A big opportunity for small and medium-sized Michigan businesses looking to move a service or prototype into production is now available through the Michigan Corporate Relations Network (MCRN). MCRN consists of six state universities with an eye on economic growth and retaining talent here in Michigan. MCRN is now seeking proposals for its Small Company Innovation Program (SCIP), which provides cost-sharing grants intended to foster collaboration between universities and companies through research projects for new commercial products or services.
“The SCIP aims to make research opportunities more feasible for small companies since they oftentimes do not have the resources to fund them,” says Kristin Jobin, Project Coordinator for
Kuntzsch Business Services. “Funding distributed through the SCIP will help to bridge the capacity and resources of Michigan’s universities to the private sector.”
Ten to 20 grants ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 will be awarded per year during the two-year program. A one-to-one match is required from the applicant, and the universities will waive indirect costs. A total of $800,000 will be invested by the MCRN throughout the course of the program.
“The six universities involved in the MCRN are looking to encourage this type of collaboration for not only economic growth,” says Jobin, “but also to build relationships that will stimulate talent retention within the state.”
The MCRM is made up of the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Michigan Technological University, Western Michigan University, and the University of Dearborn Michigan. The deadline to submit a proposal is May 1.
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