Technology Development Fund (Tech-Dev) Program
The Technology Development Fund (Tech-Dev) is a strategic “gap funding” initiative designed to accelerate the development of MSU-based technologies with strong commercial potential. Administered through a joint commitment of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRGS) and the MSU Foundation, the program supports MSU Technologies (MSUT) and other business units within the MSU Innovation Center.
Tech-Dev grants aim to:
- Enhance, optimize, and advance selected technologies
- Increase commercial value and market responsiveness
- Enable MSU researchers to retain a greater share of ownership
- Support licensing, marketing, startup creation, and other commercialization pathways
Through the TSGTD nomination and award process, MSUT Technology Managers and MSU inventors focus on the most promising commercial opportunities within the university’s IP portfolio.
Program Focus: The Tech-Dev program emphasizes validation of technologies to reduce commercialization-related risks, typically post-MTRAC milestones. Funding supports specific activities, experiments, or decision criteria that address risks identified by potential licensees, investors, partners, customers, or industry experts.
Eligibility and Proposal Scope
- Applicants: Open to MSU-based researchers only
- Technology Stage: Mid-stage technologies with IP protection in progress or secured
- Commercial Readiness: A clear commercial hypothesis must be in place or developed during the project
Proposals must demonstrate how the work will de-risk the technology and enhance its commercial viability. Required elements include:
- Technology development and validation
- Customer (First-Use) hypothesis
- Market dynamics and structure
- Business model testing
- Post-grant funding plan
- Proposed development sequence and timeline
Application Process
- Technology Manager Support: Proposals must be endorsed and recommended by your Technology Manager. Please collaborate with them to create the proposal. Only the Technology Manager is authorized to submit the formal application.
- Proposal Format: Limited to 5 pages, including a detailed cover page (see application link below). References and citations are not included in the page count.
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Review Panel: Proposals are reviewed by a panel of ~5 experts representing university tech transfer, industry, startups, and technical domains.
- Evaluation Criteria: Proposals are scored based on the strength of evidence and activities addressing the required evaluation metrics.
Funding Details
The amount and duration of Tech-Dev awards vary based on the scope and complexity of the proposed project.
- Typical Award Size: Generally under $50,000, supporting 2–3 key milestones
- Project Duration: Typically 6–12 months
- Matching Funds: A 25% match of the total project cost is required from the College, Department, or a third-party source
- Funding Priorities:
- Efficient use of funds
- Clear focus on metrics and milestones
- Validation of performance or deployment in specific modes, cost envelopes, or specifications informed by external stakeholders
- Larger Awards: May be justified with the inclusion of an external sponsored research partner who contributes funding
- Sequential Awards: Multiple rounds of funding are allowed for a single technology
Risk Assessment Projects: In addition to full proposals, the Tech-Dev program supports small-scale Risk Assessment Projects. These are limited-scope activities or experiments (typically under $10,000) that help inform future Tech-Dev proposals or IP decisions. Your Technology Manager must initiate these projects.
Nomination & Review Process
All TD projects must be nominated by MSUT Technology Managers, who are responsible for identifying technologies with strong commercial potential. Researchers interested in participating should contact their Technology Manager to learn more about the nomination process.
While projects across all categories are actively supported, there has been a growing emphasis on collaborative efforts with commercial partners, reflecting increased interest in joint development and co-investment opportunities.
Once nominated, TD grant proposals are reviewed by a committee comprised primarily of external industry and technology development professionals. Funding decisions are made based on these review results. This rolling review process, funded continuously by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRGS), allows for timely support of high-potential projects, avoiding the delays often associated with traditional grant programs that operate on fixed RFP cycles.
This approach ensures that TD funding is deployed when it has the most impact, accelerating the de-risking of technologies at critical stages of development.