Three researchers receive $125,000 in university 'GAP' awards
For the past five years, the Florida State University Research Foundation has funded a highly competitive grant program designed to support Florida State researchers as they seek to transfer their technology out of the laboratory and into the marketplace.
The winners of these Grant Assistance Program (GAP) awards, selected twice a year, are those researchers who can most clearly identify the commercial viability of a product, process or license that they believe will result from their collaboration with a corporate partner.
"One of the most important contributions that large research universities can make is to nurture the scientific and technological expertise that our society depends on to generate breakthroughs in medicine, computer technology, energy generation and so many other areas," said Kirby Kemper, Florida State's vice president for Research. "With this eighth round of GAP awards, we are able to support researchers who may be on the brink of significant breakthroughs."
In the first round of awards for fiscal year 2010, the Research Foundation granted a total of $125,000 in GAP awards to three research projects currently under way at Florida State. Another $125,000 in award money will be granted during a second GAP competition later this year.
The projects selected to receive GAP funding in this winter's competition are:
Once researchers or a research group receive a GAP award, they are assigned a team of local business leaders from the GAP selection committee who act as mentors. This group then meets on a quarterly basis to provide insight and assistance to the GAP winners in the area of product development.
"I'd like to express my great appreciation to the members of the selection committee, who give so generously of their time and knowledge because they believe that this process is important," Kemper said. "I'd especially like to recognize Kay Stephenson, president of the Datamaxx Group, for her continuing leadership of this accomplished group of individuals."
Visit www.research.fsu.edu/foundation/gap for more on the GAP awards.
"With this eighth round of GAP awards, we are able to support researchers who may be on the brink of significant breakthroughs."
Kirby Kemper
Florida State University Vice President for Research