Background

The Universities of Wisconsin, in collaboration with WiSys, is pleased to offer the Ignite – Applied Research grant program to UW universities faculty and academic staff.

The goal of this funding is to develop advanced human potential and the knowledge economy that employs that potential. In particular, this program promotes technology transfer and economic development throughout Wisconsin and provides for broader impact beyond the state. The state legislature and the governor make significant funding available to support this program. The Ignite-Applied Research grants are sponsored by the Universities of Wisconsin and are administered by WiSys in collaboration with the Universities of Wisconsin Administration (UWSA). UWSA makes final funding decisions.

General Program Details:

1. WiSys will only accept intents to submit through its online submission form. Intents to submit can be submitted by PIs or by the university’s Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).
2. Principal Investigators may request a maximum of $50,000 of funding per project proposal for a period of fourteen (14) months. The amount of the award will be based on the merits of the project and will be contingent on the availability of funds.
3. Full proposals must follow your university’s established process for submitting and approving grants. Please ensure you have contacted your respective university’s grants office at least five weeks prior to the January 20th due date. Full proposals must be submitted by the university’s AOR.
4. All Ignite Grant proposals are reviewed by an external review panel consisting of both business and technical/content experts from varied disciplines as well as representatives from WiSys and the UW System. 

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             The following files will need to be downloaded, completed, and uploaded to your full proposal application form:
                                1.   Request for Proposals
                                2.  Cover Page
                                3.  Budget Page
                                4.  Structured Template
                                For questions, please contact grants@wisys.org.

Intent to Submit Due on or before November 24, 2025. 

Full Proposals Due on or before January 20, 2026, before 5:00 PM CST

Background:

The WiSys Spark Grant Program has been designed to help innovators advance their knowledge and technology to commercialization. The grant provides awards of $500 - $10,000/project to faculty or academic staff, towards implementation and completion of short-term projects. 

WiSys Spark Grants are intended to support early-stage research projects and scholarly activities. Proposed projects must be designed to help demonstrate the impact potential of a new concept, technology, or scholarly work. Projects must demonstrate a need for additional development support that would be required for an innovation to achieve real-world impact. Preference will be given to projects where applicants have demonstrated some progress beyond the initial discovery, idea, or concept. 

Program Details:

• Eligible projects will be funded for $500 - $10,000/project  proposal. Limit of one award per investigator per academic year. There is no limit to the number of awards that can be granted to a single campus.   
• Principal investigators (PI) must have a current position  with a UW regional campus as faculty or staff. UW Madison and UW-Milwaukee faculty and staff are not eligible to apply. While students cannot be PIs, student-led projects can be funded through this grant, but a faculty mentor must be willing to assume the roles and  responsibilities of the PI.   
• Funds can be used for supplies and expenses (S&E) as well  as salary for student workers; salary for faculty should not represent  more than 50% of the requested budget. Fringe benefits will be included from the GPR fringe benefit pool at the time of award and should not be included in the budget. Indirect costs are not allowed under this funding opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to minimize faculty salaries and maximize the amount of funding available for project implementation. Funding for travel to scientific conferences is limited to $1,000. Publication costs are not allowed.
• Applicants must follow each campus’ internal grant submission and approval process and use the WiSys Spark Grant application through Submittable for their project proposal. The proposal must be submitted by the campus Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).
• To be eligible for a WiSys Spark Grant, applicants must submit an Invention Disclosure Report (IDR) and agree to assign their intellectual property (IP) rights to WiSys if funded. All applications must be accompanied by an Invention Disclosure Report, Cover Page signed by your institution’s  authorized signatory, Project Narrative Form, and Budget Page; All forms are available below.   
• Proposals will be scored based upon IP potential, development  timeline, market need, potential for impact, suitability of the PI/team, and evidence of project feasibility.   
• Any significant modifications to the project scope and deliverables must receive prior approval from WiSys before changes are  implemented.
• New for this year! Projects receiving awards during the fall semester must be completed by August 31, 2026. Projects receiving awards during the spring semester must be completed by December 31, 2026. Final reports must be submitted within 4 weeks after the project completion deadline. Student researchers are encouraged to  disseminate project results at the WiSys Quick Pitch, the annual WiSys SPARK Symposium, and other WiSys  events, along with campus research events.
• No-cost extensions for projects will only be granted under extenuating circumstances, and such requests must be requested by emailing grants@wisys.org at least 6 weeks prior to project end date.

A WiSys team member will be in touch regarding reporting requirements. If a final report is not submitted, this may prevent the applicant's eligibility for other funding programs offered by WiSys and/or their home campus.

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The following files will need to be downloaded, completed and uploaded to your application form:

1.   Cover Page

2.  Project Narrative Form

3.  Budget Page

4.  Invention Disclosure Report

For questions, please contact grants@wisys.org. 

 

BACKGROUND
WiSys Launch Grants are intended to support the further development of technologies in WiSys' portfolio.  Projects requesting support should be focused on advancing the technology readiness of the technology/innovation and should be able to be carried out in under six months.  
Prior to submitting a Launch Grant application, applicants are encouraged to first speak with their WiSys Regional Associate to learn more.
Funds can only be used for the IP generating tasks identified in the applicant's proposal and cannot be used for travel, conference or unrelated expenses without prior written approval by WiSys. WiSys will work with the applicant to review the intellectual property (IP) status as additional data is generated for incorporation into existing IP filings and/or new filings as needed. All Project Intellectual Property (Project IP) generated over the course of WiSys Launch Grant funding, shall be disclosed to and assigned to WiSys. “Project Intellectual Property” means all Copyrightable Material, Inventions, trade secrets, data, computer software (including mobile, desktop and online apps), materials, know-how and any other type of intellectual property conceived, reduced to practice, created or made in the performance of the Project. “Copyrightable Material” means any material or other property that is or may be copyrightable or otherwise protectable under Title 17 of the United States Code. “Invention” means any discovery that is or may be patentable or otherwise protectable under Title 35 of the United States Code. Project IP generated shall be disclosed to WiSys under an Invention Disclosure Form.
A final report must be submitted not later than 6 weeks after the completion date of the project. A WiSys team member will be in touch regarding reporting requirements.  If a final report is not submitted, this may prevent the applicant’s eligibility for other funding programs offered by WiSys and/or their home campus.
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The following files will need to be downloaded, completed and uploaded to your application form:
1.   Cover Page
2.  Project Narrative Form
3.  Budget Page

For questions, please contact grants@wisys.org.