NCInnovation (NCI) unlocks the innovative potential of North Carolina’s worldclass universities. We provide grant funding and support services to public university applied researchers working on discoveries that have commercial promise. NCInnovation helps inventions advance towards commercialization – accelerating the transition from academia to industry – by supporting university applied research through the critical R&D phase between proof concept and readiness for the private market.
NCInnovation has awarded a total of 25 projects with commercial potential to receive grant funding. The grants support applied research that has already achieved proof of concept. This strategic initiative allows the organization to support promising research while optimizing grant management software, policies, and operational procedures with a small group of university researchers.
NCInnovation is now accepting grant applications from all 16 UNC System universities. These grants support researchers in advancing projects from proof of concept to commercial readiness, turning breakthroughs into viable businesses that boost economic opportunities across North Carolina.
Open to all technology sectors, NCInnovation grants target high-impact research to foster long-term growth and elevate North Carolina’s leadership in innovation.