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Program encourages collaboration with industry

The Kansas Bioscience Authority has introduced a program designed to promote and fund research collaborations with industry. The Eisenhower Innovation R and D Fund provides vouchers on a competitive basis to Kansas bioscience companies. The vouchers are then used to fund research projects.

For more information, contact Novak at cnovak@ku.edu or 864-9004.
Participating companies can receive up to $500,000 per project under. The company must match the KBA grant dollar-for-dollar in cash, resulting in a pool of available funds up to $1 million.

Carey Novak, director of business and industry outreach at Research and Graduate Studies, said his role is "to help KU researchers connect with eligible companies that may have an interest in collaborative research. This program is ideal for them and a great opportunity for KU researchers."

In addition to his role as "matchmaker", Novak can also assist researchers and companies in preparing pre-applications and applications.

Funds are used to support applied research projects that can lead to commercialization of new technologies. There must be a commercial application in one of five areas: animal health, plant sciences, bio-fuels, bio-composites or human health.

The company is the lead organization in the submission of an application to KBA. To be eligible, the company must have a major physical presence in Kansas, operate primarily in the biosciences industry and enter into a partnership with a Kansas research university.

Eligible companies may submit a pre-application to KBA at any time. KBA reviews the document within 30 days. If approved, a formal application is submitted for final review and action by KBA.

At least 51 percent of the total available funds for any project must be spent at the collaborating Kansas research university. Universities that participate in a project are required to match 20 percent of the total available funds in cash or in kind.

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