About this programme
The Advanced Industries Proof of Concept Grant is run by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), through its Global Business Development division. It funds Colorado research institutions to speed up applied research in advanced industries and move products and services toward commercialization with the private sector.
Grants go up to $150,000 per project. Funding must go toward accelerating product or service commercialization through pre-commercial research and commercialization preparation — not basic research. Eligible uses include proof of principle work, intellectual property (IP) protection, prototypes and technical validation, market assessment, and start-up or corporate formation costs.
The grant only applies to a defined list of advanced industries: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, bioscience, electronics, energy and natural resources (including cleantech), infrastructure engineering, and technology and information. The technology funded has to be a genuine departure from what already exists in that industry — using currently available components or methods does not qualify as impacting the industry.
The award cap of $150,000 can be lifted for joint proposals (two or more research institutions sharing IP/patent ownership, or commercialization work spanning more than one institution) or for projects that impact more than one advanced industry, provided every industry selected genuinely supports the application.
How it works
Applicants must apply through an approved Colorado research institution or federal lab — this grant is not available directly to individual companies or founders.
The institution must commit matching non-State cash funding at a ratio of at least 1-to-3 (institution-to-state) — for a $150,000 grant request, at least $50,000 in matching cash must be identified at the time of grant execution.
Matching funds must be cash held in an account by the grantee, or formally committed by a third-party investor or granting organization (with prior written approval that the funds can be used as a match). In-kind contributions do not count, and the match cannot be OEDIT funding or any other State funding, whether received directly or through a third party.
Some Colorado research institutions receive a pre-allocated pool of this funding to award internally through their own technology transfer office and review process — applicants should check with their institution's tech transfer office for timing.
Grant funds cannot be spent until a formal grant agreement is executed (signed by the State Controller or designee); matching funds can begin being spent once an award is notified. Any unused grant funds must be returned to OEDIT.
If a technology funded by this grant is later licensed to an organization that does not commercialize, develop, manufacture, or produce products/services from it primarily in Colorado, the research institution must reimburse OEDIT 20% of gross licensing revenue from that license annually until the award amount is repaid.
Who can apply
The project must create a disruptive technology that directly impacts at least one of the seven eligible advanced industries: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, bioscience, electronics, energy and natural resources (including cleantech), infrastructure engineering, or technology and information.
The application must originate from an approved Colorado research institution or federal lab — currently: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Denver, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, and National Jewish Health, each applying through its own technology transfer / sponsored-programs office.
The project must accelerate product or service commercialization through pre-commercial research and commercialization preparation — basic research is not eligible.
The institution must be able to provide matching funding of at least $1 for every $3 requested from the State, in cash, traceable and committed to the project.
OEDIT prioritizes applications that involve more than one research institution, are sponsored by a Colorado-based advanced industry business, or originate from a nonprofit research institution.
Past grant recipients may reapply only for a genuinely different technology/project — continuation projects are not supported, and any prior award must already be successfully closed.
How to apply
- Confirm eligibility with your institution's technology transfer or sponsored-programs office — only they can submit the pre-qualification questionnaire on an applicant's behalf; individual researchers or companies cannot apply directly.
- Submit the Pre-Qualification Application through the institution's technology transfer office. Once this is submitted, the applicant gains access to the full application.
- Complete the Full Application in OEDIT's online application portal, covering: an Executive Summary, Applicant Information, and Project Summary and Grant Amount (unscored sections), plus Stakeholder Collaboration (10 points), Commercial, Market, and Economic Potential (50 points), and Personnel, Budget, and Plan (40 points) — the three scored sections.
- Use OEDIT's Proof-of-Concept Milestone Template to lay out project milestones, and the Proof-of-Concept Budget Template to itemize the budget; total indirect costs cannot exceed 8% of total direct costs.
- Submit within the open application window — applications run twice a year, January to March and July to September, with specific institutional deadlines set by each tech transfer office.
- If selected to advance past the Industry Subcommittee stage, attend OEDIT's required pitch training session ahead of the Full Committee Meeting pitch event (unless fast-tracked, which some applicants may be depending on fund availability).
Documents you’ll typically need
- Proof-of-Concept Milestone Template (XLS) — provided by OEDIT, customized to the project's proposed milestones
- Proof-of-Concept Budget Template (XLS) — provided by OEDIT, customized to reflect the requested budget and indirect-cost cap
- Executive Summary (single-page technology and project overview)
- Applicant Information
- Evidence of matching funding commitment (proof of dedicated cash, or third-party commitment letter with prior written approval to use as match)
Frequently asked
Can an individual founder or startup apply directly for this grant?
No. The Advanced Industries Proof of Concept Grant can only be applied for through an approved Colorado research institution or federal lab (currently CU Boulder, CU Denver, UCCS, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, and National Jewish Health). A company can be a sponsor or licensing partner but the application itself runs through the institution's technology transfer office.
How much matching funding is required?
The institution must commit non-State cash funding equal to at least one-third of the requested grant amount — a 1-to-3 match ratio. For example, a $150,000 grant request needs at least $50,000 in matching cash identified by the time the grant agreement is executed. In-kind contributions do not count, and the match cannot come from OEDIT or any other State funding source.
What can the grant money be used for?
Funding is restricted to accelerating commercialization: proof of principle work, IP protection, prototypes and technical validation, market assessment, and start-up or corporate formation costs. It explicitly cannot be used for basic research.
How long does the review process take?
OEDIT states the review process typically takes 10 to 12 weeks from the application deadline, moving through internal compliance review, independent scoring review, an industry subcommittee meeting, a full committee pitch event for the most competitive applicants, and final approval by the Colorado Economic Development Commission.
What happens if my application is rejected?
Rejected applications can be reworked and resubmitted in a later grant cycle. There is no formal appeals process, but applicants can request feedback as outlined in the decline notice. Reviewer identities are not disclosed.
Can I reapply if I already received this grant before?
Yes, but only for a genuinely different technology or project — continuation of the same project is not supported — and only after the previous award has been successfully closed out.
What happens to the technology if it is later licensed outside Colorado?
If a technology funded by this grant is licensed to an organization that does not primarily commercialize, develop, manufacture, or produce the resulting product or service in Colorado, the research institution must reimburse OEDIT 20% of gross licensing revenue from that license each year until the full award amount is repaid.
Reviewed 2026-08-16. Programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.