up to $150,000 in funds are available for applied research projects between local industry partners and university researchers

This program supports fosters applied research between the region’s high-tech industry partners, and top-rate faculty and student researchers at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the University of South Florida (USF). 

Since the program started in 1996 to grow the region’s talent and technological capabilities, its signature public-private partnership approach has generated an estimated $1 billion in downstream economic impacts. Countless successes include the hiring of student research participants, commercialization of new products with life-changing capabilities, groundbreaking patents and stronger company positioning to attract federal funds.

The program can provide up to $150,000 in matching funds for applied research projects between local industry partners and university researchers. The fund will match the industry partner’s cash and in-kind investment in university research.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants must: 

• Involve an industry partner with a significant presence in the 23-county region and a principal investigator from at least one of the universities: UCF and USF;
• Focus on applied research that supports the development and commercialization of new technologies; and,
• Include support for at least one university student researcher on the project.

Eligible Projects

• • Generate new intellectual property or technology.
  • Develop and commercialize existing university technology.
  • Leverage federal funding through the SBIR/STTR or other programs.
  • Invest in the strategic research areas of UCF and USF, and The Corridor region’s key industry clusters.
  • Engage new industry or faculty participants.
  • Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration between colleges at the university or between UCF and USF.
  • Provide a tangible impact for the industry partner, including revenue, workforce expansion, etc.
  • Provide high-level, hands-on research experiences for university students and fellows.