Tech + Innovation Funding Alerts

Updated every first Friday of the month. First published date: June 10, 2021

CrossComm is dedicated to helping innovators create meaningful value through technology. Part of that approach is to share resources that empower our common cause — making a positive impact. Our Tech + Innovation Funding Alerts is a collection of funds and resources, both nationally and locally, aimed at supporting the development of disruptive technologies towards social good. Below you’ll find a list of funding opportunities for innovators in health, science, and social change. For those of you who are local to the Research Triangle region, there is also a section of opportunities just for you. 

If you are a change agent who would like to support technological innovation, and have a resource or grant you would like to include in our alerts, contact DeAnneCanieso@CrossComm.com.

TECH + HEALTH

HEAL Initiative: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management
Application Due: April 4, 2023; September 4, 2023; January 4, 2024The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) aims to speed scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis by supporting the development of therapies and technologies directed at enhanced pain management through the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. This FOA is focused on applications directed at improving pain treatment, including the development of new non-addictive medications and devices and objective pain measurement. In addition, NIH is interested in new screening tools and models focused specifically on pain and development of pain therapies. 

Advancing Research on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD)
Application Due: April 5, 2023, September 5, 2023, January 5, 2024
The aim of this FOA is to encourage research on, and the commercialization of, novel therapies, devices, products, and healthcare programs and practices to prevent the onset of AD/ADRD, and to reduce the burden that AD/ADRD places on individuals, their families, and society at large. Examples of topics appropriate for such programs include, but are not limited to, the following: Rapid development of novel, engaging, computer-based cognitive-training programs based on empirically-established approaches using cognitive training to target a specific neural system/functional domain; Augmentation of existing computerized cognitive interventions that can be individually tailored to engage, adapt, challenge, and optimize functional cognitive abilities to enhance cognitive functioning and performance of activities of daily living; and Development of interventions to remediate age-related cognitive decline, especially using technology platforms with wide acceptance among older adults.

Developing Digital Therapeutics for Substance Use Disorders 
Application Due: April 6, 2023; August 4, 2023
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to accelerate the development of Digital Therapeutics (DTx) to treat Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). Advances in technology offer unprecedented opportunities to develop clinical-grade mobile, web, or other software-based platforms designed to deliver treatments that are safe and effective for SUD. FDA authorization of DTx can play an important role in increasing the availability of treatments to patients with SUD, although there are other pathways for dissemination of this class of intervention. The primary objective of this FOA is to move DTx to their next step in the development process, with the ultimate goal of generating new, FDA authorized, disseminated treatments for SUDs.

Laboratories to Optimize Digital Health
Application Due: June 5, 2023; October 5, 2023
Digital health incorporates mobile health (mHealth) and health information technology (smartphones, wearable sensors, internet platforms, and electronic health records) with biological, social, and behavioral data. Digital health technology offers unprecedented opportunities to help consumers, clinicians, and researchers measure, manage, and improve health and productivity. These tools also have the potential to improve our understanding of mental illness, to track the course of illnesses and recovery, and to provide and enhance mental health care. NIMH seeks applications for innovative research projects to test strategies to increase the reach, efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of digital mental health interventions which may impact mental health outcomes, including suicide behaviors and serious mental illness. 

Leveraging Health Information Technology (Health IT) to Address and Reduce Health Care Disparities
Application Due: June 5, 2023; October 5, 2023
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) seeks to support research that examines the impact of leveraging health information technology (health IT) to reduce disparities in access to and utilization of health care services, patient-clinician communication, and health outcomes for populations that experience health disparities in the U.S.The 2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan outlines a vision of health IT to improve population health, access, equity, safety, and reduce costs via health IT capabilities such as public health surveillance, telehealth, and remote monitoring (e.g., wearables; web enabled medical devices).

Neuromodulation/Neurostimulation Device Development for Mental Health Applications
Application Due: June 16, 2023; October 16, 2023
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to encourage applications seeking to develop the next generation of brain stimulation devices for treating mental health disorders. Applications are sought that will either 1) develop novel brain stimulation devices or 2) significantly enhance, by means of hardware/software improvements, the effectiveness of brain stimulation devices that are currently U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved or cleared. Novel devices should move beyond existing electrical/magnetic stimulation and develop new stimulation techniques capable of increased spatiotemporal precision as well as multifocal, closed-loop approaches. Applications seeking to develop new capabilities should focus on significant enhancement of the spatial resolution, depth of delivery, and/or precision of the device. Incremental changes to existing devices (e.g., software updates) are not within the scope of this announcement.

Innovative Screening Approaches and Therapies for Screenable Disorders in Newborns 
Application Due: June 16, 2023; October 16, 2023
This FOA encourages research relevant to the development of novel screening approaches and/or therapeutic interventions for potentially fatal or disabling conditions that have been identified through newborn screening, as well as for "high priority" genetic conditions where screening may be possible in the near future. Having an accurate screening test, as well as demonstrating the benefits of early intervention or treatment, are important criteria for including a condition on a newborn screening panel. Expanded knowledge of the genetic and molecular basis for various conditions, as well as technological innovation, can potentially increase the ability to screen for many disorders. Unfortunately, the pace of developing effective treatments lags behind the pace of developing new screening technologies, which unfortunately limits the benefits of screening for some disorders.

Developing Regulated Therapeutic and Diagnostic Solutions for Patients Affected by Opioid and/or Stimulants use Disorders
Application Due: August 15, 2023
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages grant applications from small business concerns proposing research projects, directed towards commercialization, for the development of novel, evidence-based, FDA-regulated medical products addressing the needs of patients suffering from opioid use disorders (OUD) and/or stimulant use disorders (StUD). Applications received under this FOA may fall within two scientific areas, namely: (1) pharmacotherapeutics (small molecules and biologics) and (2) medical therapeutic and diagnostic devices, including software as a medical device. This FOA strives to contribute to the effort against the national opioid and psychostimulant emergency and offer new medical products for individuals, families, and communities affected by this devastating crisis.

Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health Information Technology
Application Due: Ongoing through September 30, 2027
While working to implement Cures Act provisions, ONC identified gaps with respect to leveraging EHR data to support population-level analyses and delivery of services, as well as integrating clinical knowledge into routine clinical practice. The reasons for these gaps range from a lack of data standards and interoperability to the digitization, integration, and presentation of new evidence into clinical workflows in safe, useful, and useable ways.Therefore, this funding opportunity will support innovative and breakthrough solutions critical to maximize the potential of health IT and achieve the goal of a transformed healthcare delivery system through various methods, such as:Determining the fundamental questions, the answers to which will identify barriers to nationwide interoperability and electronic exchange of health data.Engaging the health IT industry, along with academic researchers, to identify and develop innovative solutions that address barriers to interoperability.Disseminating findings from research while fostering collaboration, advancement, and implementation of solutions and lessons learned with the health IT industry.

TECH + SCIENCE

Robotic Systems for Space Exploration
Application Due: March 13, 2023
This focus area includes the development of robotic systems and technologies (hardware and software) that will enable and enhance future space exploration, science, and service missions. As science and exploration activities reach further into the solar system and humans continue to work and live in space, there will be an increased reliance on intelligent and versatile robots capable of performing a variety of tasks in remote settings under dynamic mission conditions.  

Hyper-realistic Extended Reality (XR)Digital Transformation for Aerospace
Application Due: March 13, 2023
NASA is seeking to explore and develop technologies that are essential for the Agency's successful digital transformation. Specific innovations being sought in this solicitation include Hyper-realistic Extended Reality (XR) real-time visualization technologies for Lunar and subsequent Mars Extravehicular Activity (EVA) surface operations and training with extensibility to similar agency needs.

NASA Terrain Using Extended Reality
Application Due: March 13, 2023
The system would provide an extractable, high-resolution terrain database (<1 meter resolution) with all the correct metadata that is created from digital elevation terrain data, 3D rock models, 3D human-made structure models, photos, lidar scans, etc., that can be used with the most used game/scene rendering engines at NASA (Unreal, Omniverse, Unity, or Edge) to support the creation of highly immersive and highly performant simulation environments. The initial regions of interest are possible future NASA lunar landing sites, but the concept/system should be usable for Mars or other Earth locations of interest.

Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models
Application Due: April 5, 2023
To consistently maintain an optimal environment for research animals, there is a need for devices in animal facilities that can precisely and accurately monitor the environmental conditions. Devices that can sensitively identify types and levels of various pathogens, allergens, and/or other pollutants are especially desired in environments supporting laboratory animals. Additionally, needed are noninvasive or minimally invasive bio-logging devices for real-time monitoring of the behavior, food/water consumption, and bodily functions of animals. Such devices should be discreet, robust, easy to apply, and mobile, while being sensitive enough to register the physiology of different animals.

NLM Research Grants in Biomedical Informatics and Data Science
Application Due: June 5, 2023, October 5, 2023
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) supports innovative research and development in biomedical informatics and data science. This funding opportunity focuses on biomedical discovery and data-powered health, integrating streams of complex and interconnected research outputs that can be translated into scientific insights, clinical care, public health practices, and personal wellness. The scope of NLM's interest in these research domains is broad, with emphasis on new and innovative methods and approaches to foster data driven discovery in the biomedical and clinical health sciences as well as domain-independent, scalable, and reusable/reproducible approaches to discovery, curation, analysis, organization, and management of health-related digital objects

BRAIN Initiative: Research Resource Grants for Technology Integration and Dissemination (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Application Due: June 14, 2023
This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports efforts to disseminate resources for integration into neuroscience research practice. The resource(s) should be relevant to the goals of the BRAIN Initiative as outlined in the "BRAIN 2025: A Scientific Vision" and "The BRAIN Initiative 2.0: From Cells to Circuits, Toward Cures" and shared broadly to the neuroscience community. The resource(s) should address compelling needs of neuroscience researchers that are otherwise unavailable or impractical in their current form. Activities must include dissemination of an existing resource, and may include one or more of the following activities: distribution of tools and reagents; user training on the usage of new technologies or techniques; providing access to existing technology platforms and/or specialized facilities; minor improvements to increase the scale/efficiency of resource production and delivery; minor adaptations to meet the needs of a user community.

Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities
Application Due: December 15, 2023
This program aims to bring together humanities scholars, advanced graduate students, librarians, archivists, museum staff, computer scientists, information specialists, and others to learn about new tools, approaches, and technologies, and to foster relationships for future collaborations in the humanities. NEH encourages you to develop proposals for multidisciplinary teams that include the necessary range of intellectual, technical, and practical expertise. You may draw partners and collaborators from the private and public sectors and may include appropriate specialists from within and outside the United States.

The MIT Sea Grant College Program 
Application Due: Various Deadlines and Ongoing
The MIT Sea Grant College Program is a Federal-Institute partnership that brings the research and engineering core of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to bear on ocean-related challenges. Funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Sea Grant College Program promotes the conservation and sustainable development of marine resources through research, education, and outreach.

TECH + SOCIAL CHANGE

Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program
Application Due: March 6, 2023
The purpose of the Educational Technology, Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities Program (ETechM2 Program) is to improve results for children with disabilities by (1) promoting the development, demonstration, and use of technology; (2) supporting educational media activities designed to be of educational value in the classroom for children with disabilities; (3) providing support for captioning and video description that is appropriate for use in the classroom; and (4) providing accessible educational materials to children with disabilities in a timely manner.

National Endowment for the Arts Research Awards
Application Due: March 23, 2023
Two funding opportunities are available: Research Grants in the Arts funds research that investigates the value and/or impact of the arts; and NEA Research Labs, which funds transdisciplinary research teams grounded in the social and behavioral sciences, yielding empirical insights about the arts for the benefit of the arts and non-arts sectors alike.

National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America
Application Due: April 27, 2023
Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to groups/communities with rich and dynamic artistic and cultural contributions to share that are underserved. 

Galvanizing Health Equity Through Novel and Diverse Educational Resources (GENDER) Research Education
Application Due: June 27, 2023
Specifically, this FOA aims to support courses that develop skills in multidimensional and intersectional health-related research and healthcare delivery. The format of the courses may involve a traditional in-person approach, online activities, a hybrid of both approaches, or other methods. The over-arching goal of this ORWH R25 program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a diverse workforce to meet the nation’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research.   

UNICEF Venture Fund
Application Due: Ongoing
The UNICEF Venture Fund makes $50–100K early stage investments in technologies for children developed by UNICEF country offices or companies in UNICEF programme countries. By providing flexible funding to early-stage innovators, it allows UNICEF to quickly assess, fund and grow open-source technology solutions that show potential to positively impact the lives of vulnerable children.

TECH + RESEARCH TRIANGLE

NCBiotech: Company Funding, University Technology Development
Application Due: Varies
NCBiotech offers several funding programs designed to fill gaps in technology development and company growth. These funds help university researchers and companies conduct critical studies and reach significant development milestones that enable them to attract follow-on funding.

One North Carolina Small Business Program
Application Due: Varies
The One North Carolina Small Business Program helps fund North Carolina businesses in capital-intensive, high-risk industries in science, technology, engineering and math.  If your company wins a Phase I federal Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer grant (SBIR/STTR), your money can go farther with matching dollars from our One NC Small Business Program.

First Flight Venture Center and BARDA DRIVE Health Security Accelerator
Various Projects
First Flight connects you with BARDA through the DRIVe (Division of Research, Innovation, and Ventures) initiative, a part of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). DRIVe’s mission is transforming Health Security by accelerating the research, development, and availability of transformative countermeasures to protect Americans from natural and intentional health security threats.