SyracuseCoE Innovation Fund Application

SyracuseCoE is now accepting applications for the 2025 round of the Innovation Fund.

Application deadline: Friday, October 24, 2025. Projects must be completed, with final report and invoice submitted, no later than June 1, 2026.

Application Form

SyracuseCoE Innovation Fund Application

 

Verification

Please review all information below before submitting your application.

Synopsis

SyracuseCoE invites proposals for small-scale research and development projects of up to $7,500 from current and new members of the SyracuseCoE Partner Program. The Innovation Fund is a seed fund supported through Partner Program memberships and offered to help companies overcome research and development barriers to commercialization, leveraging the support of SyracuseCoE-affiliated universities, faculty and students. Projects must address a challenge within SyracuseCoE’s broad core focus areas, and applicants are strongly encouraged to include research engagements with SyracuseCoE faculty and students from our Partner institutions: Syracuse University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Information about faculty expertise may be explored on SyracuseCoE’s Researchers page and/or in consultation with SyracuseCoE faculty and staff.

Award Information

  • Type of Award: Milestone-based, fixed-cost agreement
  • Anticipated Number of Awards: Up to four (4) awards
  • Maximum Award Amount: $7,500
  • Cost share requirement: Not required, but reviewed favorably
  • Project Duration: These short-term projects must be completed with final report and invoice submitted no later than June 1, 2026
  • Application deadline: Friday, October 24, 2025

Eligibility Information

Eligibility for awards is extended to current and new members of the 2025-26 SyracuseCoE Partner Program. Collaborations with academic researchers from Partner institutions – including Syracuse University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and SUNY Upstate – are encouraged, though not required.

Proposals may be accepted from new Partners. Visit the Partners page or contact tlrosani@syr.edu to learn more about joining the program.

Applicants with an active Innovation Fund contract may not apply, and applicants will not be eligible to receive more than three (3) consecutive awards. Accepted Innovation Fund projects must be under contract within two (2) months of award notification or applicants may be required to reapply in future rounds.

Budget, Payment, and Match Requirements

  • Applicants must include a proposal budget signed by an authorized company official, a template for which may be found at the top of this page
  • Matching funds are encouraged as either cash or in-kind and may include funding from company, federal, state, and/or foundation sources; awards administered by SyracuseCoE may not be used as match
  • Applications must include a clear definition of the proposed project, as well as verifiable sources of match, if included
  • Proposals should include key milestones, outputs and deliverables expected from project collaborators that may be reasonably accomplished with the project timeline  

Application Information and Timeline

All applications must include a narrative and signed milestone budget, which may be submitted online via the online application at the top of this page.

Deadline: Friday, October 24, 2025. Projects must be completed, with final report and invoice submitted no later than June 1, 2026.

Proposals will be reviewed based on the following selection criteria:

  • Impact in SyracuseCoE areas of focus including indoor environmental quality and health, building energy efficiency and affordability, and smart buildings and cities
  • Clarity of project proposal, milestones, outputs and deliverables
  • Technical merit, based on sound engineering and/or scientific principles
  • Extent to which project advances innovative R&D toward patentable technologies, processes or algorithms and their eventual commercialization
  • Alignment with research expertise and/or research and testing labs of SyracuseCoE and its associated faculty members, if proposed
  • Expected economic outcomes, such as potential revenue, jobs created/retained, etc.
  • Justified and reasonable budget plan, including strength of proposed match, if provided
  • Qualifications and strength of project team

After an initial review by staff, applicants may be invited to pitch their project to a panel of reviewers, tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Tuesday, November 4, 2025, which may include members of the SyracuseCoE Industry Partners Council, SyracuseCoE staff, regional economic development professionals and others. Funding decisions may be expected shortly thereafter.

In all cases, the review process will be conducted under the oversight of SyracuseCoE’s executive director, with staff support.

Payments

Invoices may be submitted upon completion of each pre-approved milestone, including reflection of any matching funds committed. A brief progress report should accompany each invoice. To ensure payment, a final report and invoice must be submitted no later than June 1, 2026.  No-cost extensions (NCEs) will not be granted.

Reporting Requirements

Brief progress reports are required for milestone payments, and a final report is due with the final invoice no later than June 1, 2026. In addition, a one-page project summary for publication in SyracuseCoE’s annual technical review is due after the project has been completed. Award recipients will be surveyed at least annually by SyracuseCoE staff for information on advances and outcomes related to the project, including jobs created and/retained, additional investments received, sales, patent and licensing information, etc.

Contact

Tamara L. Rosanio
Associate Director, Partner Programs, SyracuseCoE
tlrosani@syr.edu