Rhode Island businesses have until 5 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to apply for Innovation Voucher grants of up to $75,000, Rhode Island Commerce says.
The current funding round supports research and development conducted with a local college, university, hospital or other research institution. Manufacturing businesses may also use the program for research done in-house.
Applicants must have 500 or fewer employees, be registered to do business in Rhode Island and have at least 51% of their employees in the state, according to the program page. Businesses working with a research partner need its letter of commitment when applying. Manufacturers using the in-house option need a manufacturing industry-classification code.
Commerce evaluates applications on technological innovation, market demand, potential impact and the prospect of bringing a product or process to market. Priority industries include advanced materials, the ocean economy, defense, energy and environment, food systems and life sciences.
The agency says 166 projects at 132 companies have received vouchers since the program began, with total investment of just over $9 million. Those are cumulative figures, not the size of the current round.
The program page has the application and a required budget template. Questions can go to Helen Leffers at helen.leffers@commerceri.com.