October 23, 2018

You’ve got the big idea.

     We've got some seed funding to
help make it a reality.

Phase-0 Program

Sometimes you need a little boost to get your idea from just a thought or a lab experiment to an open and operating business. We’re here to help get you started!

The MADE in SC | SC EPSCoR Phase-0 Program encourages and supports South Carolina small businesses in their proposal development activities to compete effectively for Federal SBIR/STTR funding. Proposed activities should support the MADE in SC initiative and/or Vision 2025, the SC Science and Technology Plan. 

Eligibility for Phase-0 funds is limited to American-owned South Carolina-based for-profit small businesses. 

Awards are up to $6,000 for 12 months. Up to an additional $3,000 can be requested for an undergraduate student internship (Materials Science Projects only).

Make your SBIR/STTR proposal competitive with MADE in SC | SC EPSCoR’s Phase-0 Program. Deadline to apply is Mon, Nov 12, 5 pm EST. 

Share Phase-0 Program flier

Ask a Researcher: Phase-0 Program


Considering starting a small business or applying for SBIR/STTR Phase-I funds? Below is some advice from a SC EPSCoR Phase-0 Program recipient, Dr. Jinxiang Zhou, PI of Purilogics.

Q: What do you wish you had known when you were applying (or thinking about applying) for Phase-0?
A: I have two thoughts to share. First of all, I suggest one prepare the application like a full proposal. It probably can help a lot for the first time applicant to find someone else to review the proposal before submission. Secondly, I suggest one carefully think about the budget and proposed activity. You may want to maximize the return of $6,000, since what you do with the funding can be used on your SBIR Phase-I application material to strengthen your credibility, especially for early career investigators.

Q: How has Phase-0 impacted your research/company?
A: This is one of the funding opportunities provided to us at the very early stage. Particularly, it enabled us to attend industry conferences to meet potential customers to validate our business hypothesis. It also allowed us to collect preliminary data for our SBIR Phase-I proposals.
Learn more about Understanding the Rules of Life: Building a Synthetic Cell
Learn more about Understanding the Rules of Life: Epigenetics
The NSF 2026 Idea Machine is a competition to help set the US agenda for fundamental research in science and engineering. Participants can earn prizes and receive public recognition by suggesting the pressing research questions that need to be answered in the coming decade, the next set of “Big Ideas” for future investment by the National Science Foundation (NSF). 

All contestants (including individual entrants and all team members) must be at least 14 years of age on September 1, 2018, and be US citizens or permanent residents, or residing legally in the US on September 1, 2018. Entries are welcomed from amateurs and professionals alike. High-school teachers are encouraged to enter on behalf of their classes.

Deadline to submit is THIS THURSDAY, October 26. Learn more >>

Introducing MADE in SC
Quick Links

We’ve created a quick links page for MADE in SC. This page puts the most commonly sought after links at your fingertips including directory of participants, portal login, project equipment, forms, templates, policies and procedures, leadership info and more. Use the link at the top of each of our web pages or click here to go directly to the page.
NSF EPSCoR
FY19 topic: “Harnessing the Data Revolution to solve problems of national importance.” Only one proposal (as Lead PI) per institution is allowed. NSF limits a researcher to be the PI or Co-PI on one Track-2 grant. Click here to find collaborators / to be found.

LOI due Mon, Nov 26 TO NSF. Institution proposal development funds due to SC EPSCoR by Tues, Nov 27, 5 pm, EST.
US DoE
Innovation Crossroads, based at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL), is a two-year entrepreneurial fellowship program that matches aspiring entrepreneurs with ORNL researchers and mentors, to take their world-changing ideas to the marketplace.  Innovation Crossroads is now recruiting. Click here for more info.

Applications due Mon, October 29, 5 pm EDT
US DoE
Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) is a two-year entrepreneurial program at Argonne National Lab providing participants the financial and tech support they need to evolve early-stage R&D innovation into a viable energy or manufacturing business. Info Webinar is scheduled for Tues, October 23, 2 pm EST.

Applications due Weds, October 31, 5 pm EDT

Focus On...
Faculty/Student Involvement
Dr. Angela Alexander-Bryant is one of the MADE in SC faculty hires and has been every productive. She received a MADE in SC | SC EPSCoR Scientific Advocate Network (SAN) Program award and can now add faculty mentor of a national award-winning student team to her list of accomplishments.

The Clemson student team of Alex Ormerod, Bradley Scammon, and Lucas Tatem won an honorable mention at NIH National Institute of Bioimaging and Bioengineering’s 2018 Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) Challenge. 
Click here to watch a video on this project
Implantable Port for the Localization and Sustainment of Encapsulated Cells for Cellular Therapy. Cellular therapy has emerged as an alternative to immunosuppressive medications and has produced spectacular results in both animal and clinical trials. Despite their success, cellular therapies remain confined to the laboratory because of two, outstanding problems: immune rejection of the implanted cells, and a hypoxic implantation environment. This device attempts to resolves these issues. It combines the convenience and standardization of a subcutaneous implantable port with the nourishing environment established by implanted cellulose to create a single device that allows for the localized delivery and sustainment of encapsulated cells.

News, Opportunities and Deadlines
SC INBRE solicitations: Developmental Research Project (DRP) Program ($50,000 for 12 months) and Bioinformatics Pilot Project (BIPP) Program ($10,000 for 12 months). DRP is open to SC INBRE network and outreach institutions. BIPP is open to SC INBRE network and outreach institutions, affiliate members of SC Clinical and Translational Research Institute (SCTR) and student/faculty teams from any SC PUI. Due Mon, Dec 3.
Multiple PhD Positions in Ecological Genomics beginning Spring 2019. As part of a new, collaborative NSF-funded research and training program in the genomic ecology of coastal organisms, the Universities of Maine and New Hampshire seek a cohort of up to five new PhD students who will study genome-phenome relationships in the wild. More info >>
NSF Division of Materials Research: Topical Materials Research Programs (DMR-TMRP): Focuses on advancing fundamental understanding of materials, materials discovery, design, synthesis, characterization, properties, & materials-related phenomena. Applies to the following areas: Biomaterials, Condensed Matter Physics, Electronic & Photonic Materials, Metals & Metallic Nanostructures, Polymers, and Solid-State & Materials Chemistry. Proposal window: Oct 1-Nov 1.
NSF Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP): Program takes a comprehensive approach to student development and retention. Upcoming deadlines: Bridge to the Doctorate Activity (Nov 2), STEM Pathways and Research Alliances (Nov 16) and New and Renewal LSAMP Pre-Alliance Planning, Bridge to the Baccalaureate, STEM Pathways Implementation-Only (Nov 16).
Please note: The SC EPSCoR/ IDeA Program Office will be closed next Tues, Oct 30 – Thurs, Nov 1 as we attend the national EPSCoR Program Officers meeting in WV. 
Save the dates:
• Nov 27, Science on Tap, Greenville. Speaker: Tim Hanks, Thrust 3
• Feb 26, Science on Tap, Greenville. Speaker: Kostya Kornev, Thrust 3

We are looking for faculty who would like to be speakers in Charleston, Greenville, Pendleton, Columbia, etc. We especially need MADE in SC researchers – contact Cyndy!

Funding Opportunities: 
• SC EPSCoR
• DOE 
• NASA 
• NIH 
• NSF
• USDA
• More on our Calendar!
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