Proposals being accepted for developments in digital multimedia, digital networking, robotic applications

Innovation Works (IW), the Ben Franklin Technology Partner of Southwestern PA,  a statewide economic development organization that supports technology commercialization and company growth through innovation, will award up to $800,000 in technology commercialization funding to universities, early-stage and/or established companies based in Pennsylvania.  Draft proposal submissions for funding through the Technology Commercialization Initiative are due August 3, 2012, with final proposal submissions due September 7, 2012. 

Through a competitive selection process, funding will be awarded for individual projects ranging up to $100,000 each that address key engineering design challenges, show a high degree of innovation, and, most importantly, identify a clear path to commercialization with the potential to significantly impact digital and/or robotics-related companies in Pennsylvania. Required project completion is 12 months commencing from the date of the contract.

“The Technology Commercialization Initiative aims to establish and grow a leading industry presence in Pennsylvania focused on market segments in digital multimedia, digital networking, and robotic applications,” said Chuck Brandt, Ph.D., Vice President, Technology Programs for Innovation Works.  “We are driving rapid and continuing progress in technology development and commercialization in these areas. Our project funding helps to identify technology challenges within these market segments and create prototype solutions that reach beyond the current generation of available products and services,” continued Dr. Brandt.

The full Request for Proposals can be downloaded at http://www.techcollaborative.org/default.aspx?id=download_rfp.  Commercial submissions will be accepted from Pennsylvania firms that have not previously received Technology Commercialization Initiative (TCI) funding from the predecessor organization, The Technology Collaborative, or that have received less than $250,000 of total funding, as prime- and/or subcontractor, from prior TTC TCI solicitations.

Potential applicants should check the Innovation Works website at http://www.innovationworks.org/ periodically for dates and locations for webinars and proposal workshops to take place throughout the state. These briefings will provide a detailed overview of the submission and evaluation process, as well as a forum for more information. Workshop attendance is not mandatory for submitting a proposal. Those seeking funding can find more examples of funded projects and information on the website, or contact Chuck Brandt, Ph.D., IW VP Technology Programs, cbrandt@innovationworks.org or Bob Thomson, Regional Manager, Lehigh Valley, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, rthomson@nep.benfranklin.org.

Innovation Works is a colleague organization to Bethlehem-based Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Both are part of a four-center, state-funded economic development network that was created in 1982 to promote, sustain, and invest in the prosperity of Pennsylvania’s economy through innovation and partnering.  IW received responsibility for the Technology Commercialization Initiative (TCI) when it assumed the primary programs of The Technology Collaborative in May. 

About Innovation Works and the Ben Franklin Technology Partners:

Innovation Works (www.innovationworks.org) is southwestern Pennsylvania’s Ben Franklin Technology Partner, and is a sister organization to the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (http://www.nep.benfranklin.org/)(BFTP/NEP). BFTP/NEP is headquartered in Ben Franklin TechVentures® on Lehigh University’s campus in Bethlehem, and serves a 21-county area. The Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) is a statewide network dedicated to technology commercialization and company growth through innovation. BFTP/NEP, Innovation Works, and the other centers in the Ben Franklin network provide funding and business assistance to start-ups and innovative companies that diversify Pennsylvania’s economy, attract talent and capital, and generate growth across the Commonwealth. BFTP is an initiative of the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, and is overseen by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.