The Technology and Business Development Program invites OSU researchers to submit project proposals for their early stage proof of concept technologies in need of “gap” funding to progress them to later stage prototypes or to test commercial feasibility and helpensure that projects are on a strong commercialization path.

Funding is for up to a one-year period, is derived from royalty income and state funding, and is administered and distributed by the Technology Development Center (TDC).

What is TBDP?

TBDP is a “‘gap’” funding program for OSU technologies created in the fall of 2005, the TBDP selection committee is comprised of private sector partners and OSU staff who are experienced in new product identification and new technology evaluation. TBDP includes representatives from among:

  • i2E
  • OSU’s Cowboy Technologies, LLC
  • OSU’s Spears School of Business
  • OSU’s Technology Development Center
  • OSU’s Division of the VP for Research
  • Local industry leaders

TBDP functions include:

  • To progress OSU’s early stage proof of concept technologies to later stage prototypes and strengthen patent claims.
  • To identify and assess OSU technologies’ value to customers.
  • To assess potential commercialization vehicles forviable OSU technologies via licensing to existing companies or start-ups.

Minimum Requirements:

  • An OSU Invention Record and Report Form (IRR) must have been submitted to TDC at least one week prior to submission of TBDP Phase I or TBDP Phase II proposal. List the disclosure number on the TBDP proposal cover sheet. If an IRR has already been submitted, a new one is not required but list the disclosure number on the TBDP proposal cover sheet.
  • The PI and a student or postdoc must have completed theOSUNSFI-Corps Site Program, for each invention the proposal is for.

Submission Instructions

Proposals must be submitted to TDC by March 30, 2018 via email to or mail to Stephanie Sellers, TBDP Coordinator, 1201 S. Innovation Way Drive, Suite 210, Stillwater, OK 74074. Contact the Technology Development Center at 405-744-6930 with any questions.

"Gap” Funding Levels:

TBDP Phase I: ($5,000-$30,000) This program is for technologies that are at least at a “proof of concept” stage, have inventions disclosed to the TDC office, and need “gap” funding to progress them to develop the technology from TRL 3 to TRL 7 and to strengthen patent claims.

TBDP Phase II: ($30,000 +) This program is for technologies that have previously been through TBDP Phase I and need further “gap” funding to progress them to systemized prototypes and/or viable customer environment prototypes that can be tested to help validate the value provided to customers and their needs or problems addressed.

Industry Sponsored Match: (Matching $ up to $50,000) This program is for technologies that are or will receive industry sponsored research funding. Applicants are required to show funding from industry sponsors to be considered for Industry Sponsored Match “gap” funding.

Samples of projects that would be of interest include:

  • Projects to strengthen copyright/patent claims.
  • Prototype design, development, internal testing and data collection, customer testing.
  • Aspiring entrepreneurial researchers considering a start-up to commercialize technologies.
  • Projects with Oklahoma companies that have expressed interest in supporting the commercial development of technologies.
  • Projects that have received or have commitment to receive industry sponsored research.
  • Projects suitable for submission to commercial grant funding opportunities such as SBIR/STTR or OCAST OARS and require additional data or feasibility demonstration for a strong proposal.

Notes:

  • The evaluation process will give more emphasis to the commercial potential of the technology than the scientific merits of the technology. The information gathered from the NSF I-Corps program and the Business Model Canvas will be the source for this information.
  • Proposals will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Specific elements of a technology’s commercialization potential addressed by reviewers include: strength of IP protection, value provided to customersby addressing needs or problems, length of time to commercialization, market size, benefit to OSU, potential jobs in Oklahoma, and size and strategic nature of industry sponsored research funding.
  • PI’s may be expected to give a verbal presentation of their proposal. If selected for TBDP “gap” funding, PI’s will be required to provide mid-project (at 6 months from funding) and final status reports (at 12 months from funding). PI’s and Co-PI’s who have not provided required status updates on previously selected TBDP projects will have new TBDP proposals rejected until status reports are submitted.
  • It is important that you contact your college’s research office, prior to submission, regarding procedures for TBDP proposals.
  • There is no limit to the number of proposals a PI can submit if they are for unique technologies and the minimum requirements have been met for each technology.
  • Should you need assistance in identifying and describing the commercial potential via elements above help is available. Contact David Thomison, Clinical Associate Professor in the Spears School of Business at or Daniel Will, Executive Director of Cowboy Technologies, LLC at .
  • Applicants are encouraged to interact with the OSU TDC licensing associate assigned to their Invention Record and Report (IRR) Form during the TBDP proposal process to answer any questions and provide any assistance needed for your TBDP proposal form. If you do not know who your licensing associate is, email .

TBDP Proposal Cover Sheet

Please print information in this section.
Name(s):
Title of Proposal:
Proposal Submission Date:
Disclosure Number:
Funds Requested:
Please indicate which “gap” funding level you are interested in:
☐ / TBDP Phase I — ($5,000-$30,000) This program is for technologies that are at least at a “proof of concept” stage, have inventions disclosed to the TDC office, and need “gap” funding to progress them to bench scale or laboratory environment prototypes and strengthen patent claims.
☐ / TBDP Phase II — ($30,000 +) This program is for technologies that have previously been through TBDP Phase I and need further “gap” funding to progress them to systemized prototypes and/or viable customer environment prototypes that can be tested to help validate the value provided to customers and their needs or problems addressed.
☐ / Industry Sponsored Match — (Matching $ up to $50,000) This program is for technologies that are receiving or will receive industry sponsored research funding. Applicants are required to show funding from industry sponsors to be considered for Industry Sponsored Match “gap” funding.
Did you remember to include (please check each box as it is fulfilled):
☐ / Completed Proposal Cover Sheet including applicable disclosure number.
☐ / Completed TBDP proposal with all required information included.
☐ / Completed Budget/Milestone Form.
☐ / Completed Business Model Canvas.

TBDP Proposal

This form must be completed in its entirety. If you do not know the answer to a question, please contact TDC for assistance.

  1. Title:
  1. Name of the Principal investigator(s) with their department & contact information:
  1. Description of the technology to be commercialized: (1-page max)
  1. Stage of development of the Technology:

TRL Level _____ (3 or higher)

Bench or Lab Environment Prototype _____

Alpha/Beta Prototype _____

  1. Which OSU NSF I-Corps Site Program cohort did you participate in?
  1. Background Literature/Patents or Prior-Art:(Please list relevant patents/publications found during your search and indicate where the search was conducted.)
  1. Describe your technology development plan: (2 pages max)(Please explainyour development plan,including technology development milestonesand timeline expected. Be sure to includetechnology development milestones and timeline that will remain after completion of TBDP milestonesthat are required to become commercially viable.)
  1. Describe your business development/commercialization plan: (1-pagemax)(Please explain how your technology development plan will meet the needs of the I-Corps identified customer segments,i.e. how will your TBDP funded work help get the invention/technology to the market.)
  1. Based on number 8 above, pleaseprovide us with the business development milestones timeline (Attachment 1.)
  1. Identify the markets and competition for this technology (to the best of your knowledge).
  1. Markets and Customers:Describe which market segments and the customers within each that would see value in your technology. List all applicablemarket segments and customers, even if they may not be initially targeted.

Market Segment / Key Customer Names or Customer Architypes / Segment Size in Dollars or Units / Annual Growth
  1. Competition:Who are the companies providing the current state of the art technology/products/process/practices to customers to get their job doneand what is their relative market share?

Company / Product(s)/Technologies(s) / Key Feature(s) / Relative Market Share
  1. In what ways are customer needs or problems not addressed by existing products/technologies?
  1. What are the key market trends to be aware of?
  1. Identify the Strategic Advantages of this Technology (to the best of your knowledge):
  2. Value Proposition and Competitive Advantage: A “Value Proposition” is how much better, faster, cheaper, or saferin customer terms you can enable with your technology over customers’ current state of the art products/technologies. In the table below, list at least one Value Proposition. Then for each customer Value Proposition, list one or more “Competitive Advantage Features”your technology possess that delivers that Value Proposition to the customer:

Value Proposition / Competitive Advantage Feature(s)
  1. Present and Potential Partners (to the best of your knowledge):
  1. Present Partners:Identify present research partner companies, institutions, and/or individuals.

Company / Contact Person
Name, Email and Phone Number / Reason
  1. Potential Partners: Identify potential technology/product development partners for sponsored research or other co-development.

Company / Contact Person
Name, Email and Phone Number / Reason
  1. Potential Customers/Licensees: Identify potential customers and/or potential licensees you have talked to that expressedtheir interest in yourtechnology (minimum three companies).

Company / Contact Person
Name, Email and Phone Number / Discuss their InterestIN DETAIL(Required)
(TIP: Refer to your I-Corps Interviews)
  1. Start-Up Opportunity:
  2. Are you considering starting a company to commercialize this technology(If No, skip to 1)?
  1. What product would you anticipateastart-up would sell?
  1. Specifically, who would be the first targeted customers a start-up would sell this product to?
  1. Are person(s) identified who possess the technology expertisethat could follow your technology out into an operational start-upand be a qualified PI on potential SBIR/STTR grant opportunities? If so, who?
  1. Commercialization Barriers/Challenges
  2. Whatregulatory agency and/or government laws may affect the commercialization of your technology?
  1. If your technology is a component of an overall system or product, are there company(s) that a partnership must be formed with, or your technology must be licensed to,for your technology to be developed into a commercial product?
  1. For TBDP proposals that were previously submitted, but not funded.
  2. Provide details of significant changes in your project since your previous TBDP proposal.
  1. How did you address feedback and/or comments received onyour past TBDP proposal?
  1. Attach documented support from industry, if any.
  1. Proposed budget and technology development milestones (indirect costs are waived). Please use attached budget form, Attachment 2.
  1. Attach Business Model Canvas. You may use the attached template, Attachment 3, or your own.

SPRING 2018
Business Development/ Commercialization Milestone / Projected
Start
Date / Projected Completion
Date / Action/Comments
{Task 1 Milestone Description}
{Task 2 Milestone Description}
{Task 3 Milestone Description}
{Task 4 Milestone Description}
{Task 5 Milestone Description}
{Task 6 Milestone Description}
{Task 7Milestone Description}

ATTACHMENT 1

TBDP PROPOSED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/COMMERCIALIZATION MILESTONES

SPRING 2018
Technology Development Milestones / Projected Start Date / Projected Completion Date / Expense Category / Budget Amount
{Task 1 Milestone Description} / Student Salary
Materials/Supplies
Contract Development/Testing
Equipment
{Other Description}
{Task 2 Milestone Description} / Student Salary
Materials/Supplies
Contract Development/Testing
Equipment
{Other Description}
{Task 3 Milestone Description} / Student Salary
Materials/Supplies
Contract Development/Testing
Equipment
{Other Description}
{Task 4 Milestone Description} / Student Salary
Materials/Supplies
Contract Development/Testing
Equipment
{Other Description}
{Task 5 Milestone Description} / Student Salary
Materials/Supplies
Contract Development/Testing
Equipment
{Other Description}
{Task 6 Milestone Description} / Student Salary
Materials/Supplies
Contract Development/Testing
Equipment
{Other Description}
{Task 7Milestone Description} / Student Salary
Materials/Supplies
Contract Development/Testing
Equipment
{Other Description}
TOTAL Proposed Budget / $ 0.00

ATTACHMENT 2

TBDP PROPOSED BUDGET AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES

ATTACHMENT 3

TBDP BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS

Key Partners / Key Activities / Value Propositions / Customer Relationships / Customer Segments
Key Resources / Channels
Cost Structure / Revenue Streams