Commercialization Initiation Program
The Commercialization Initiation Program by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust funds advanced science and engineering projects to speed the transition from research breakthroughs to market-ready products.
Funder: M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2027 (Commercialization Initiation Program full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Typical award: $300,000–$500,000 for 1–2 years; one project per institution per cycle; cost share required.
Summary: Supports high-priority commercialization projects at major research universities and biomedical institutes in the Pacific Northwest to accelerate the transition from discovery to market.
Key Information: Invitation-only; only the top-priority project per institution is considered each year.
Description
The Commercialization Initiation Program, established by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, is designed to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and market-ready innovations. The program focuses on advancing high-impact projects in the natural sciences, medicine, and engineering at select major research universities and biomedical institutes in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Only projects representing a true inflection point for commercialization—not those primarily seeking funding to generate data for future research grants—are considered. The Trust aims to accelerate the commercialization of research breakthroughs by supporting initiatives that demonstrate clear pathways to market and significant regional impact.
