February22,
2017
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LSULIFT2Fund–LeveragingInnovationforTechnologyTransfer
RequestforProposals–RoundSix
ReleaseDate:
February22,2017
EarlySubmissionDates:March15,2017,April15,2017
FinalDueDate: May15,2017
AwardDate:
June15,2017
Submissionsshallbemadebefore5pm
1.PROGRAMDESCRIPTION
TheLSULIFT2FundwascreatedbytheLSUBoardofSupervisorsinJanuaryof2014tohelp“Leverage
InnovationforTechnologyTransfer”acrossallthecampusesoftheLSUsystem.Bypermanentlysecuring
aportionoflicensingincomefortheLSULIFT2Fund,LSUhasensuredcontinualreinvestmentinnew
innovation opportunities and affirmed its commitment to advancing discoveries for public benefit.
MovingconceptsclosertocommercializationisthefundamentalpurposeoftheLSULIFT2Fund.
AprimaryobjectiveoftechnologytransferatLSU,likemostotherresearchuniversitiesnationwide,isthe
transition of innovations from the academy to the marketplace for public use and benefit. Many
discoveries,however,requiresignificantadditionaldevelopmenttoprovesufficienttechnicalfeasibility
to attract commercial partners. Funding for this type of research is difficult to obtain from either
governmentorprivatesources,leavingmanypromisinginnovationslanguishinginafundinggapoften
referredtoas“thevalleyofdeath.”TheLIFT2Fundisspecificallydesignedtoincreasethenumberof
LSUinnovationslicensedtoindustrypartners.
GrantsawardedfromtheLIFT2FundwillprovideLSU’sentrepreneurialandcreativecommunitywith
small“proof-of-concept”fundstosupportfurthercommercializationofinnovations,helpestablishdata
which can support commercial feasibility of the innovations, and thus reduce the risk for companies
interestedinlicensingthem.“Innovations”aredefinedbroadly,toincludebothcreativeandartistic
worksaswellasdevices,drugs,software,andothermoretraditionalconcepts;thus,facultyfromall
disciplinesonallLSUcampusesareencouragedtoconsideranapplication.
Itisexpectedthatsomeexperimentstovalidateaproof-of-conceptwillfail.Suchfailures,however,
shouldnotberegardedasafailureoftheLSULIFT2Fundpurpose.Itisbettertobe“fasttofailure”if
commercialpotentialforaconceptcannotbedemonstrated,sothatfutureresearcheffortsandfunding
canbere-directedtoprojectswithahigherlikelihoodofsuccess.
The LSU LIFT2 Fund will typically have two grant award cycles to faculty innovators per year, on a
competitivebasis,withindividualgrantsinamountsupto$50,000.Thegrantfundsmustbeusedto
furtherdevelopaninnovationonrecordinanLSUcampustechnologytransferoffice(TTO)thathasnot
yetbeenlicensed,optionedorotherwisecommittedtoacommercialpartner.TheLSULIFT2grantswill
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betime-limitedandmilestone-based,andawardedforappliedresearchdesignedtovalidatetheconcept
describedbytheinnovationdisclosure.
Pleasereadallguidelinescloselytoassurefullcompliancewithcurrentprogramrules.
2.ELIGIBILITY
a.AfulltimeLSUemployeeemployedonanyLSUcampus,inanydiscipline,iseligibletosubmit
an application for a LIFT2 Grant if the proposal is to further develop and prove the concepts
detailed in an innovation which previously has been disclosed to and is still actively being
managedbytherespectivecampusTTO.
b. LSU innovators who hold administrative appointments and who also maintain an active
researchprogramareeligibletoapplyforaLIFT2Grant.
c.LSUinnovatorswhohaveanactiveLIFT2Grantshallnotbeeligibletoapplyforanadditional
LIFT2Grantuntiltheopenawardhasbeencompletedinaccordwithallprogramrulesandclosed.
d.Proposalsforbasicresearchprojectsthatdonotfurtherthecommercialdevelopmentofa
previouslydisclosedinnovationarenoteligibleandwillnotbeconsidered.
e. Any proposal for a project to develop a previously disclosed innovation which is either (i)
subjecttoanunexpiredobligationunderanyuniversitygrantorcontractor(ii)alreadylicensed
oroptionedtoacompanyatthetimeofapplicationforaLIFT2Grant,arenoteligibleandwillnot
beconsidered.
f.LSUinnovatorsmaysubmitonlyoneapplicationforaLIFT2Grantineachawardcycle.
g.Eachcampusmayestablishfurthereligibilityrequirementsforitsowncampusapplicantsin
additiontothosegenerallyabove.
3.TECHNOLOGYTRANSFEROFFICELETTEROFACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Each application for a LIFT2 Grant must include a one-page letter of acknowledgement from the
applicant’sprimarycampustechnologytransferofficer.ThislettermustcontaintheSophiatechnology
number and should confirm that (a) the innovation has been previously disclosed to the technology
transferoffice,(b)thattheinnovationisstillunderactivemanagementbythatofficeandhasnotbeen
relinquishedorabandoned,(c)thattheinnovationisnototherwiseencumbered,asdescribedinsection
2.e. above, and (d) the steps that have been or will be taken to protect the intellectual property
developedfromtheinnovation.
4.AWARDDESCRIPTION
InthisRound6oftheLSULIFT2Fund,amaximumof$500,000willbeavailabletosupportproof-ofconceptactivitiestofurtherprepareinnovationsforcommercializationincludinganyawardsmadeto
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earlysubmissions.Thereisnoguaranteeofeithertheamountoffundingavailableorthenumberof
awards in future grant cycles. Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $50,000, although projects
requesting$25,000-$30,000arestronglyencouraged.
TheapplicationforaLIFT2GrantshouldbesubmittedelectronicallybythePrincipalInvestigator,along
withallrequireddocumentationtotheemailaddresslistedontheapplicationinstructionpagebelow.
It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that the appropriate campus sponsored programs
officersandanyotherrequiredcampusofficialshaveapprovedtheproposalpriortosubmission.
Allowablecostsincludesupplies,equipment,travel,andprofessionalserviceswhichcanbejustifiedas
necessaryforfurthersupportofcommercialization.UnallowablebudgetitemsincludeF&Acostsand
graduate student tuition remission. Because the LIFT2 funds are intended to support further
commercialization of an innovation through experimental proof-of-concept, requests for salary and
associated fringe support, whether for the principal investigator, a research associate, a graduate
student,orotherpersonnel,maydecreasetheattractivenessoftheapplicationandmayresultinalower
score, depending on the circumstances of a proposed project. All budgets must be reviewed and
approvedbytheappropriatecampussponsoredprogramsofficepriortosubmissionoftheapplication
bytheprincipalinvestigator.
Paymentoftheawardedfundswilltypicallybemadeintwoinstallments,butmayvaryduetothenature
oftheinnovationandwillbedeterminedbyconsultationwitheachcampus.Uponprojectinitiation
throughexecutionbyeachcampusofaLetterAgreementforLIFT2Awards,aportionoffundsawarded
will be transferred to a campus account; the remainder will be transferred to the campus upon the
completionofthemilestonesestablishedintheLetterAgreement.Anyunexpendedfundsremainingat
thetimeofprojectcompletionshallbereturnedtotheLSULIFT2Fund.
5.DURATIONOFAWARD
WorkproposedinaLIFT2Grantmustbecompletedwithinamaximumoftwelve(12)months.Onenocost extension will be considered only upon request with sufficient justification and documented
evidenceofcontinuedprogresstowardsdefinedprojectmilestones.Theextensionmustberequested
priortotheexpirationoftheprojectperiodtobeconsidered.Onlyinexceptionalcircumstanceswillan
additionalextensionbeallowed.
6.ACTIVITYREPORTS
Technicalandfinancialactivityreportsdocumentingprogresstowardsstatedgoalswillberequiredat
least at the mid-term and conclusion of the project, but may be requested at additional times as
establishedbytheLetterAgreementandshallbesubmittedconcurrentlytothecampusTTOandthe
LSULIFT2Fundmanager.Thefinalbalancewillnotbereleaseduntilthemilestonesestablishedinthe
LetterAgreementhavebeencompleted.
7.APPLICATIONREVIEWPROCESS
Applicationsmaybesubmittedearlyonthedatesidentifiedabove.Earlysubmissionwillbereviewed
internally according to the scoring rubric within 15 days from submission and will be awarded if the
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applicationreceivesanearlyfundablescore.Afundablescoreisdefinedaswhentheapplicationrecieves
a score that would have placed that application in the top 15% of the prior round of reviewed LIFT2
proposals, if the application does not receive an early fundable score it will be included with the
applicationsthatwillbereviewedafterthefinalduedateforsubmissionsidentifiedabove.Forallearly
submissions,ascoresheetwillbeprovidedwithoutcommentsandtheapplicantmaythereafteramend
andresubmittheapplicationbythefinalduedateforsubmissionsidentifiedabove.
Allapplications,includingunsuccessfulearlysubmissionstotheLIFT2Grantprogramwillbescoredby
internalandexternalreviewersoncriteriarelatedprimarilytocommercialpotentialandtechnicalmerit,
alongwithprioritypointsforseveralotherfactors,asdelineatedinthefollowingsection.SincetheLIFT2
Fundismainlyfocusedongeneratinglicensesforcommercialdevelopment,reviewerswithexperience
in developing new products and new businesses will be identified. Unsuccessful applicants will be
providedwithcopiesofscoringsheetswithfeedbackregardingtheirproposalsfollowingreviewafter
thefinalduedateforsubmission.
8.LIFT2GrantProposalScoring(ScoringRubricisattached):
COMMERCIALOPPORTUNITY-60pointsMaximum
• MarketNeed/ValueProposition
• MarketSize/SocietalNeed
• CompetitionandCompetitiveAdvantage
TECHNICALMERIT-30pointsMaximum
• Ease/CostofProof-of-Concept
• FeasibilityofR&DPlan
• ReasonablenessofProjectGoals
PRIORITYPOINTS-10pointsMaximum
• Participationand/orInterestbyExternalParties
• ProposedUseofFunds
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POTENTIALOVERALLTOTALSCORE=100points
INSTRUCTIONSFORAPPLICATION
SubmitApplicationsTo:[email protected]
EarlyApplicationsmaybemadeonMarch15,2017andApril15,2017by5pm
AllAPPLICATIONSAREDUENOLATERTHAN5pmonMay15,2017
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CoverSheet,1page,attached
Biographicalsketch,1pagemaximumforeachkeyperson.
o Thebiosketchshouldprovideclearevidenceofabilitytoundertakeprojectssimilartothe
oneproposedaswellasasenseofthecumulativeexperience.Lengthoftimeinthefield
ofexpertiseisnotascriticaltothesuccessoftheproposedprojectasisthesubstanceof
theproposalandthelikelihoodthatitwillproduceresultswhichprovetheconceptand
leadtoalicenseagreement.
Letter of Acknowledgement from Campus Technology Transfer Officer, 1 page maximum, see
Section3aboveforrequireddetails
ItisstronglyadvisedtofollowtheRubricindraftingtheapplication
Allconfidentialitemsshouldbemarked“Confidential”asneeded
Commercialopportunity,technicalmeritandprioritypoints–6pagesmaximum
o MarketNeed/ValueProposition
o MarketSize/SocietalNeed
o CompetitionandCompetitiveAdvantage
o Ease/CostofProof-of-Concept
o R&DPlan
o Scopeofwork,milestonesandoutcomethatwillbeachievedwithinbudget
o Participationand/orinterestbyexternalparties
o Proposeduseoffunds
Budgetworksheet,1page,attached
Budgetjustificationandexplanation,2pagesmaximum
o All budgets must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate campus sponsored
programsofficepriortosubmission.
THEAPPLICATIONMUSTBESUBMITTEDASONEPDFFILE
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PleaseemailanyquestionstotheLSULIFT2FundManageroryourcampustechtransferofficer
LSULIFT2FundManager
ArthurCooper CEO,LSUResearch&TechnologyFoundation
Email:[email protected]
LSUHealthSciencesCenterNewOrleans
PatrickReed Director,OfficeofTechnologyManagement
Email:[email protected]
PenningtonBiomedicalResearchCenter
LeslieSmith
Director
Email:[email protected] LouisianaStateUniversityShreveport
AmandaLewis
ProfessorofMathematicsand
DirectorofSponsoredResearch
Email:[email protected]
LSUA&MOfficeofIntellectualProperty
AndrewMaas
AssistantVPforTechnologyTransfer
Email:[email protected]
AlsopointofcontactforLSUE&LSUA
LSUHealthSciencesCenterShreveport
AnnellaNelson
Director,OfficeforSponsoredPrograms
andTechnologyTransfer
Email:[email protected]
LSUAgCenter
WadeBaumgartner
Director,OfficeofSponsoredProgramsand
IntellectualProperty
Email:[email protected]
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LSULIFT2ApplicationCoverSheet
ProjectTitle:_________________________________________________
PrincipalInvestigator(s):_______________________________________
Campus&Department:________________________________________
SophiaTechnologyNumber:___________________________________
PhoneNumber:_______________________________________________
Email:_______________________________________________________
FundsRequested:$____________________________________________
SummaryofProposedEffort(100wordsmaximum):
ThisSummaryofProposedEffortshouldprovideacleardescription,inlayman’sterms,oftheessential
researchthatwillbeperformedwiththerequestedfundstoprovetheconcept,alongwiththepotential
commercial advantage of the innovation if successfully completed. A description of the technology
inherentinthecoreinnovationshouldbeincludednotinthissummarybutinthetechnicaljustification
section; this section should highlight the steps needed to increase the likelihood of licensing the
innovationtoabusinesspartner.
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LSULIFT2BudgetWorksheet
ProjectDuration:12Months
ProjectTitle:_______________________________________________________________
PrincipalInvestigator(s):______________________________________________________
AttachDetailedBudgetLineItemJustificationandVendorQuotes
RequestedFunds
A.
Supplies
$0
B.
Equipment $0
C.
Travel $0
D.
ProfessionalServices
1.Subcontracts
$0
2.Consultants
$0
3.OtherServices
$0
E.
OtherCharges
$0
F.
SalariesandWages $0
G.
FringeBenefits
$0
H.
TuitionRemission
NOTALLOWED
I.
Facilities&
Administrative(Indirect)Costs
NOTALLOWED
J.
TotalProjectCosts
_________________________________
AuthorizedRepresentative CampusOfficeofSponsoredPrograms
_____________
________________
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LIFT2ScoringRubric
Belowisascoringrubricthatshouldserveasaguidetotheapplicantsandwillbeusedbythereviewcommittee
inassessingeachapplication.Alsoprovidedarethefollowingdefinitionstoprovideadditionalguidanceto
applicants.
Definitions:
“CompetitiveAdvantage”meansadistincttraitorsetoftraitswhichsetthistechnologyapartfromcompetitors
such as more efficient cost parameters, greater availability to target audience, high barriers to entry for
competitors,ortheabilitytodisplaceaclearmarketleaderorenteraspacewithnoclearmarketleader.
“Proof-of-Concept”meansthattheprincipalinvestigatorhasprovidedevidencethatthistechnologyhasmoved
pastanabstractidea,andhasmadesignificantprogresstowardsanactualproduct,wheretheevidenceshows
thattheideaisfeasibleandmaybeusedinitstargetmarketplaceforitsstatedpurpose.
“Societal need” means that an underserved component of society would benefit from the furtherance of this
technologysuchthatanelementofserviceoraltruismisaddedtothecategoryofmarketsizeandmaybalancea
smallermarketshare.
“Value Proposition” means the benefit to a potential consumer of this technology that shows a dramatic
improvementoverthecurrentstateoftheartsuchthatthetechnologywillmeettheconsumerneedinamore
efficientoreffectivemanner.
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LIFT2ScoringRubric
COMMERCIAL
OPPORTUNITY
MarketNeed/Value
Proposition
Low(0points)
Noevidenceof
valueproposition
andmarketneed
unclear.
Initialhypothesis
onvalue
propositionand
marketneed
developed.Needs
customer
feedbackand/or
additionalmarket
researchto
validate.
MarketSize/Societal
Need
Theinventionisin
asmallorvery
crowdedmarket
thatwillnotbe
displacedbythe
inventionanddoes
notaddressa
societalneed.
Manydominant
competitorsor
monopolistic
marketleader.
Productseemslike
a“metoo”orcould
beeasilycopied.
Competitionand
CompetitiveAdvantage
Differentiatedbut
notuniquevalue
proposition;
Obtained
Customer
feedbackonvalue
proposition
and/ormarket
research
demonstrating
stronglikelihood
ofmarket
penetrance.
Theinventionisin Theinvention’s
asmallmarketbut availablemarket
theinventionmay isofamoderate
displacethe
sizeoran
competitionorit
importantsocietal
doesaddressa
needis
societalneed.
addressed.
Manystrong
competitorsor
onedominant
marketleader.
Productseems
somewhatunique
and/or
differentiated.
Totalavailablepointsforcommercialopportunity
Multiple
competitorsbut
nosinglemarket
leader.
Maximum(20points)
Uniquevalue
propositionand
significantmarkethas
receivedfeedback
fromcustomers
and/orstrongmarket
researchevidence.
Theinvention’s
availablemarketis
largeoritaddressesa
veryimportant
societalneed.
Nodominant
competitor,or
comparable
alternativeapproach,
existsand/orthe
solutionishighly
disruptivetocurrent
marketleaders.
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TECHNICALMERIT
Ease/CostofProof-ofConcept
Low(0points)
Technologywill
requiremorethan
thefundsavailable
tocreateinitial
Proof-of-Concept
and/orwillbe
complicatedto
demonstratethe
concept.
FeasibilityofR&DPlan
Itisunlikelythata
commercial
partnerwillbe
interestedinthe
inventionatthe
completionofthe
R&D.
Reasonablenessofthe
Goals
Thescopeofwork,
milestonesand
outcomescannot
beaccomplished
withinthetimeline
andonbudget.
Totalavailablepointsfortechnicalmerit
Technologywill
requirethe
maximumamount
availabletocreate
initialProof-ofConceptand/or
willbe
complicatedto
demonstratethe
concept.
Itislikelythata
commercial
partnerwillbe
interestedinthe
inventionatthe
completionofthe
R&D,but
significant
researchwillstill
berequired.
Thescopeof
work,milestones
andoutcomes
maybe
accomplished
withinthe
timelineandon
budget.
Technologywill
requireslightly
lessthanthe
maximumamount
availabletocreate
initialProof-ofConceptand/or
willbesimpleto
demonstratethe
concept.
Itislikelythata
commercial
partnerwillbe
interestedinthe
inventionatthe
completionofthe
R&D,butsome
researchwillstill
berequired.
Maximum(10points)
Technologywill
requiresignificantly
lessthanthe
maximumamount
availabletocreate
initialProof-ofConceptand/orwill
besimpleto
demonstratethe
concept.
Itisnearlycertain
thatacommercial
partnerwillbe
interestedinthe
inventionatthe
completionofthe
R&D.
Thescopeof
work,milestones
andoutcomescan
beaccomplished
withinthe
timelineandon
budget.
Thescopeofwork,
milestonesand
outcomeswillbe
accomplishedwithin
thetimelineandon
budgetandwill
achievethegoalof
theapplication.
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PRIORITYPOINTS
Participationbyor
InterestbyExternal
Parties
ProposedUseofFunds
Low(0points)
Therehasbeenno
outreachto
potential
commercial
partnersorother
collaborators.
Thefundingis
beingusedonlyto
supportstaffsalary
andnoneisgoing
intosupplies,
testing,or
equipment.
TotalavailablepointsforPrioritypoints
Totalavailableoverallpoints
Discussionsare
ongoingwith
potential
commercial
partnersorother
collaborators.
Mostofthe
fundingis
supportingstaff
salarywithsome
goingtosupplies,
testingor
equipment.
Potential
commercial
partnersorother
collaborators
haveexpressed
interest,butare
notinterestedin
pursuingthe
opportunityat
thistime.
Mostofthe
fundingisgoingto
supplies,testing
orequipmentand
someis
supportingstaff
salary.
Maximum(5points)
Potentialcommercial
partnersorother
collaboratorshave
expressedinterest,
butareonly
interestedif
additionalR&Dis
completedtoprove
theconcept
Allofthefundingis
goingtosupplies,
testingorequipment
andnoneis
supportingstaff
salary.
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