justification (2 Pages)

The budget justification must be composed of no more than two pages and must include at least the following sections:

• Senior Personnel • Other Personnel • Fringe Benefits • Materials and Supplies • Equipment • Publication Costs • Other Direct Costs

Budget justifications also must be submitted for each subaward, in addition to the lead PI’s budget justification.

11. Current and Pending Support

The PI and all senior personnel must complete Current and Pending Support document in Appendix B.

COMMENTS FROM REVIEW PANEL

The SACT will provide a summary of the reviewers’ comments after the May 2019 SACT review session.

AWARD START DATE

The award start date will be determined by the date the contract is executed by SCRA and the lead Principal Investigator’s (PI) institution, but no later than June 30, 2019. Subawards will flow down from the lead PI’s institution.

USE OF FUNDS

General: The indirect rate is not to exceed 20%. Equipment is not eligible for indirect expenses.

Salary: Salary support is an allowed expense so long as it is paid to an employee of a Constituent Institution. Student stipends are an allowable expense so long as the student time charged reflects the actual time the student spent working on the proposed research. Salary support for industry partners is prohibited, but in-kind contribution of time will be taken into consideration if documented on the Budget Form.

Restrictions: The award may not be used for travel, meetings, professional fees, publication fees, etc.

Equipment: Any proposed equipment purchase exceeding $25,000 must be made available to all Constituent Institutions. Such applications must include a management plan (does not count towards page limit) that describes how other institutions will access to the equipment and the proposed fee structure. Constituent Institutions will not be charged indirect costs for their use of the equipment under the management plan. Indirect expenses are not allowed on equipment.

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Matching Funds: See “Strategic Criteria” on page 3.

AWARDEE INSTITUTION REQUIREMENTS

Awardee institutions must provide the necessary facilities and infrastructure for the research and accept the conditions of the award. Additionally, awardee institutions must adhere to current federal and state regulations, including those regarding financial conflict of interest and research misconduct.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

Confidentiality is important to SCRA, therefore please do not include confidential information in grant applications. The abstract, applicant’s name, and institutional affiliation for awarded applications may be used by the SACT for promotional and marketing purposes at the SACT’s sole discretion. Any potential promotion and marketing will be coordinated with the Principal Investigator.

Applicants acknowledge that SACT member institutions may conduct research that is related to or competitive with applications submitted by applicants. However, SACT members commit not to use information submitted by applicants in connection with such research.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GUIDELINES

The SACT, its committee members and their institutions, and SCRA do not claim any rights whatsoever to patents, copyrights, trademarks or any other intellectual property (IP) created as a result of work sponsored under this grant, except to the extent an institution receives a grant and claims IP pursuant to that institution’s IP policy. SCRA may provide copies of all applications to the respective institution’s technology transfer office or equivalent to make them aware of the collaboration and potential joint IP.

Awardees should take measures to ensure protection of any IP in accordance with federal and institutional requirements.

SCIENTIFIC REPORTING & REVIEW OF PROGRESS

Awardees are required to provide a final report within thirty (30) days of the end of the performance period. Such report shall include the results from the project, milestones achieved, publications resulting from the project, new IP generated during the project, plans for pursuing follow-on funding (including submission dates) and new collaborations (both commercial and academic) that have resulted from the project. Additionally, an interim report is required at the six month point for all projects with a one-year scope or the calculated midpoint for projects less than one year.

South Carolina’s academic subject matter experts in this field identified diffusion of knowledge as a major challenge in this field. As such, all awardees will be required to develop a non-confidential business case outlining the problem, proposed solution, and outcomes from implementation, which will be publicly distributed and shared throughout the state to benefit other manufacturing operations. Peer-reviewed publications will meet this requirement, as will informal white papers. The business case must be provided to SCRA for distribution within one year of the conclusion of the performance period.

All publications resulting from the performance of the funded project shall acknowledge SCRA as a funding source. Copies of any such publications will be submitted to the SCRA Director of Academic Programs at academicprograms@scra.org. SCRA will continue to follow longitudinal progress of the technology and reserves the rights to request brief annual progress reports for 3 years after project closing.

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CHANGES TO PROJECT SCOPE

A significant change in the project scope of work should be discussed with the SCRA Director of Academic Programs and approved in writing or by email by the Director.

HOW TO APPLY

The Budget, Current and Pending Support and Cover Page are fillable PDF documents. Combine the application and all appendices into one PDF file in the same order as outlined in the Full Application Content section of this solicitation and email to academicprograms@scra.org. Cover pages must be completed and signed by the grants office of the applicant institution. Applications that do not have a cover sheet signed by the institutional signing authority will be administratively declined.

COMPLIANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

Awards will be funded by SCRA after approval by the SACT. SCRA will assure compliance with program policies and will be responsible for all administrative matters.

The lead PI and his or her institution are solely responsible for execution of the project, including compliance with all relevant federal and state laws and guidelines. The awards will be made via contract between SCRA and the lead PI’s institution. Subawards will be the responsibility of the lead PI’s institution.

The SACT reserves the right to refine and amend policies, as required.

If there are any questions regarding this Request for Applications, please send them to Paul Dudley at paul.dudley@scra.org.

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Appendix A

Strategic Collaboration Agreement to Build the State’s Innovation Economy

Cover Page

k+SgN ffisu'muu*,* t*mp SSCRA

Oecember 2, 2016

To: South Carolina Besearch Authority (SCBA) Ex€cutiv8 Commitls€

From: Joint SCRA / South Carolina (SC) Unlv€rslties Task Force lor Tachnology{asedEconomic Dov€lopmenl

a€: stmtegic collaboratlon Agreement to Bulld tfic state'3 lnnovallon Economy

ln the int€rest o, accslerating lhe lnnovation ecmomy o, Soulh Carolina, we are crealing lh'tsframewo* o[ colleboration among and betwe€n SCRA, Medical Unlversity of South Carolha(MUSC), Untuerslty ol South Carolina (USC), Clemson University (CU), and oth€r m€mbars ofthe Ecademic community ot lhe slate. This Agreement hlrs out the framawork and intent ol ouroollaboralion. Accompanying lt as Exhibit 1 is the SCRA/Unhrarsilies Collaboration Sc,opedocument created joinlly by the SCFA and UnlveEiti€s Task Force (colleclively the .T€am").

Punose ol lha collaborstlon

This collaboration i6 necessary to align exlsling and prospectlye resources to advance th€innovallon economy of the stat6. The lnnovatlon €conomy includBs t€chnology developmentand commercialization in both the privato end publlc s8clor and among ent i6s both laryB andsmall. The State ot South Ca.ollna has many slr6n$hs upon whlch to build, and we intend touse this collaboration to crBate bBtter focus, alignm€nt, and pacs across sll slek€holdBrs-public and privale-ln building tha stals's rBputatlon and strangth in technology developmentand commerclalization.

Scope o, the co[aborallon

The scope o, the collaboration will center on thrse program areas of excellencs focused onspeciric lndustry vortlcals whare South Caiolina has exlsting or emerging strengths. These are:Advanc€d Manulacturingr'Advanced Materials; lnformalion Tschnologl and Lifesciences/Biolechnology. These varticals will be lncorporated lnto the major Blsmenls of thiscollaboralion, to lnclude:

- SC leunch- Shared inrrastruclurg- Grant seruices

Particlpanls

Maintaining broad panicipalion will be a key goal ol the coltaboGiion. The core of thecollaboralion lncludes SGHA, MUSC, USC, and CU. W6 plan to recruit and have rsprssentBdother academic institutions wilhin hs date lncluding public and prirate couoges and universili€sas w6ll Es technical colleges. Furthermore, we expect to have broad parlicipation lrom othe,staksholders such as induslry, lrade associatlons, Bl6te agencias, etc.

Rohr wilrln the cotlebordon

Thls sbat€gic colhboredon r€qulr63 lhat vra malntiln cbar mhe. SORA lnitl locls on oonrrsrihg,flcfilb[ng. end r€solrrchg lhe colhborslioo trom evelhble operEthg tun&. All panias willoonlribule to ad st,. the gEls ot lhe cofiaboration.

hogram nulagemmt, ruourdng rnd irnpbrnendon

Ths Tsam has hed produc,lir,a, lndepth dleqrgaioars about pmgmm managem€nt, l€sot rclng,and lmplemenlauorl' The T6am mffib€rs agros m hs sce€ d [lo cdlabotatbn as sp€dfi€d lnEftlbfl 1, thal SCRA wlfl managp the lnplomertaton, and tftat the olh€] Team mff$€rr ryillsupport SCHA and olhar parthipanls ln the lmpbmentafion. E,fihh I ouunes tho r€quh€flEnlsfor lhe development c, adbn plans Ina[.Elva c, drfe(€lrl rrmdng scener*r, lt ls hpodanl ftalthe Team esEbltshes lhe prioritkatim of [16 spscfic program are$ and that detalbd h.dgsE8r€ dawloprd tor €adr pogiarn ar3a to €nsrrre agpropdala resqrca alhcathn.

Gmmance

BBcause lh€ Exscutr€ Cotrml[Ee cf $6 SCFA 806rr, o, Trust€€s conslsts d laarlerc trcmaach ot the prirnery parddpants b lhb coflaboouon, kldr.dbrg tle res€arfi unfueBityprosldents aB well ae the Chdr ot SCRA, ad becausa 0re Ex€cuthrs Commh€e mB8trtEqu€nty ard is chargad ullh agproving fE SCRA Bfatsglc and annual opBrating plars, lheErecufve Corynhtee b tu affita govrming body tor hls collabordso. Thc Teammemb6'3 wilt pr83enl the acllon plarc to lh€ Exccntive Comrdnse br lncorporaton Into lh€SCBA annusl opsralirE phn lor the subs€qu€al ffscal yesr.

Parlormanca goalB

Thb co[eboraflon wlll davdop epecllic rnaldcs b erl3ull euccess ln tre lolowlng goals:

o lncrgased l€s€arch fundng vla mull-lnEfi[rlimd grelE and olhsr new fundlngvehlclEs

o Crcallon and adyanc€morit d sady.6eagp, tedlnologfbe8€d campaniaso Total capltal lnrrssffii€rilo RJulchrlvala pailnBt8hbB g6n6raung grcurh 6, fE 6ht6,s indusfy

The mllabonlion paillcbsnts will Toport at lsest annualy to the scHA E(acudve commltles onlhe progreas bekg msde in adrl€uing tlese rrerics.

ilext Stepg

uryl_ll. elecufion of.thls AgrBemenl an scRA/Acade6ia co$abotalion Team (sAcr) wll be€sfabltsh€d compriEod of one reposentatlve from oeh d lha four signelories as wBll as lheslate's co,lutBhelrdve taadri'rg unlveGlu.s ard &c trchnicd cofl€gB EEtem. The sACT wlllov€rBoo hr dlvelopment and hrFtementailon of shalegigs tor ea*r of irn program araa3 ardcon spondlng sub.progrEnrs,

For Unfuedty of South Carolina:

flaris Paslldec, Ph.O., Presldent

For Clomson Univ€rsltyi

David J. Col6, M.D., FACS, pnsident

Robert O. Oulnn, Erocutive Diredor

-?P. ClernenE, Ph.D., Prcsldent

For Mcdical Univen*ty ol Soutr Caollna:

Erhlbh t:SCFA, Urdyordtle Collabordlon Soope

SCHA and lhs Unhrersity team appolnted by th€ hr€e Solllh Carcline resaarcfi uniy€rEl0es(collecdvely the 'TearnJ have 8gr€ed lo collaboral€ on a scope ol acdvltles lo furiher r6s6arctrand commerdallzadon h ft'es lndusfy 6edor$ Adverrced Manutacluringr'Ad\rancgd lrratsrlals;tnformalion Teohnolog]4 ard Lile SciBncerBiotedrnology. lt lB recognlzed tiet eacfi ol thos€ar€as n€eds to b6 furtha, dellnsd and rnore foous€d. Thls docurnanl do€B not commil anypannor8 to provld€ Secllic rcsourc€ (€,9., st fr, fundhg, Blc.). kourcs alloca ons wlll beagr€gd uPon at a frrluE dale.

t ) Tearnwork; SCRA will organizo lls slaff basgd on rBBarch areas, krdus&y €,parts€ andrsgbnal startup comp8ny lnwslmanl needs, Th€ rcsaarEh univarsrdes ryill dBlgnaleapproprialo Elaff to work with SCFA to phn and implem€at spec-fib ScEA-fundodactlvltbs.

2) Thrce areae recommended by lhE univeEities lor SCEA prlodtlzathn are:

a) .SC Launch: lnveBtltent ln companl€s, unlvBrslty stadlp a$lslanc6, and SnlallBudnsss lnnorra0on H€seercft (SBlRysmall Bwiness Teehnology T.an6l€r (STTB)glanls

. Publlsh and lmphmont cdleria, appliEtion process, and review process lorbecomir€ a client company. Transar€rcy is needed wllh rsspect 1o lh6decbloo.maklng pocess and arvard crlteria,

. Bolsler mentorchip programs lor eady.stage companles,

. Host wod(shops whers b€st prac-lices oan be sher€d.

. Rsqulro p€rtlrpatlon in aclMtlss srrch as epprov€d lnarbation or dsvetopm6ntprograms onca an ewed 19 receiv€d.

. Detine euccess 8nd how lo mBasure lL Spsclnc msHcs wlll be €sEbli$ed.

b) Shared lntrasEucture: lnnovallon Centerc and specHized equipm€nt

. lnv6l in phlEical inlraslruclure lhat wlll benarit muttFl€ inslilullons ard facililatemult-lnslltutbnal resoarch ard commerdaltsBlion (e.9., spedalized, cagitalequlpment and latgB'scale prototypes).

o lncreass allgnmont b€tween lho use of the SCRA lnnovadon Centers end inpulkom lhelr respsc-livs res€arch univer8ifes.

c) Grant seMces: Mrdf-lnstituuonal grants, SBIFi/STTR $rpport, and E (paiimenlalProgram lo Slimulete Cornpetitlve Feseardt (EpSCoR) managemenl

. Woft wlth lhe stata's academlc lnstitutions lo ld€ntily opporunilies lor Btatewide,mulli-inElilullon€l grsnts.

. Prcvlde pror€d managpmolt o, cBrtain sblorvlde, multi.lnetiMonal grrants, whbhwould indudo grant Hcntlticatlon. seohg as lbcal agenl, ladlltadng gnntpr€paraf on. and olhsr adrnlrdstrelivE supporl,

o Provftle coat shac for hrga grant oFpdlunitiec, wtren pnc cal.

. Augmsnt unlyerslty cryblllUes h SBIRISTTB grant BJrttrits, where practical.

. ProvHe stat to maneg€ ho EPSCoR prcgram under lhe dlrccfion o, lhoEPSCon Erecr$vs Commltse.

3) Aolion phrls ruill be devaloged for ecfi recomm€ndatlon abovs. Whe.s aFmprlat€,th6s6 plan3 wlll lncltds lvco scenerios: 1. An ,n&rslry Parhssshh Ftmd (pR llmlt o, $6milllon and 2. An IPF lLnlt ol $12 mif,ion

4) Bao6d ofl lh6 Team s pdorltizatbn ol lhe recomrpndadons, ttE Team agr63s that ellItems Incfu.bd wlthln fia nocomrn€rdetlorls ror hnproving SCRA Meaion Alignmenpdoqrment asso*Ed wih 'E&cation' shqid be defErad.

5) SOBA lrill rarlow wih lhe rlsaarcrt unlt €r8ilss dwhg thr tomauon of lls annualoparafing plan developmoil lha prbrllhstion of turdhg b me€t ltE bgl8lBlh,e msrdates,lnduding lhls conaboralbn.

SCRA-Academia Collaboration Team Industry neXt Feasibility Grants

11

Appendix B

Forms

Cover page can be found here:

Cover Page

Budget form can be found here:

Budget Form

Current and pending support can be found here:

Current and Pending Support