QED: Elements of the Program - Science Center

Introduction

Elements of the Program

How to Apply

Awardees

Market Representation

The QED Program integrates four elements that are critical to successfully and efficiently performing early-stage proof-of-concept technology development:

• Business Advice: Projects designed and supported by the QED Program are milestone-driven and focused on answering key questions that will help move technologies from academia into the commercialization cycle. To achieve this, the Science Center recruits and appoints Business Advisors with appropriate domain expertise to mentor Principal Investigators through the project development and implementation process. The Investigator-Advisor teams work closely with the Technology Transfer Office of the participating research organization in planning and execution.
• Bridge Funding: Project support will be awarded in the form of $200,000 grants to researchers at eligible regional research organizations, for early-stage R&D projects completed over a 12-month period. Funding for each project is contributed equally by the Science Center and by the research organization executing the project. This model of joint support enables the Science Center and its partner research institutions to be joint participants in life science technology commercialization. Ownership of all intellectual property is retained by the research institution and transitioned into licensing opportunities or new ventures according to institutional policies and commercial interest. Each research institution has agreed to revenue-sharing conditions in the event that a funded project is licensed. Applicants should consult their Technology Transfer Office to discuss details.
• Market Drivers: The Science Center selects projects for strategic plan development and funding via a market-driven process that incorporates representatives of the Regional investment community and industry, supported by scientific reviewers. Proposals will be evaluated in a two-stage competitive review involving both written and oral presentation components.  
• Guidance to Exit: The QED Program will utilize a Science Center Program Manager, other senior management of the Science Center, and additional industry and investment representatives to evaluate and select proposals and to conduct periodic review of projects to facilitate successful exit of technologies from the Program into the private sector.

The QED Program model facilitates cooperation among institutional stakeholders that seek to 1) accelerate the development of technologies in research organization labs, and 2) translate these technologies into products entering the marketplace.