Technology Development Fund (TDF)

All University of Rochester employees, faculty, and students can apply for a TDF Award as long as 1) they have an invention disclosure on file with UR Ventures, and 2) the invention has (or will) be assigned to the University of Rochester (in accordance with the University’s IP Policy).

There is no limitation on the invention’s field in order to apply for a TDF Award. Proposals are judged on their ability to help bring the underlying technology to a licensable state of development with strong potential for financial return.

While a TDF application can be filed on any invention disclosure at any stage, technologies that are more likely to be considered for TDF funding will have demonstrated proof-of-concept but may require further optimization, pre-clinical testing (for biomedical technologies), pilot scale-up, etc.

If any related agreement involves language that gives the non-government sponsor a first look, an option to a license, or if a license already exists, then you are NOT eligible.

Pre-proposals are due on the announced deadline via the pre-proposal application form. The questions and word-count limits for responses can be found here.  Pre-proposals will undergo review by a Screening Committee, after which a select group of applicants will be invited to advance to the full proposal stage.

Though not required, your application will be greatly enhanced by providing at least one letter of support from an outside party indicating commercial interest/value of technology being developed (this will become mandatory in future TDF funding rounds).

Only one application per funding cycle can be submitted by each inventor.

The full process from submission of pre-proposal applications to selection of final TDF awards takes approximately 3 months.

Yes, all proposals not chosen for further evaluation or funding will be returned with not only the reason why, but also with recommendations on what might be required for future consideration.

Awards will typically be in the range of $40,000 to $100,000, with the objective to reach a significant development milestone within a year’s time.

Funding can be used to support technical and staff salaries, supplies, and small equipment (less than $5,000). Funding can also be used for outsourcing/fee-for-service activities.

The TDF is not designed/intended to fund basic research. Funding is not intended to be used for gap funding salaries for other ongoing projects. Funding cannot be used for faculty members’ salaries or overhead.

Funds are released in tranches upon successful completion of milestones.

In order to ensure that the Fund is evergreen, the project’s researchers and inventors will be required to sign a slight modification to the University’s standard revenue sharing agreement that provisions for a percentage of the revenue received by the University from the licensing of the technology to be paid into the Fund until 3X the amount of the TDF award has been repaid.

The achievement of agreed upon milestones will serve as key decision points for the assessment of progress and the determination of continued funding. A project may be terminated if key milestones are not met.

• Time and Effort: The applicant is responsible for the plan and will commit his/her time and effort, as appropriate, to lead and oversee the project. Applicant is highly encouraged to participate in the NSF I-Corps program at the University of Rochester if their TDF project is awarded (this will become mandatory for TDF funded projects in future funding rounds). Review information about the NSF I-Corps Regional Course. Please contact Prof James Zavislan at james.zavislan@rochester.edu for more details.
• Project Plan: Any significant mid-course revisions to the research plan must be submitted to the fund manager and will require approval by the Selection Committee.
  Reporting: If awarded TDF funding, the project leader must be prepared to meet regularly with UR Ventures to provide progress updates.
• Reporting: If awarded TDF funding, the project leader must be prepared to meet regularly with UR Ventures to provide progress updates.

The awards are intended to provide funding that de-risks critical activities to enable technology transfer to industry or the formation of a start-up.

Project outcomes may include:

• Demonstrating proof of concept: Develop prototype, feasibility testing, pilot studies, tech demos
• De-risking manufacturability: process scale-up, cost analysis
• Generating data to support IND-filing- pharmacology, toxicology, CMC, ADME
• Regulatory submissions, e.g. obtaining CLIA certification
• Formation of startup
• Generation of results leading to technology licensing

Other indirect project outcomes may include:

• Recruitment of key advisors/employees
• Follow-on funding obtained: grant, investment, sponsored research, award, etc.
• Generation of additional follow-on IP disclosure
• Strengthening or broadening patent claims that advance commercialization (mitigate risk, increase value, etc.)
• For digital health technologies including ML/AI algorithms:
  • generating high quality data that can be used to improve the original model and/or can be licensed on its own
  • integrating into clinical workflow, e.g. EHR
  • developing an application