I-20 Corridor Regional Accelerator Program
Dr. Dave Norris
Chief Innovation Officer
Louisiana Tech University
Phone: (318) 257-3537
dnorris@latech.edu
Purpose of Initiative
The Regional Business Acceleration program initiated by Louisiana Tech University, in collaboration with partners throughout north Louisiana, is focused on providing services and support to facilitate rapid growth for business enterprises demonstrating strong potential for the creation of good quality jobs and the attraction of revenue from outside the region.
Eligibility
This initiative is designed specifically for encouraging business activities suited to operation in northern LA communities and includes an emphasis on developing opportunities in targeted industry clusters such as: information technology and telecommunications, alternative energy and green construction, and biosciences. Both aspiring entrepreneurs and existing businesses can benefit from Accelerator services and either may apply to participate in the Accelerator program.
Application Process
The Accelerator application process is summarized below:
- Review and begin preparing a response to the questions posed on this Accelerator Application.
- Schedule an appointment to meet with an Accelerator staff member to receive help with understanding how to effectively complete the Application form.
- Submit a completed Application to TBDC at PO Box 3145, Ruston, LA 71272 or tbdc@latech.edu.
- Applications will be reviewed, and some applicants may be asked to complete a personal interview with the Accelerator review panel.
- Applicants will be referred to the most appropriate resources and sources of assistance.
Award Details
Entrepreneurs who have graduated from previous Accelerator programs have received more than $3 million in funding. Various funding sources have provided seed or pre-seed grants, competition awards, loans, lines of credit and angel investment.
Research Competitiveness Subprogram (RCS) with RCS One-Year Research Component
Ms. Zenovia Simmons
R&D Program Manager
State of Louisiana Board of Regents
1201 N. Third St., Suite 6-200
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 342-4253
zenovia.simmons@la.gov
Purpose of Initiative
The specific objective of the RCS is to solicit research proposals designed to build and strengthen the fundamental research base and competitiveness of Louisiana’s universities. The proposed research must include fundamental (basic) research contributions rather than simply the application of existing knowledge.
The RCS is a stimulus program directed only toward those researchers who are at the threshold of becoming competitive on a consistent basis in the Federal R & D marketplace and who–with some assistance from the Support Fund to implement their plans to overcome whatever barriers they have identified which have stood in their way–clearly have a strong potential for enhancing their competitive status within a limited time span. For this reason, it is unlikely that researchers and/or research groups that are already established and federally funded (unless they are moving into a new field of research and also fit the above criteria) would be highly competitive. Junior researchers at the threshold of becoming competitive will be given priority over senior researchers who are changing research fields.
The objective of the RCS One-Year research component is to stimulate and support faculty on a limited basis in their exploration of novel science and engineering research leading to near-term federal support. The RCS One-Year research component provides short-term pilot awards for both tenured and tenure-track faculty. The ultimate goal of the RCS One-Year research component is to enable faculty to position themselves to submit more competitive federal proposals in the near term. Reviewers will evaluate the merit of each proposal based in part on the potential of the investigator to enhance his/her research competitiveness in order to secure federal funds soon after BoRSF support, in addition to the PI’s overall potential for becoming nationally competitive regardless of the area of research.
Eligibility
- ELIGIBLE FACULTY: Only tenured or tenure-track faculty employed on a full-time basis by an eligible Louisiana institution of higher education may act as principal or co-principal investigators.
- ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS: All Louisiana public institutions of higher education and those independent institutions of higher education which are members of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities are eligible to compete under the Support Fund R & D Program.
- ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES: Both basic and applied research proposals will be considered. Potential applicants should be aware, however, that R & D program funds must be used for research.
- ELIGIBLE DISCIPLINES: All Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines are eligible on a rotating basis.
- GROUP I – ELIGIBLE EVERY YEAR
-Biological Sciences I (Cell/Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology)
-Biological Sciences II (Ecology, Nutrition, Natural Biology, Toxicology,
-Pharmacology, Neurosciences, Anatomy, Genetics [Physiology-Phenotype])
-Computer and Information Sciences
-Earth/Environmental Sciences - GROUP II – ELIGIBLE IN FYs 2014-15, 2015-16, 2018-19, 2019-20
-Agricultural Sciences
-Engineering A (Chemical, Civil, Electrical, etc.)
-Mathematics
-Physics/Astronomy
-Social Sciences
- GROUP III – ELIGIBLE IN FYs 2012-13, 2013-14, 2016-17, 2017-18
-Chemistry
-Health and Medical Sciences
-Engineering B (Industrial, Materials, Mechanical, etc.)
Application Process
To access the Request for Proposals for the RCS program, please refer to the website.
Award Details
For RCS, no applicant may seek more than a total of $200,000 over a three-year period. Applicants should be aware, however, that the average first-year RCS award in FY 2016-17 was $46,950, with first-year awards ranging from $40,461 to $67,930. Also, because of the intense proposal pressure in this subprogram, applicants are advised that proposals with “high-end” budgets may be reduced or not funded.
For RCS One-Year, no applicant may seek more than $20,000 for a maximum one-year period. The average one-year award in FY2016-17 was $19,730, with awards ranging from $19,050 to $20,000.
Industrial Ties Research Subprogram (ITRS) with Proof-of-Concept/Prototype (PoCP) Initiative
Ms. Zenovia Simmons
R&D Program Manager
State of Louisiana Board of Regents
1201 N. Third St., Suite 6-200
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 342-4253
zenovia.simmons@la.gov
Purpose of Initiative
The specific objective of the ITRS is to fund research proposals with significant near-term potential for development and diversification of Louisiana’s economic base. Accordingly, all proposals submitted in this subprogram must show evidence of involvement of the private sector. Applicants who anticipate submitting proposals in non-science or non-engineering areas should see the note at the end of this section.
The ITRS is also a stimulus program. To be funded, proposals must provide evidence that the project will: (1) involve significant private sector or Federal funding or, at a minimum, develop a plan to greatly increase the likelihood of receiving Federal or private-sector funding in the near future; or (2) result potentially in the enhancement or establishment of a Louisiana business or industry which will attract significant revenues to the State.
The specific objective of P-o-C/P is to solicit science and engineering (S&E) proposals from the State’s tenured, tenure-track, or fulltime research professors seeking funding to enable proof-of-concept activities and/or prototype development with research commercialization and technology transfer potential; and contribute to the economic development of Louisiana. Since the goal of Po-C/P is to advance innovation toward commercialization, proposals for basic research projects that do not further advance commercial development of an innovation will not be considered.
Eligibility
- ELIGIBLE FACULTY: Only tenured tenure-track or research professors employed on a full-time basis by an eligible Louisiana institution of higher education may act as principal or co-principal investigators.
- ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS: All Louisiana public institutions of higher education and those independent institutions of higher education which are members of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities are eligible to compete under the Support Fund R & D Program.
- ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES: For ITRS, both basic and applied research proposals that have the potential for contributing to the State’s economic development will be considered. Potential applicants should be aware, however, that R & D program funds must be used for research. In regard to PoCP, proposals must support proof-of-concept and/or prototype development related to an innovation which has been previously disclosed and is actively managed by the institution’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and has high potential for commercialization and technology transfer to an existing or spin-off company. Any proposal for a project to develop a previously disclosed innovation which is either (1) subject to an unexpired obligation under any university grant or contract, or (2) already licensed or optioned to a company at the time of application for an P-o-C/P grant, are not eligible and will not be considered.
- ELIGIBLE DISCIPLINES: To align the Support Fund more closely with the State’s emerging economic initiatives while targeting scarce resources for maximum effect, a modified approach will be followed beginning in FY 2016, in which all disciplines/focus areas are eligible for funding consideration in ITRS and P-o-C/P provided the project meets subprogram/component goals. However, preference will be given to those applications that are submitted in areas that have been identified as targeted industry sectors: Advanced materials and manufacturing; Life sciences and bioengineering; Digital media and enterprise software; Coastal and water management; Clean technology and energy.
Application Process
To access the Request for Proposals for the ITRS program, please refer to this website.
Award Details
For ITRS, no applicant may seek more than $350,000 over a three-year period. The total request for the first year may not exceed $150,000, and the total request for each successive year may not exceed $100,000. Applicants should be aware, however, that the average first-year ITRS award in FY 2014-15 was $62,114 with first-year awards ranging from $44,226 to $82,309. For PoCP, no applicant may seek less than $10,000 or more than $40,000 for a one-year period 2016-17 was $67,957 with first-year awards ranging from $40,950 to $85,000. For PoC/P, no applicant may seek less than $10,000 or more than $40,000 for a one-year period. The average one-year award in FY 2016-17 was $39,005, with awards ranging from $35,500 to $40,000.
Updated March 2018, Rachel Werth
