Accelerator Awards
Internal — Ohio State University only
Accelerator Awards support Ohio State faculty and staff inventors with milestone-driven technology validation projects that reduce risks and advance commercialization through Ohio-based startups.
Funder: Ohio State University
Due Dates: October 30, 2026, 5 p.m. (Pre-proposal) | January 8, 2027, 5 p.m. (Invited full application) | Early to mid-February 2027 (Anticipated pitch presentations)
Funding Amounts: Up to $100,000 per project; eligible FDA-regulated biomedical projects may request $150,000; maximum 12 months
Summary: Supports milestone-driven validation of Ohio State technologies for commercialization through Ohio-based startup companies.
Key Information: Applicants must be Ohio State faculty or staff inventors, with PI status secured by full application submission.
Description
Accelerator Awards bridge the gap between basic laboratory research and market-ready Ohio State technologies. Funded by Ohio State and Ohio Third Frontier’s Technology Validation and Startup Fund, the program is administered by the Innovation and Commercialization Team. It supports milestone-driven projects that demonstrate commercial viability and position university innovations for commercialization through Ohio-based startup companies.
Technologies should already have laboratory-scale proof of concept but need further validation before commercialization. Appropriate work includes prototype design and fabrication, preclinical studies supporting regulatory goals, technical testing, scale-up pilot studies, and regulatory assessment. The program emphasizes independent validation through external vendors, rather than discovery research or general administrative activities. Projects should address compelling unmet needs, reduce technical and commercial risks, and establish proof that strengthens a technology’s market potential.
