Section 540.60  Eligible Grant Categories and Activities

a)         Technology Commercialization Centers – This category of projects provides for matching grants to universities, research institutions, research consortia, and other not-for-profit entities for the purpose of identifying and supporting Illinois business with services auxiliary to direct production but necessary for success in new product sales.  Centers shall engage in intensive service or coordinated sets of activities for Illinois businesses and shall engage in one or more of the following activities:

1)         General feasibility studies of new product, service, or venture ideas;

2)         Directing Research Assistance for new venture creations;

3)         Adaption of technologies, prototype development, and product testing;

4)         Developing technical and intellectual skills of business managers;

5)         Commercialization of new technology, concepts, services, or products;

6)         Aid in securing financing, marketing, and production of new products; or

7)         Assisting inventors in finding Illinois manufacturers of their products (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1984 Supp., ch. 127, par. 46.19a(2)(b)(i-vii)).

b)         Business Innovation Research – This category of projects provides matching financial aid to Illinois businesses to fund research and consultation arrangements between businesses and universities or other not-for-profit research organizations.  Such aid to business shall provide funding for up to 50 percent of the allowable cost of the research or consultation; however, such aid from the Department shall not exceed $100,000.

c)         Challenge Grants

1)         This category of projects provides matching grants to qualified applicants who provide a contributing match for other creative systems that bridge university resources and businesses' technological, production, and development concerns.  Such grants to eligible applicants shall provide funding for up to 50 percent of the total allowable costs of the project.

2)         The Department shall set aside up to 10 percent of the appropriation to consider meritorious technology transfer or commercialization proposals submitted by federal research laboratories under this category.  Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with criteria in Section 540.50(a) through (d).  Unused set aside funds are available to other university commercialization activities.  The resources dedicated to the commercialization effort will be negotiated by the Department and the recipient.

d)         Technology Information Transfer – This category of projects provides matching grants to universities and other not-for-profit research institutions for statewide systems and mechanisms to make information on research, technology, faculty, facilities, and other resources available to Illinois businesses.  Examples of possible activities include those which have a statewide impact and which offer information to a large number of businesses, such as:

1)         Identify, catalog, and publish listings of commercializable patents;

2)         Identify, catalog, and publish new technological applications;

3)         Establish computerized inventories of research information sources;

4)         Provide businesses "On-Line" access to extended computer networks;

5)         Identify new commercialized products developed in Illinois; or

6)         Review publications and research and inform businesses of new technologies (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1984, Supp., ch. 127, par. 46.19a(2)(a)).

(Source:  Amended at 9 Ill. Reg. 15829, effective October 9, 1985)