Draper Technology Innovation Fund (TIF)

Proposal Instructions
Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Funding (Begins July 1, 2006; ends June
30, 2007)

Proposal submission deadlines

Next Proposal Deadlines: July 31, 2006; October 31, 2006

Graduate School Technology Transfer Grant Programs

317 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706
608.263.7274

Since 1981 The Graduate School has supported the additional research often
necessary to bring new concepts and inventions to the patent and licensing stage via the
Technology Innovation Fund (TIF). The program goal is the eventual introduction of new
products and processes into the market place for the public good.

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Draper Technology Innovation Fund (TIF) grants are awarded for securing patent
protection or license(s) to inventions stemming from research at the University of Wisconsin-
Madison.
Consult the Graduate School and WARF before writing your proposal
Prior to writing a proposal, we highly recommended that you consult a) the Graduate School
Technology Transfer Grant Programs manager (263-7274) about funding availability and b) a
patenting or licensing representative at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)
(608-263-2500) about your invention disclosure and experimental research findings. Advice of a
patent attorney also may be beneficial before submitting the proposal. Based on the
consultations, you must describe in your proposal what additional research is required to
improve the patentability or licensability of your invention.
Eligibility a) Applicants must have submitted a formal Invention Disclosure Report (IDR) to
WARF about the technology, and WARF must have accepted the disclosure for further patenting,
licensing, or copyrighting activity; b) applicants must be University of Wisconsin-Madison
faculty members or academic staff; and c) applicants must be in residence on the Madison
campus during the funding period.
To submit an Invention Disclosure Report You may submit your Invention
Disclosure Report (IDR) electronically. Go to www.warf.org and click on “IDR” under the tab
“For UW Inventors.” For the IDR in MS Word format, click on this link: Invention Disclosure
Report (IDR).
Examples of research activities the TIF program will support Examples of
research activities include prototype development, preparation of samples for evaluation, and
application testing.
Funding availability Awards are subject to the availability of funds; therefore, we strongly
recommend that you contact the Graduate School prior to submitting a request for funding.
Funding level Proposals are funded at a level necessary to achieve research objectives. Typical
awards range between $5,000-$35,000.
Funding period Funding is made available throughout the calendar year. Proposals normally
are funded for up to 12 months of effort.
Proposal submission deadlines Proposals are reviewed on a quarterly basis. The next
deadlines for FY 2006-2007 funding are: July 31, 2006 and October 31, 2006
Proposal evaluation Funding decisions are based on patent and licensing potential, scientific
and technical merit, and funding availability.
Final report required A report summarizing your findings is due upon completion of the
project. You will be contacted about how to submit your report on line once the funding period
has ended.

Proposal Format and Instructions

Part 1. Cover page
Part 2. Budget form (2 pages)
Part 3. Summary or abstract
3a. Identify the need, problem, or opportunity and its significance with respect to the
invention.
3b. State the research objectives, research plan, and anticipated results.
3c. Describe the benefits of the proposed research as it relates to the innovation's
patentability and potential licensing opportunities.
Part 4. Description of intellectual property and its status
4a. Describe the invention in detail.
4b. Why is the invention important? Include information about the potential impact of this
technology, its uses, and users. Include financial information if you have it.
4c. Identify your invention by citing the disclosure title, patent title and number, WARF P
Number, and the names of other inventors.

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 4d. Provide a statement about the current stage or status of the invention, e.g., disclosure,
patent filing, patent issuance, assignment, agreements.
Part 5. Enhancement of patentability or licensability Describe how the
research project will improve the invention's patentability or licensability.
Part 6. Research objectives
6a. Describe your specific research objectives in order of priority, focusing on objectives that
can be completed in one year.
6b. For each objective, estimate the cost and the time required for completion.
If some objectives will take more than a year to complete or are contingent upon completion
of earlier stage objectives, describe them and give cost and time estimates for their
completion.
Part 7. Research plan Clearly link your one-year research plan to your research
objectives. You may wish to include a discussion of possible problems you might encounter
and your proposed methods to surmount them. Include the following points:
7a. Introduction to the proposed area of study
7b. Experimental methods to achieve each objective or task
7c. Anticipated results
7d. 12-month work performance schedule, timeline, or GANTT chart.
Part 8. Related research Describe significant and recent research related to your
proposed effort, including your own work and others in the field. Include a concise
bibliography.
Part 9. Principal investigator and key personnel Provide a brief statement
regarding the qualifications of the principal investigator and other key personnel
participating in the research. Provide only relevant biographical information and
publications. Do not submit curriculum vitae.
Part 10. Equipment and facilities Describe the facilities and equipment available to
conduct the proposed work.
Part 11. Sources of funding support for inventive research
11a. Identify past, current, and pending extramural and university sources of support related
to the intellectual property and the proposed work described above.
11b. Describe any activities to solicit support from the industrial/business sector.
General budget instructions
• Enter dollar amounts (no cents).
• List salaries at current rates.
• Enter the name and title, if known, and percent of full-time employment of the staff person or
graduate student for whom funding is requested.
• Enter the total dollars requested for student hourly workers and Limited Term Employees.
Project Travel Funds are available for travel only when travel is a critical component of
the research project. Travel to conferences is not funded. All travel requests require
justification. Indicate the nature of the trip(s), destination, duration, and cost. Use economy
fares.
Supplies and Expenses Provide a detailed list of supplies and expenses and the costs for
each item.
Capital Equipment is equipment over $5,000.
Indirect Costs
The Graduate School encourages investigators to seek outside funding support. If your project
will receive outside funding, please note the following information about indirect costs.

Extramural gift funding is not subject to indirect costs. Extramural funds received by the
University that meet all of the following criteria will qualify as "gifts" and are not subject to
indirect costs:
a. Provide general or unrestricted support for broadly defined activities in one or more
program areas, such as research, public service, instruction, fellowships, traineeships, etc.;
b. No detailed fiscal or technical reports--periodic or final--are required;

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 c. The donor claims no patents, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights that result
from the gift;
d. The donor imposes no provisions (e.g., delays, advance notice) concerning publication or
dissemination of data and information derived from the activity;
e. There is no specific time limit on the expenditure of funds;
f. The donor's gift is irrevocable.
Extramurally funded activities that do not meet all of these criteria for designation as a gift will
be treated as a non-federal grant or contract, and they are subject to assessment of indirect costs.
Page limit Limit your proposal to ten pages. Do not include a copy of your patent or disclosure.
Number of copies to submit Original plus five copies, stapled.
Where to submit your proposal Send your proposal to Jane Sherwood, The Graduate
School, 317 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, 53706.
For information about the Graduate School Technology Transfer Grant Programs, the Draper
Technology Innovation Fund (TIF) and the Industrial & Economic Development Research (IEDR)
program, contact Jane Sherwood, Manager, (608) 263-7274, jmsherwo@wisc.edu.
Web site http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/research/techtrfgrants/grantopps.html
Technology transfer representatives from your college or school also can provide
information about these programs
Agricultural and Life Sciences Irwin Goldman 262-2397
ilgoldma@wiscmail.wisc.edu
Engineering Lawrence Casper 265-4104
casper@engr.wisc.edu
Letters and Science William Barker 263-0540
barker@ls.admin.wisc.edu
Medical School Stephen Harsy 262-7866
harsy@wisc.edu
Pharmacy, Veterinary School and Phil Sobocinski 441-8005
other science departments not pzsoboci@wisc.edu
listed above
Business School and other non- Allen Dines 262-2797
science departments not listed ajdines@wisc.edu
above

Revised June 19, 2006