We are excited to announce the second year of the Fly for Researchers pitch competition for UTC faculty and graduate student innovators. Hosted by the UTC Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) in collaboration with the UTC Vice Chancellor for Research, UT System Vice President for Research, and UT System Administration, this event will spotlight ideas that have the potential to be commercialized or licensed. Applicants must have a validated proof of concept, intend to pursue commercialization or licensing opportunities, and have submitted an invention disclosure in IDEA.
$35,000 in internal grants will be awarded—$20,000 for 1st place; $10,000 for 2nd place; and $5,000 for 3rd place. Awardees will be able to use this money to accelerate the success of their ideas, innovations, and commercialization objectives.
UTC faculty, staff and graduate students from all colleges are invited to apply to pitch their ideas that have the potential to be commercialized or licensed. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated based on commercial applicability, the readiness of an idea or technology, and the information provided in the application.
Finalists will be announced by March 20, and the Fly for Researchers Pitch Competition—open to the community—will be held from 3:30-5 p.m. on April 19 at the CIE in the Mapp Building, 410 E. 8th Street. Those selected will give a five-minute presentation followed by up to eight minutes of Q&A.
Application Link
- Applications are due on Friday, Feb. 24
- Finalists announced by March 20
- Competition: April 19, 3:30-5 p.m.
For more information, email jennifer-skjellum@utc.edu.
Jennifer Herrett Skjellum
Commercialization Counselor, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship