UAF Partnership Wins SBIR Catalyst Award
November 9, 2021
The 彩神ix官网 is among four universities that will receive federal grants of $150,000 to help minority business owners access funding for research and development.
The Mesas to Mountains program is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration鈥檚 . The initiative addresses current gaps in access to the innovation economy for communities of color, women entrepreneurs and rural communities.
UAF鈥檚鈥 Center for Innovation, Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship () is collaborating with the University of Idaho, the Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University, and TechLink at Montana State University to assist small businesses in those universities鈥 home states. The effort will begin in spring 2022.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to bring the combined SBIR expertise of New Mexico, Alaska, Idaho and Montana to small businesses owned by Alaska鈥檚 underrepresented populations, which have enormous potential to take a lead in defining Alaska鈥檚 future economy,鈥 said Mark Billingsley, director of the 彩神ix官网 Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization, and director of the Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship.
In Alaska, less than 12 percent of small businesses are owned by women and minorities. Through the Mesas to Mountains program, Center ICE will help those underserved populations by offering mentorship, training and guidance to help the business owners submit successful grant proposals.
The program will provide support to help minority business owners access federal funding for research and development, helping them start or grow their business and increase their probability of success.
For more information, contact Project Manager Evelyn Jacome at edjacome@alaska.edu.