FY 2017 Regional Innovation Strategies Program | EDA HDQ OIE 2017 2005260

Opportunity Information: Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2017 2005260

The FY 2017 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA), designed to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems and accelerate the path from research to real-world economic impact. The core idea behind the program is to help regions build and connect innovation-driven sectors that can reliably turn new ideas and technologies into commercial products and services, new businesses, and sustained job creation through entrepreneurship. In practical terms, EDA is targeting the kinds of programs and organizations that sit in the early stages of the innovation pipeline, where promising research and prototypes often need structured support, funding, and mentorship to become viable companies.

Funding under this notice is organized around two separate competitive tracks: the 2017 i6 Challenge and the 2017 Seed Fund Support (SFS) competition. While the summary text does not spell out all differences between the two tracks, the intent is clear. One set of awards focuses on capacity-building activities that deliver proof-of-concept and commercialization assistance, meaning support for validating technical feasibility, building prototypes, conducting market research, refining business models, protecting intellectual property, and preparing for commercialization. The other set focuses on operational support for organizations that provide essential early-stage capital to startups, which typically includes seed funds and similar entities that invest in young companies when traditional financing is limited. Applicants are allowed to apply to one or both competitions, but submitting to both is optional, not required.

A major condition of this program is the cost share requirement. Applicants must contribute non-federal matching funds equal to at least 50 percent of the total project cost. That means EDA funds can cover no more than half of the overall budget, and the applicant must secure the remaining share from eligible non-federal sources. This is an important planning factor because it requires applicants to demonstrate not only a compelling project but also strong local, state, philanthropic, institutional, or private-sector support to complete the funding package.

Eligibility is broad and designed to encourage regional collaboration. Eligible applicants include state governments; county and city or township governments; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations and other nonprofit entities); and other eligible organizations. The notice also specifies that eligible entities can include nonprofits, universities, public-private partnerships, science or research parks, federal laboratories, economic development organizations, and similar entities, as long as the application is supported by a state or a political subdivision of a state. In addition, consortia made up of any combination of these eligible entities may apply, reflecting the program goal of building connected, regional systems rather than isolated projects.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 11.020 and categorized under regional development and related activities. The funding instrument is a grant. The opportunity number is EDA HDQ OIE 2017 2005260, and the program was posted on May 10, 2017, with an original closing date of June 23, 2017. The listed award ceiling is $500,000, indicating that individual awards could be as large as half a million dollars, depending on the specific competition requirements and the overall project budget (especially given the 50 percent minimum match requirement). Overall, the RIS program is aimed at regions that can demonstrate a credible plan to strengthen their innovation infrastructure, support entrepreneurs and technology commercialization, and translate research strengths into measurable economic outcomes.

• The Department of Commerce in the other, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2017 Regional Innovation Strategies Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.020.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-05-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-06-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2017 2005260

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