Higher Education Proof-of-Concept
Forecasted
The Higher Education Proof-of-Concept grant from Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation funds early-stage research technologies at Virginia institutions to advance them toward commercial use.
Funder: Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027: Pre-application deadline (projected) | June 2027: Full application deadline (projected)
Funding Amounts: $75,000 (Track 1) or $150,000 (Track 2) per award; up to $300,000 for select advanced projects; 6–15 month project duration; 1:1 match required.
Summary: Supports Virginia higher ed and nonprofit research institutions to advance early-stage, research-derived technologies toward commercialization.
Description
The Higher Education Proof-of-Concept (HE POC) program, administered by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), accelerates the commercialization of early-stage technologies developed at Virginia’s colleges, universities, and nonprofit research institutes. The program funds technology validation, market exploration, and prototype development to bridge the gap between research and commercial viability, strengthening Virginia’s innovation ecosystem and enabling impactful academic discoveries to reach the market.
