Proposals are requested to identify USU research with high commercial potential to be considered for USTAR funding. 

Background

The intent of the Utah Science, Technology and Research (USTAR) legislation is to increase research capacity at Utah State University and the University of Utah, and especially to more effectively commercialize the resulting discoveries and inventions.

Criteria for Selection

USTAR is an economic development initiative intended to increase the flow and commercialization of university discoveries, inventions, and innovations. Therefore, proposals will be judged on the likelihood that the research will develop intellectual property with high commercialization potential (e.g., licenses, startup companies, and products). Multidisciplinary research proposals involving several investigators are strongly preferred.

The USU USTAR Executive Committee is comprised of the Provost, Vice President for Research, Vice President for Commercialization and Regional Development, as well as Deans from the College of Science, College of Agriculture and College of Engineering. 

1. Faculty member(s) conceive of and suggest a new focus area and the internal team supporting the proposal.
2. The proposal is brought to the appropriate dean(s) and department head(s) for initial vetting with them and a representative of Commercial Enterprises.
3. If approved, the proposal is forwarded to the USU USTAR Executive Committee for review.
4. If approved by the Executive Committee, the team is then charged with producing the full proposal (“white paper”), and a member of Commercial Enterprises is assigned to join the team and help prepare the full proposal.

The white paper is reviewed by the Executive Committee again. If it is deemed acceptable, a presentation package is prepared, a budget is finalized, and a presentation is made to the USTAR Governing Board for approval.