Science Translation and Innovative Research (STAIR) Grant Program

Overview

The UC Davis Science Translation and Innovative Research (STAIR) Grant Program is one of the technology proof-of-concept programs managed by Venture Catalyst in collaboration with InnovationAccess. Core funding for the STAIR Grant is provided by the Vice Chancellor for Research with supplemental funding provided by Innovation & Technology Commercialization (InnovationAccess and Venture Catalyst) as well as campus and industry partners.

Early-stage technologies from university research are often perceived as too uncertain or too risky to attract funding to translate into commercial products or services. The lack of accessible funding creates a gap between basic research and early-stage commercialization efforts. The STAIR Grant helps bridge this gap by providing funding and resources to translate basic UC Davis research with commercial potential by demonstrating proof-of-concept and establishing market viability, thus de-risking the innovation. The ultimate objective of the program is to develop technologies that attract entrepreneurs, industry, and investors willing to commercialize UC Davis technologies, resulting in societal and economic impacts. Successful projects will advance UC Davis technologies towards commercialization by achieving specific research and development milestones. Outcomes that might be enabled by STAIR Grant funding include, but are not limited to:

• Building a working prototype or second iteration prototype to prepare for commercialization.
• Generating translational data or research results to create more robust foundational IP.
• Enabling patent claims.
• Testing commercial and market feasibility.
• Demonstrating scale-up development potential.
• Producing results that support more competitive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications.

Eligibility

A quick summary of eligibility criteria is provided below. Please read program guidelines carefully, and contact the Proof-of-Concept and Innovation Programs Manager in advance of the deadline to determine your eligibility.

Eligible Projects

Projects eligible for STAIR funding will feature an early-stage technology that meets one or more of the following criteria:

• Has advanced beyond the basic research stage, but requires early proof-of-concept data to show feasibility for commercial potential.
• Has demonstrated successful results in the research environment and is poised for commercialization pending a specific, targeted demonstration, test result, or prototype.
• Has reached a critical stage of technology development, whereby specific questions pertaining to commercialization feasibility can be answered within the resource constraints of the program.
• Has identified milestones that would overcome a specific hurdle to commercialization, enabling a technology to become more attractive for either licensing to an existing company or enabling the formation of a startup company within 1-2 two years of project completion.

Intellectual Property Conditions

• Projects proposed in grant application must address technology with potentially patentable intellectual property (IP).
• All potentially patentable IP developed under a STAIR Grant project will be assigned to the University of California.
• Any technology that is the subject of a STAIR Grant proposal that has been optioned or licensed to a company is not eligible to receive STAIR funding; however, technology under a Letter Agreement with a company is eligible.

You are encouraged to contact InnovationAccess concerning IP-related eligibility.

Prospective applicants who haven’t submitted an ROI by January 27, 2022 must set up a Pre-Application meeting with InnovationAccess. Please email stairgrant@ucdavis.edu with the following information: Name, E-mail address, Department/College, Availability, Phone #

Eligible Applicants

• Anyone with Principal Investigator (PI) status at UC Davis is eligible to apply as a PI.
• Postdoctoral scholars and university staff are eligible to submit applications as co-PI with an eligible PI.
• One or more of the PI, co-PI and key personnel will have participated in, or will commit to participate in, an upcoming Entrepreneurship Academy administered by the Mike & Renee Child Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IIE) at UC Davis or an equivalent structured entrepreneurial training program approved by Venture Catalyst. Please refer to the IIE programs home page for more information about Entrepreneurship Academies (https://innovate.ucdavis.edu/academy).

The total amount of requested funding support cannot exceed a total of $50,000, and the project objectives must be achievable with these funds within the grant term (one year from funds disbursement). Achievement of project objectives described in the grant application must not be contingent on funds that do not currently exist or that will not be covered by the allowable budget request.

Please carefully review the RFP and Application Instructions documents for more detailed information about the program. For more information and to apply, click here.