Concept-to-Market (C2M) Pilot Grants
Purpose: Sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Biotechnology (VPRB), this grant provides early-stage funding to commercialize biomedical technologies (therapeutics, biologics, devices, software, etc.) developed at WesternU.
Award Amount: $5,000- $20,000 is available to cover the necessary cost to achieve one or more specific objectives
Timeline: Funding can be requested throughout the year. Objective(s) must be completed within 3- to 6-months.
Permitted Use of Funds: Money can be used for research and development tied directly to specific milestones, including:
Proof of concept studies leading to a provisional patent.
Prototype and software development (materials, labor, specific project scope).
General R&D expenses like equipment, cloud infrastructure, secure hosting, licensing, etc.
Application Guidelines
Eligibility: Open to all investigators with primary employment appointments at the WesternU, including adjunct faculty and postdoctoral fellows
Required Materials:
Invention Disclosure Form: The technology must be officially disclosed to the Office of the VPRB and adhere to the university's intellectual property policy.
Project Statement (1 page): A rationale for the short-term translational objective (e.g., a proof of concept study) and a timetable for completion.
Budget Justification (1 page): A breakdown of the requested funds.
Application Review
Evaluation Process: An ad hoc Review Committee will judge the applications. Finalists may also be required to present their research projects directly to the committee.
Judging Criteria:
Clarity of the stated objectives and milestones.
Scientific and technical merit.
Market assessment and validation of the technology.