Technology Transfer Division and the LDRD Program Office are piloting a new program to provide small innovation investments (ideation grants) to demonstrate the feasibility of applied LDRD ER and DR concepts at the pre-proposal stage. Funds awarded will be used to perform R&D to reduce the uncertainty and innovation risk associated with intended LDRD proposals.
- Awards not to exceed $20K (funding may be used for T&E as well as acquisition of resources to assist in performing work). Funding will come from TT retained royalty income and is exempt from the Laboratory burden rate.
- For the LDRD Call for Proposals, TT anticipates a total of 10 awards for this pilot project.
- Proposals should address how R&D work proposed will technically enable the LDRD concept, as well as show both Laboratory strategic and market relevance.
Who can apply for Strategic Innovation Investments?
All LANL researchers—technical staff members and post-docs, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals—may apply if they are planning to submit an applied LDRD proposal. Any proposal selected that has foreign national participation must be approved through a SAFE-Division review before the project can begin.
Criteria for Selection: The strategic innovation investment proposals must:
- Support a Laboratory strategic grand challenge: See LDRD Strategic Investment Plan, December 2007.
- Exhibit potential for generation of new intellectual property and breakthrough commercial innovation; and
- Reveal market relevance or support an industrial market need with high potential to attract a collaborative partnership (through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) to the Laboratory.
Training Workshop: LDRD and TT will sponsor a training workshop on how to do patent searching and market research on Thursday, November 13, 2008, 9:00–11:00 a.m. in the Cochiti Room at the J. Robert Oppenheimer Study Center. (TA-3, SM-207, Room 216)
When: Submissions due December 1, 2008.
Funding award decisions are anticipated December 10, 2008. TT will notify applicants selected for funding and provide Safety, Security, and Compliance forms and ISSM documents that must be completed before funding can be released.
How: Individuals seeking to submit proposals must complete the Application Form for TT Strategic Innovation Investments. (See links on right.)
If you have questions, please contact, Ken Freese, kfreese@lanl.gov or phone 7-1928. |
