The NextUP Program
Overview
The NextUP Program provides critical impact funding to help advance selected pre-commercial Penn technologies, product candidates and compelling business ideas to a stage that will attract industry partners and investors. The program is managed by the Office of the Chief Innovation Officer and is available to applicants across all twelve of Penn’s schools.
The program provides up to $50K of pre-commercial grant funding per selected project to support proof-of-concept testing, prototype development, market feasibility to address critical gaps that may represent obstacles to licensing or attracting external investment. Technology commercialization training and mentoring is also provided to program participants.
Eligibility
- Applicants must include a Penn faculty member as a lead participant
- Projects must include a clearly defined project plan that address a critical need directly related to the potential commercial feasibility of the idea or technology in question
- Scope of project and budget allows completion of the project within ~12-month period
- An invention disclosure must be filed with the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI)
- Applicant agreement to participate in technology commercialization workshops and the Penn I-Corps program
- Open to ALL PENN SCHOOLS, including multidisciplinary teams
Application Process
Applications for the inaugural NextUP Program cohort open on June 11th and will close on July 31st. All applications must be submitted via the NextUP Program page. Eligible applicants will be invited to participate in a mandatory technology commercialization workshop which will be held virtually in early August. All applicants who complete the workshop will then be invited to submit a detailed funding proposal for review by the program’s external advisory committee. The deadline for submitting the full proposal is September 10th. Funding decisions will be communicated soon thereafter.
Examples of NextUP Program projects may include, but are not limited to:
• Key proof-of-concept experiments
• Prototype development/refinement
• Product candidate testing
• Concept refinement
• Software/application development
Find Answers to Common Questions
What types of projects are eligible for funding?
Funded projects will address critical pre-commercial gaps that may represent obstacles to licensing or attracting external investment. Examples of program projects may include, but are not limited to, proof-of-concept experiments, prototype development, product candidate testing, concept refinement and software/application development.
How many projects will be funded by the NextUP Program?
It is anticipated that up to 5 projects will be funded each funding cycle. There will be 2 funding cycles each year (Fall and Spring).
What is the selection criteria for project funding?
The NextUP Program will consider pre-commercial projects from across all twelve schools and all research/technology sectors at Penn. Projects with the strongest commercialization potential will be prioritized.
What is the objective of the NextUP Program?
The objective of the the NextUP Funding Program is to support Penn and its researchers in their collaborative effort to de-risk and advance early-stage technologies and business concepts to a more advanced stage that attracts industry partners and investors
How does the NextUP Program differ from the StartUP Fund?
The NextUP Program provides funding directly to awardees in the form of impact grants, where as the StartUP Fund makes investments in startup companies founded by Penn faculty or researchers.
For any additional questions related to the NextUP Program or submitting a funding proposal, please send email to ocino@upenn.edu or submit a question.
