The Innovation & Business Engagement Hub is now accepting applications for two funding opportunities to advance innovations being developed at UC Santa Cruz.
Innovation Catalyst Grant
The Innovation Catalyst Grant is a proof-of-concept program focused on providing targeted gap funding, training, mentorship, and support to university researchers to help de-risk and/or validate the implementation and adoption potential of early-stage technology innovations. The program’s overall objective is to better position innovations to move out of the University and catalyze the process leading to transformative change and societal impact.
In addition to considering a broad range of technology innovations, for the 2024 cycle, the Innovation Catalyst Grant will also include a special Climate Action Solutions Track focused on technology innovations addressing California’s most pressing climate challenges. Funding of up to $50,000 in direct costs will be available for selected projects, with a total of $300,000 available in the 2024 cycle (up to $100,000 for the core program and up to $200,000 for the Climate Action Solutions Track). The application deadline for the current cycle is January 12, 2024.
To learn more about the program and download the Request for Proposals, visit the Innovation Catalyst Grant website.
The Innovation & Business Engagement Hub will host an online information session on December 15, 2023, at 2 p.m. To receive a Zoom login, please register at this link.
Climate Action Solutions Incubator Program
The new Climate Action Solutions Incubator Program provides small-scale supplemental project funding and access to capacity-building workshops and mentorship in order to advance action-oriented solutions being developed at UC Santa Cruz that have the potential to address one or more of California’s most pressing climate challenges.
Each selected project will be awarded up to $10,000 in supplemental funding to help accelerate solution implementation and adoption. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will be considered until the $50,000 funding allocated to the program is depleted.
To learn more about the Incubator program and download the detailed description, visit the Climate Action Solutions Incubator Program website.
Please reach out to hub@ucsc.edu with any questions about either program.
