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MTRAC AgBio Starter Award Application

MTRAC AgBio Starter Award Proposals are due by 5PM EST on Thursday, March 28th 2024.

Applicant Notes:

  • Starter grant awards are intended to provide enough data or other verification to facilitate the submission of a later Full award proposal, develop a proof of concept, or complete a short-term commercialization activity.
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the MTRAC program staff for assistance with the preparation of their applications.
  • MSU FACULTY APPLICANTS ONLY: The required e-Transmittal should be sent through the regular process to OSP with an internal sponsor named “MSU-MTRAC.”
  • NON-MSU FACULTY APPLICANTS ONLY: Please contact Joseph Affholter (517.884.1824) or Weian Ou (517.884.1059) to review the Template Subcontract (PDF) before signing the MTRAC AgBio Requested Budget and Signature Page of your proposal.

Step 1: Download submission information (includes template)

Step 2: Download the Budget and Signature form

Step 3: Review the rubric for the initial proposal evaluation

Final: Submit your MTRAC application online

For further information or questions regarding the application process, please contact Joseph Affholter (jaffholt@msu.edu) or Weian Ou (ouweian@msu.edu).

Eligibility and Information:

  • Researchers will be able to apply for funding to help drive agriculture-related technology toward commercialization, including support for prototype development, animal trials, scale-up studies, crop trials, and verification studies.
  • While not required, interested parties are encouraged to schedule a pre-proposal idea consultation with the MTRC AgBio program. This can help researchers effectively address the technical and commercial elements of the proposal.
  • Concurrent Starter and Full proposals on the same topic are not allowed. The second proposal on the same topic will not be accepted.
  • Researchers can apply for funding to help drive agriculture-related technology toward commercialization, including but not limited to support for prototype development, milestone setting, animal trials, scale-up studies, crop trials, and verification studies.
  • Awards range up to $40k direct cost.
  • Interested investigators are asked to schedule a pre-proposal idea consultation with the MTRAC Ag Bio program.
  • In all award applications, please use submission templates.
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