The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) AgBio Innovation Hub has announced the opening of its Spring 2024 MTRAC AgBio Starter Grant request for proposals.

Projects eligible for MTRAC AgBio funding are those that relate directly to technology applications in agriculture, natural resources, and other bio-based industries (excluding human medicine). This scope includes the USDA definition of food, fuel, fiber, natural resources, and opportunities related to these, including veterinary medicine and diagnostics. It also explicitly includes bio-derived/bio-based materials, industrial biotechnology, and advanced (engineered) systems for monitoring, treating and/or producing plants, animals, microbial strains and genetic traits relevant to these industries. Individual project direct cost budgets for Starter Grant Awards may not exceed $40,000. Most proposals request between $25,000 and $40,000 in funding to cover projects that last about 6-9 months.

Housed at Michigan State University, the MTRAC AgBio Innovation Hub (AgBio Hub) is one of five specialized statewide commercialization programs with in-depth domain expertise in specific areas of research. Each hub is sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) together with a Michigan research university having domain depth in that hub’s technical and commercial theme(s). The AgBio Hub provides translational research funding to accelerate the commercialization of high potential AgBio and related technologies. This funding is available through competitive grants offered to innovators at institutions of higher education, non-profit research centers, and hospital systems throughout Michigan. For a more detailed discussion of the program, please see the MTRAC Program seminar.

Proposals are due Mar 28, 2024. Researchers interested in submitting an MTRAC proposal are encouraged to contact Program Director Joe Affholter at jaffholt@msu.edu or Program Assistant Weian Ou at ouweian@msu.edu for more information and pre-proposal consultation. Informational group webinars available upon request.