expand_contentThe Provost Proof of Concept (PPOC) Fund, administered by Tulane’s
Innovation Institute, furthers the vision of accelerating and amplifying ideas and
discoveries benefiting New Orleans and society. The PPOC is non-dilutive competitive
grant funding and an early-stage commercialization resource for our Tulane research
community. These funds will be used for early stage (TRL 2-4) development to
determine the most actionable market application, the most viable business model, and
to develop the proof-of-concept for a targeted application. Funds can be used for a
variety of development tasks such as: market studies, validation studies, consultants,
customer discovery efforts, detailed IP analysis, and prototype development. Customer
discovery is an essential component of this process, and applications must incorporate
this into milestones.
Innovation Institute, furthers the vision of accelerating and amplifying ideas and
discoveries benefiting New Orleans and society. The PPOC is non-dilutive competitive
grant funding and an early-stage commercialization resource for our Tulane research
community. These funds will be used for early stage (TRL 2-4) development to
determine the most actionable market application, the most viable business model, and
to develop the proof-of-concept for a targeted application. Funds can be used for a
variety of development tasks such as: market studies, validation studies, consultants,
customer discovery efforts, detailed IP analysis, and prototype development. Customer
discovery is an essential component of this process, and applications must incorporate
this into milestones.
Eligibility
PPOC is administered once in the fall and once in the spring. Proposals are
evaluated by external experts in their fields (industry). Below is a list of requirements:
Applicants must have a connection to the Tulane (faculty, research staff, or students/postdocs/fellows/residents)
The relevant technology must have an invention disclosure filed or in
preparation and an identified commercial application.
A completed application that includes abstract, milestones, and budget.
Note: typical applications for these funds will be prototyping, customer
discovery, market application research, animal studies, detailed IP
analysis, etc.. Customer discovery must be included.
Detailed project funding budget of $5,000 up to $50,000.
Projects involving already licensed technologies are ineligible for funding.
evaluated by external experts in their fields (industry). Below is a list of requirements:
Applicants must have a connection to the Tulane (faculty, research staff, or students/postdocs/fellows/residents)
The relevant technology must have an invention disclosure filed or in
preparation and an identified commercial application.
A completed application that includes abstract, milestones, and budget.
Note: typical applications for these funds will be prototyping, customer
discovery, market application research, animal studies, detailed IP
analysis, etc.. Customer discovery must be included.
Detailed project funding budget of $5,000 up to $50,000.
Projects involving already licensed technologies are ineligible for funding.
Important PPOC Proposal Considerations
Successful PPOC project proposals do not seek to apply grant funds to basic research
activities. Successful PPOC proposals will describe activities and project milestones
relevant to making progress in answering fundamental commercialization questions,
such as: Does it work as intended? Do we know who is likely buy it and why? What is
our evidence? Successful applications include customer discovery as a component of
the work, either 1) incorporating previous or ongoing activities in the design or 2)
initiating customer discovery activities.
activities. Successful PPOC proposals will describe activities and project milestones
relevant to making progress in answering fundamental commercialization questions,
such as: Does it work as intended? Do we know who is likely buy it and why? What is
our evidence? Successful applications include customer discovery as a component of
the work, either 1) incorporating previous or ongoing activities in the design or 2)
initiating customer discovery activities.
Review of Proposals
All PPOC proposals shall be evaluated on a competitive basis by the PPOC Review
Committee, which is composed individuals based on the needs of the applicant pool.
Members can include research faculty representatives, commercialization experts from
the Tulane Innovation Institute and external organizations, and early-stage investment
professionals from outside the university. The PPOC Review Committee shall score
each written proposal from a technological, market opportunity, and PPOC submission
team capabilities perspective. In some circumstances, the Committee shall contact the
applicant(s) for additional clarifying information necessary to make award decisions.
Committee, which is composed individuals based on the needs of the applicant pool.
Members can include research faculty representatives, commercialization experts from
the Tulane Innovation Institute and external organizations, and early-stage investment
professionals from outside the university. The PPOC Review Committee shall score
each written proposal from a technological, market opportunity, and PPOC submission
team capabilities perspective. In some circumstances, the Committee shall contact the
applicant(s) for additional clarifying information necessary to make award decisions.
Proposal Submission Due-Dates and Award Dates
POC grant funding is awarded on a competitive basis. Our next POC Proposal
submission deadline is September 29, 2023, with an anticipated grant award
announcement date of November 15, 2023.
submission deadline is September 29, 2023, with an anticipated grant award
announcement date of November 15, 2023.
How to Apply
Please complete the YouNoodle application form, including upload
of PDF based on PPT template with technology quad chart, milestones, and team
bio. Project narrative must also be uploaded as a separate PDF.
of PDF based on PPT template with technology quad chart, milestones, and team
bio. Project narrative must also be uploaded as a separate PDF.
