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Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Seed Grants

Seed grants will build interdisciplinary relationships in entrepreneurship research at NC State University, and promote accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Each year, NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship awards multiple small (~$2,500) seed grants to encourage and facilitate entrepreneurship-focused research. For more information, contact Jeff Pollack (jmpolla3@ncsu.edu).

2024 Award Cycle Details

Spring Deadline for Submission: March 31, 2024
Spring Notification of Awards: April 15, 2024

Total number of awards: 5 – 10

Award amount: $2,500 – $5,000 per project

Award totals will be based on recommendations from seed grants reviewers, who will evaluate each budget to ensure that all requests are eligible expenses and that the budget is appropriate for the scope of the project. All awarded funds must be expended by June 1, 2024. 

Allowable Activities

Innovation and Entrepreneurship invites proposals for a variety of activities that support collaborative research efforts, including but not limited to:

  • Hourly pay for graduate or undergraduate students for research assistance
  • Data collection or data access
  • Participant recruitment
  • Research-focused workshops
  • Proposal ideation workshops
  • Research-focused hack-a-thons

Review and Selection

Successful proposals will clearly communicate how the funds received will result in the pursuit of peer-reviewed journal publications, or similar research-focused endeavors with a clear outcome. Optimally, these seed grants will build interdisciplinary relationship in entrepreneurship research at NC State University, and promote accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion. The executive director of NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the research director, and two other researchers will review proposals.

Submission Requirements and Instructions

A complete application includes the following materials: 

  • Proposal (3 pages maximum)
    • Page 1
      1. Cover page—a 200 words (max) synopsis
      2. List of Personnel (and contact information for primary investigators and co-investigators)
    • Page 2
      1. Project summary
      2. Significance of the topic and theoretical/practical background
      3. Research questions and/or hypotheses
      4. Anticipated data collection and methodological approach (context, participants, etc.)
    • Page 3
      1. Expected contributions
      2. Budget and timeline
      3. References (not included in 2 page limit)
      4. Biosketches for each co-PI (up to 1 page each, these are not included in 2 page limit)

In addition to the proposal submission, please create a PINS record for your application and coordinate with your College Research Office as needed to secure appropriate approvals for your application. Please include your project’s PINS number on the proposal cover page. 

Please submit all application materials as one PDF to Jeff Pollack (jmpolla3@ncsu.edu).

Previously Funded Proposals

FAQs

Yes. These seed grants are meant to inspire collaboration.

Use of funds must be by NC State faculty and/or students.

Successful proposals will clearly communicate how the funds received will result in the pursuit of peer-reviewed journal publications, or similar research-focused endeavors with a clear outcome. Optimally, these seed grants will build interdisciplinary relationships in entrepreneurship research at NC State University, and promote accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion. The executive director of NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the research director and two other researchers will review proposals.

 NC State faculty and/or students.

Yes.

No.

Yes, and yes.

Typically $2,500 – $5,000.

No.

Yes.

Yes.