Turn around time for proposals --from the issuance of the RFP to submission deadline -- is expected to be relatively short, i.e., 7 weeks. As in previous rounds of MEDC funding, partnerships with companies will likely be important.

$1 billion will be allocated over ten years. Of this amount, approximately $200M will be directed towards commercialization, research and development of "competitive edge technologies" in the next two years, 2006-2007.

Project grants and loans will focus on four technology sectors:

• Life sciences
• Alternative energy (no basic research, Category I, proposals
• permitted)
• Advanced automotive, manufacturing and materials
• Homeland security and defense

Proposals for all sectors will be solicited in at least three categories:

• basic research (except energy),
• applied research, and
• commercialization.

There is no white paper or preproposal phase, only a Letter of Intent. The January RFP is the first of four that will take place over the next two years from this fund.

Proposals will be evaluated for both technical and commercialization merit using a peer review process under a MEDC contract to AAAS. Commercialization, i.e., economic impact on the State of Michigan, is extremely important.

Again, the reason for the early heads up is that these proposals to the State are not your typical NSF or NIH proposal. While they may be similar technically, they also require that the proposer make a strong case for the commercialization/economic impact potential of the proposed work, even at the basic research level.

Toward that end, partnerships with industry, ideally Michigan-based, are strongly encouraged. Sometimes these partnerships take some time to develop, especially in the case of multiple partners. Thus, if you are considering responding to the forthcoming solicitation, don't procrastinate.

Feel free to call or email Jim MacBain (jmacbain@engin.umich.edu, 647-7071) or Elaine Brock (ebrock@umich.edu, 763-7188)

MEDC webpage about the 21st Century Jobs Fund [leaving UM web space]

21st Century Job Fund Competition Site [leaving UM web space]