Grants
Get Funded
With support from The Lemelson Foundation, NCIIA awards almost $2,000,000 annually in grants to US-based faculty and student technology innovators. NCIIA grants support courses, programs, products and ventures with positive social impact.
Student and faculty technology innovators must be part of a member institution to be considered for a grant. All proposals must be submitted online.
NCIIA Grant Programs
Advanced E-Team grants Help students move technology innovations from idea to prototype and eventually to market. Award amounts are up to $20,000. Annual proposal deadlines are in May and December.
Course and Program grants help faculty strengthen existing curricular programs or build new courses in invention, innovation, and technology entrepreneurship. Award amounts are up to $50,000. Annual proposal deadlines are in May and December.
Sustainable Vision funds and supports transformational educational programs where breakthrough technologies are created and commercialized for the benefit of people living in poverty in the US and abroad.
- Funding. Grant award amounts are up to $50,000. The annual proposal deadline is in October. Learn more
- Training and Mentoring. Sustainable Vision VentureLab is a 5-day highly experiential workshop designed to enhance the success of your venture.
- Faculty Development. Attend Sustainable Vision TeachingLab to expand your knowledge, teaching, and venture engagement in projects that serve emerging markets.
- Connect. Join an international community of faculty who seek to address global challenges through technology and market-based innovation.
Apply for a grant
Before you consider applying for a grant, be sure your idea is a fit with one of our programs.
- NOTE: NCIIA funds are awarded exclusively to students and faculty technology innovators at our member institutions. Check whether your college or university is a member or renew your membership.
- Listen to these general NCIIA program guidelines:
- Listen to this overview of the grants process:
- Review our frequently asked questions
All proposals must be completed online via a simple, five-step application process. A narrative and supplemental appendices are uploaded into the application.
- Preview the application, in PDF form.
PLEASE NOTE: this PDF includes screen shots of NCIIA's five-step proposal process. The proposal shown is an Advanced E-Team proposal, but steps for all grant types are the same. Narrative length and content and required advisor types vary, please see the program guidelines for more information. This PDF is for preview purposes only. - To start or preview a proposal online, create an account or login here.
NCIIA Events
TEDxWakeForest
February 25, 2012
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
TEC: Idea2Venture
March 2, 2012
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
I2V Washington State
March 29, 2012
Washington State University
Pullman, WA
IdeaLab: The Sustainable University
March 30-Apr 1, Apr 20-22, 2012
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA
BME VentureLab
June 25-29, 2012
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
VentureLab Wisconsin
August 13-17, 2012
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI
Sustainable Vision VentureLab
August 23-27, 2012
Cambridge, MA

















