2015 Call for Proposals - MIT J-WAFS Solutions

[Magali Gauthier]

Hi Postdocs,

please take a look at these great fundings opportunities, deadline is May, 20.

The MIT PDA


Subject: 2015 Call for Proposals - MIT J-WAFS Solutions


April 27, 2015
The Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab (J-WAFS) is pleased to announce a new MIT translational research program, J-WAFS Solutions!

The J-WAFS Solutions program, managed by the   MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, 
aims to help MIT faculty and students commercialize breakthrough technologies and inventions by transforming promising ideas at MIT into innovative products and cutting-edge spinout companies.
 
J-WAFS Solutions has the mission of moving water and food technologies from labs at MIT into the commercial world, where they will improve the productivity, accessibility, and sustainability of the world's water and food systems.

Call for Pre-Proposals:
The MIT Deshpande Center in conjunction with MIT 
J-WAFS is announcing its 2015 J-WAFS Solutions call for pre-proposals.
  
Projects are required to align with J-WAFS' strategic research focus around water and food supply; research should be aimed at conceptualizing and developing products and services that will have a significant impact on water and food security, with related economic and societal benefits.

J-WAFS Solutions will award one-year grants of up to $150,000 to up to three (3) research projects that support the J-WAFS mission and support the transition of food and water technologies from MIT labs to market. 

All applicants must submit a pre-proposal via the online grant submission system (https://j-wafs-solutions.fluidreview.com/). The 3-4 page pre-proposals are due May 20, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.
 
The J-WAFS Solutions program is sponsored by Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives, which is represented on the governing committee of the program.
 
Regards,
 
Professor Timothy Swager
Faculty Director
Leon Sandler
Executive Director
MIT Deshpande Center 
for Technological Innovation
 
Professor John Lienhard
Director and Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Water and Food
Renee Robins  
Executive Director
MIT Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab (J-WAFS)
 

J-WAFS Solutions 2015 Grant Cycle Call for Pre-proposals

Pre-proposals due: May 20, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.
 
Overview:
 
The Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab (J-WAFS) was established in September 2014 to spearhead research that will help humankind adapt to a rapidly changing planet and combat world-wide water and food-supply scarcity. The Lab aims to address the collective pressure of population growth, development, urbanization, and climate variability - factors that endanger food and water systems in developing and developed countries alike. 

In collaboration with J-WAFS, the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation will manage the J-WAFS Solutions program and help MIT faculty and students commercialize breakthrough technologies and inventions by transforming promising ideas into innovative products and cutting-edge spinout companies. 

The J-WAFS Solutions program is sponsored by Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives, which is represented on the governing committee of the program.
 
The 2015 J-WAFS Solutions Program (J-WAFS Solutions):
 
J-WAFS Solutions has the mission of moving water and food technologies from labs at MIT into the commercial world, where they will improve the productivity, accessibility, and sustainability of the world's water and food systems.

Projects are required to align with J-WAFS' strategic research focus around water and food supply; research should be aimed at conceptualizing and developing products and services that will have a significant impact on water and food security, with related economic and societal benefits.

J-WAFS Solutions grants: One-year grants of up to $150,000 will be awarded to up to three (3) research projects that support the J-WAFS mission and support the transition of food and water technologies from MIT labs to market. The goal of the funding is to advance a technology or idea to where it can attract investment to commercialize a product and launch a spinout company and/or to license the technology to an existing company. Funds will support work to refine and enhance the innovation, systematically explore potential markets, and assess commercial viability. The goal is to reduce technology and market risk sufficiently to attract investment and position the project for commercialization and attract sufficient investment to commercialize a product and launch a spinout company. 

Successful grantees are eligible to apply for a one-year renewal grant of up to $150,000 for the follow-on year; total project funding will not exceed $300,000. 

J-WAFS Solutions grants are open only to MIT faculty, research staff, postdocs, and students; proposed projects must be submitted and led by MIT employees with
Principal Investigator (PI) status. 

A novel feature of J-WAFS Solutions will be the opportunity for the program sponsor to co-invest in companies formed from intellectual property developed through the program at MIT. In the event that a company is spun out of MIT, the sponsor of the program, Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives, will have the right to acquire up to 20% of initial securities issued by the new company on the same terms as other investors.

As with standard research at MIT, the research proposed should be conducted as fundamental research as defined by export regulations. In the rare case that the research involved is considered to be subject to any export licensing requirement, the project team must work with OSP prior to disclosing information to the project Sponsor.

Important Dates: 
April 27, 2015 - Pre-proposal call issued
May 20, 2015 - Pre-proposals due (submit by 5PM EDT) 
June 17, 2015 - Full proposal invitation notification
July 15, 2015 - Full proposals due (submit by 5PM EDT) - by invitation only 
August 2015 - Grant awards notification
September 1, 2015 - Grant award start date
October 2015 - Grant awards announced to the public
Eligibility and How to Apply:

Grants are open only to MIT faculty, research staff, postdocs and students; grant applications must be lend and submitted by MIT employees with Principal Investigator (PI) status.

All applicants must submit a pre-proposal to this the online grant submission system; see instructions below. Pre-proposals will be reviewed by the Selection Committee.

The grant selection committee, comprised of Deshpande Center Catalysts, MIT TLO representatives, and MIT faculty, will choose the most compelling projects and invite those PIs to submit a full grant proposal. Written feedback will be provided on all pre-proposals, including those that are not selected. Additionally, all committee members abide by the Center's confidentiality agreement and conflict of interest requirements. Proposals are not considered public disclosure.

Invited researchers continuing to the full proposal stage will be assigned a Deshpande Center Catalyst/mentor. The Catalyst will assist them in developing their submission package, which must include a full grant proposal and a budget. Applicants are also required to make a brief presentation to the Selection Committee.

Applicants will be notified of grant awards in August 2015.

Proposals should not be entered into COEUS before grantees are notified of awards. Once grants are awarded, information will need to be routed to OSP (Office of Sponsored Programs) through COEUS before final approval. The Deshpande Center will contact grant recipients when this process should be initiated.

APPLY NOW! Click HERE to apply online.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Maren Cattonar (cattonar at mit.edu or +1-617-253-8987).  Specific questions about the 
J-WAFS Solutions Program can be directed to Renee Robins (rrobins at mit.edu
 or 617-324-6726).
 




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