Eureka isn’t a moment. It’s a process. ®
WiSys helps great ideas—born on University of Wisconsin System campuses—reach the wider world by connecting inventors and businesses with the resources they need. We are a non-profit supporting organization of the UW-System, serving as the dedicated technology transfer office for the 11 Comprehensive Campuses. The following grant applications can be submitted via the below links:
Ignite Grant
UW System Administration, in collaboration with WiSys, is pleased to offer the Ignite Grant Program to UW System faculty and academic staff for applied research projects. Ignite funding up to $50,000 is available for applied research, and is offered as a fourteen (14) month program for all disciplines at all institutions.
WiSys Spark Grant Program
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 Launch Grant Program
WiSys Launch Grants are designed to support the further development of technologies that have been accepted into the WiSys Intellectual Property portfolio. The grant timeline is a maximum of 6 months, and the focus of the proposal should be on advancing the technology readiness of the innovation.
WiSys Ambassador Grant Program
The WiSys Ambassador Grant Program has been designed to help students employed as WiSys Ambassadors advance their knowledge and skills as young researchers. The Fund provides awards up $4,500/project to students towards implementation and completion of short- term projects or to advance long-term projects the students have been undertaking with the guidance of a faculty mentor.
For questions regarding WiSys grant programs or application materials, please contact grants@wisys.org.
For technical assistance in creating an account or completing an application, please contact Submittable at support@submittable.com.
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:
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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 no 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.