University Early Stage Proof of Concept Fund – ADVANCE
Forecasted
University Early Stage Proof of Concept Fund – ADVANCE supports Michigan university faculty with proof-of-concept and market validation work to advance early-stage technologies toward licensing or startups.
Funder: Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (Spring/Summer submission deadline)
Funding Amounts: Standard project requests up to $55,000 ($27,500 program funds + $27,500 university match); temporary 2026 budget cap of $25,000
Summary: Supports early-stage Michigan university technologies through proof-of-concept and market validation toward licensing or startup formation.
Key Information: Technologies must have a filed invention disclosure and identified commercial application; optioned or licensed technologies are ineligible.
Description
The University Early Stage Proof of Concept Fund – ADVANCE, also known as the Advance Innovation Hub, is sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and managed by the Michigan State University Innovation Center on behalf of Michigan public universities. It encourages faculty to collaborate with their Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), creating a pipeline of de-risked technologies and fundable startup opportunities.
The fund targets early-stage technologies at technology readiness levels (TRL) 1–4. Projects determine actionable market applications, viable business models, and proof of concept for targeted applications through customer discovery. Supported work includes market studies, consulting, customer discovery, detailed intellectual property analysis, prototyping, and animal studies. Early technical and commercial milestones are intended to improve licensing prospects and prepare projects for follow-on translational funding, startup formation, and pre-seed or SBIR/STTR funding.
