NCI Pipeline Development Program

Eligible applicants include:

• UNC Charlotte faculty
• Staff or research personnel working with faculty
• Students participating as part of a faculty-led research project

Projects must involve a faculty lead responsible for the research and commercialization pathway.

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

✔ Your technology is in early development (TRL 1–2)

✔ You need funding for proof-of-concept validation or prototype development

✔ The invention has been disclosed to ORCP

✔ Intellectual property protection is filed or in progress

✔ Project has completed or is enrolled in NSF I-Corps  

✔ You are interested in industry partnerships or commercialization pathways

If any criteria are not met, justification must be approved by the review committee.

The NCI Pipeline Development Program is designed for projects that need:

• Proof-of-concept validation
• Prototype development
• Market validation
• Industry engagement
• Technical milestone development

This program is not intended for basic exploratory research or traditional academic research projects.

Award Amount:  $10,000 – $25,000 per project

Program Funding Pool: Approximately $100,000 available annually

Project Duration: 1–2 academic semesters

Target Project Stage: Projects must advance from TRL 1–2: Basic principles and early concept formulation to TRL 3+: Analytical and experimental proof-of-concept

Projects should include clearly defined technical milestones that demonstrate measurable advancement toward commercialization

Funds may support:

• Graduate or student wages
• Prototype development
• Materials and supplies
• Market research reports
• Consulting expertise
• Industry travel or engagement
• Software development for the project

Funding cannot support:

• Faculty salary
• Teaching release
• Academic conference travel
• Computers
• Food
• Indirect costs

The program is sector-agnostic, but preference may be given to technologies aligned with NCInnovation strategic sectors and UNC Charlotte research strengths.

Priority sectors include:

• Advanced Manufacturing (Including Metrology)
• AgTech
• AI / Computing and Informatics
• Business Innovation
• Cultural Vibrancy
• Defense Innovation
• Energy Transition and Electrification
• Health & Life Sciences (BioHealth)
• Optics and Optoelectronics

Applications will be submitted through an internal university-managed process.

Applicants must submit:

• Eligibility Form
• Project Description (maximum 4 pages) including:
  • Team Description
  • Technology Overview
  • Current Technology Readiness Level
  • Industry Problem & Solution (Market Opportunity)
  • Customer discovery or I-Corps insights
  • Technical validation plan
  • Commercialization pathway
  • Project Milestones
• Letter(s) of support from industry (when available)
• Budget Request and Justification

Applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of ORCP leadership, NCInnovation representatives, and industry experts.

Projects are evaluated based on:

• Commercial & Market Potential
• Industry Engagement
• Technical Readiness (TRL advancement)
• Project Team Strength
• Use of Funds

Funded projects will be monitored through the Tradespace commercialization platform.

Awardees must:

• Submit a kickoff report within 30 days
• Track project milestones
• Submit a final completion report

Reports document

• TRL Advancement
• Industry Engagement
• Intellectual Property Development
• Next commercialization steps