Six WSU Projects Receive $189,000 in Grant Money
OGDEN, Utah – Christmas came early at Weber State University as six research projects were among the initial 10 projects statewide to receive Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) Technology Commercialization Grants (TCG). Funding from the six grants totals nearly $189,000.The grant recipients represent a diverse cross-section of academic disciplines, faculty and staff at WSU — many working in partnership with local industry.
Funded projects range from a product to coat and protect concrete and stucco surfaces to synthetic saliva to a wireless aviation headset. One project uses statistical models to predict a job candidate’s likelihood of success in a specific role. The projects are at various stages in the development process.
“Half the projects include student involvement,” said WSU President Ann Millner. “These are incredible opportunities for our students to work closely with faculty and better understand the complexities of taking a product from concept to market.”
The WSU projects were selected from a pool of 23 submissions USTAR received.
“Nine institutions compete for these funds, so to have Weber State receive six out of 10 grants speaks to the quality and caliber of projects our faculty and staff are developing,” said WSU Provost Michael Vaughan.
Curt Roberts, vice provost for Innovation & Economic Development, anticipates as many as 10 WSU applications for the second round of grant funding, which will be awarded during the first quarter of 2010.
USTAR anticipates awarding six to 10 TCG grants on a quarterly basis. The first group of recipients was announced in November 2009.
USTAR announced the creation of the TCG program this summer in an effort to bring innovative new technologies to market from Utah’s public universities and colleges.
With a typical award size of $30,000, TCG grants assist faculty at regional institutions to prototype, test, assess markets, and commercialize new products and services in high-growth markets. In addition, Utah-based companies and other organizations willing to sponsor technology development work at regional public institutions of higher learning may jointly apply with a faculty member. Funds for the TCG program come from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Visit innovationutah.com/round1grantwinners.htm for a complete list of round one TCG grant recipients.
USTAR encourages and fosters research and development in Utah in an effort to create more high-paying jobs for the state. USTAR helps accelerate research and development funding so that new products and services can be licensed and commercialized sooner. The Bureau of Economic and Business Research suggests that over 30 years this investment will create 123,400 new jobs in Utah and generate $5 billion in new tax revenues for the state.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
- John Kowalewski, director of Media Relations
801-626-7212 • jkowalewski@weber.edu - Contact:
- Michael Vaughan, provost
801-626-6006 • mvaughan@weber.edu