ORTIA Micro Grant

Early-Stage Commercialization Funding for UNC Charlotte Researchers

The ORTIA Micro Grant Program provides up to $5,000 in internal funding to help UNC Charlotte researchers advance newly disclosed inventions that need early product development, prototyping, testing, or validation.

Administered by the Office of Research Translation and Industry Alliances (ORTIA), the Micro Grant serves as an entry point into UNC Charlotte’s commercialization pipeline. The program helps researchers address early technical barriers, generate initial validation data, and begin evaluating the commercial potential of their inventions.

Program Purpose

Promising inventions can emerge from university research but still require early testing, prototyping, or proof-of-concept data before they are ready to attract external funding, industry partners, investors, or other commercialization opportunities.

The ORTIA Micro Grant Program helps close this early-stage funding gap by supporting researchers at the point of invention disclosure.

The program is designed to help researchers:

  • Advance newly disclosed inventions through early development
  • Generate initial proof-of-concept or validation data
  • Increase technology readiness
  • Overcome early technical barriers to commercialization
  • Evaluate an invention’s potential for commercial application
  • Position promising inventions for further development and future commercialization opportunities

Funding: Up to $5,000 per award

Applications are now open

Apply Now

Before You Apply

Before starting an application, please confirm that your project and proposed activities meet the program requirements.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include:

  • UNC Charlotte faculty
  • UNC Charlotte Staff or research personnel
  • Students working with a UNC Charlotte faculty or staff collaborator
Is Your Invention Ready?

Your project may be a strong fit if you can answer “Yes” to the following:

✔ Has been recently disclosed to ORTIA

✔ Your invention is in an early stage of development.

✔ You need funding for initial prototyping, testing, or validation.

✔ You want to test the technical or commercial feasibility of your invention.  

✔ Your invention has potential for commercial application or impact.

Projects must involve a newly disclosed invention with potential commercial impact.

Haven’t disclosed your invention yet? Submit an Invention Disclosure here.

Is This The Right Program for Your Research?

The Micro Grant Program is designed for newly disclosed inventions that need early-stage development or initial testing before they can move further along the commercialization pathway.

Micro Grant funding may be appropriate if your project needs:

  • Initial prototype development
  • Proof-of-concept testing
  • Materials or components for validation
  • External testing services
  • Third-party software development
  • Early technical validation

The program is intended to help researchers quickly test early ideas and determine whether an invention has the potential to advance toward further development and commercialization.

Projects focused solely on academic outcomes or open-source initiatives are not eligible for Micro Grant funding.

Funding Details

Award Amount:  Up to $5,000 per project

Program Funding Pool: Early-stage invention support

Intellectual Property Requirement: Invention disclosure submitted

Primary Goal: Generate early validation data and increase technology readiness

Micro Grant funding is intended to reduce barriers to early commercialization development and help researchers establish the technical evidence needed to determine appropriate next steps for their inventions.

Allowable & Unallowable Expenses

Funds may support:

  • Materials and supplies
  • Prototype components
  • Proof-of-concept testing
  • Testing services
  • Third-party software development services
  • Other materials or components required for validation

Funding cannot support:

  • Faculty or staff salaries
  • Student tuition
  • Travel
  • Facilities costs
  • Indirect costs

Ready To Apply

If you have a newly disclosed invention that needs early prototyping, testing, or validation, the ORTIA Micro Grant Program may provide the support needed to move it forward.

Researchers are encouraged to consider how Micro Grant funding could help overcome a specific early technical barrier, generate validation data, or demonstrate the commercial potential of their invention.

Application Requirements

Applicants should be prepared to provide information about:

  • The newly disclosed invention
  • The current stage of development
  • The technical barrier or validation need the funding will address
  • The proposed prototyping, testing, or development activities
  • How the requested funds will be used
  • The invention’s potential commercial application or impact

Move Your Research Forward

Early validation can be an important step between invention disclosure and broader commercialization opportunities. ORTIA’s Micro Grant Program provides targeted funding to help UNC Charlotte researchers take that next step.

Have an invention that fits? Apply for up to $5,000 in early-stage commercialization funding.

Apply now

Questions & Contact

For questions about the Micro Grant, please contact:

Brad Fach, bfach@charlotte.edu
Interim Executive Director of Intellectual Property & Technology Transfer, ORTIA