Northeastern CRI
GapFund Awardees

GapFund360 helps Northeastern’s researchers bridge the gap between promising lab results and demonstrating a commercially viable prototype. By offering grants and programs, GapFund360 catalyzes state-of-the-art technologies, advancing Northeastern innovation through prototyping, validation, and industry input.

GapFund360 Awards

GapFund360 is comprised of two award categories, Phase I and Phase II, and supports commercially valuable innovations from any field. Awards are issued annually.

Phase I Awards – $50,000 | Awards Available: Up to 6

These one-year awards assist innovations within the early stages of proof-of-concept development, equivalent to Technology Readiness Levels 2 – 3.

Successful applicants will have formulated novel concepts, applications, methods or compositions and partially validated their theories. In the life sciences, experimental proof-of-concept has been established via in vitro results. In all other fields, laboratory-based studies and validating strategies should be underway.

New for 2019 – The Center for Research Innovation and College of Science are co-sponsoring a Phase I Award dedicated to accelerating research within the COS. Eligible Applicants Apply Now! 

Phase II Awards – $100,000 | Awards Available: Up to 2

These two-year awards assist innovations within the later stages of proof-of-concept and development, equivalent to Technology Readiness Levels 4 – 5.

In the life sciences, the invention has been validated in vitro with in vivo testing underway or complete. In all other fields, technologies are approaching near final commercial performance.

Awards up to $150,000 may be granted for exceptional circumstances.

Applicants may apply to both categories with differing technologies.

GapFund360 Uses

GapFund360 grants may be used to advance the commercial prospects of inventions in many different ways, including:

  • Building a commercially ready prototype
  • Animal testing to generate in vivo data needed to attract commercial partners
  • Developing manufacturing processes that enhance yield, speed, or cost
  • Repurposing or enhancing technology to meet industry-specific needs

GapFund360 is supported by the Provost’s Office and the Office of General Counsel and overseen by the Center for Research Innovation.

Important Dates

October 11, 2019
Applications Open
November 12, 2019
Proposals Due
December 16, 2019
Award Announcements
January 6, 2020
Funding Available

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include Northeastern University Principal Investigators (PIs) with novel, innovative, and commercially valuable technologies that are currently in the proof-of-concept stage. At least one Northeastern PI with the duty to assign must either lead or oversee the proposed project. No outside PIs will be allowed. Any prior intellectual property required to implement the technologies must also have been assigned to Northeastern.

Questions about eligibility? Contact Joel Bresler.

For additional Northeastern funding programs and entrepreneurial resources visit the CRI website.

Apply

Northeastern GapFund360

Download Resources
Apply for Phase I
Apply for Phase II

Selection Criteria

Principal Investigator

  • How well qualified is the PI to adequately oversee and successfully execute the proposed activities?

Team

  • Does the proposing team have the expertise and experience to adequately conduct and successfully execute the proposed activities?

Intellectual Merit

  • Does the proposed activity have the potential to significantly advance the knowledge and understanding within the relevant field of study?

Novelty and Technical Advantages

  • How technically significant are the novel and/or disruptive aspects of the proposed technology compared to the current state of the art?

Market Opportunity

  • Is there a significant market opportunity that could be addressed by the proposed technology?
  • How large is the market for the proposed technology and the current products that are derived from similar technologies?

Commercialization Strategy

  • Does it seem reasonable that this research can be translated into a product or service that will have high commercial success?
  • Does it seem reasonable that the resulting intellectual property (e.g. patents) will be licensable externally?
  • If a future spin-out is proposed, is the spin-out strategy the best commercialization avenue for this technology?

Broader Impacts

  • How significant are the potential societal benefits of this technology?

Project Feasibility

  • Is it likely that the project milestones will be achieved within the proposed budget and timeline?
  • Is the project plan reasonable, well-organized, and well-justified?
  • Is the innovation sufficiently advanced to achieve expected Technology Readiness Levels upon project completion?
    • Phase I, TRL 4 – 5
    • Phase II, TRL 6 – 7
  • Does the project have access to materials, equipment, compounds, etc. required for accelerating the innovation?

Letters of Support

  • How relevant are the letters of support to the proposed project?
  • How strong are these letters?
  • Are the letters just from academic and technical collaborators, or also commercial and industry sources?

Budget

  • Is the budget reasonable?
  • Are the project costs limited to what is deemed reasonable and allowable?

Awardees

In 2018, GapFund360 awarded $250,000 to 5 of Northeastern’s pioneering technologies. By the end of 2019, 5 startup ventures were been created. GapFund360 closed out 2019 by completing its second cycle of funding, including the first issuing of Phase II $100,000 awards.

View Awardees

Contact

Joel Bresler

Joel Bresler

Technology Portfolio Director
Center for Research Innovation
(617) 373-7891
gapfund360@northeastern.edu