JumpStart Program

JumpStart Program links university research centers to assist NY small businesses

How to Apply:

• For Fall projects, apply anytime through 5 pm on June 21.
• For Spring projects, apply anytime through 5 pm on Oct. 20.
• Complete the “Request for Technical Assistance” form (see Industry sidebar at left), designate the request as a JumpStart application, and include which, if any, of the participating university research centers (from the list below) is preferred. Upon receipt of your application, we will contact you to begin identifying the appropriate resources.
• Contact: Michèle van de Walle, CCMR Industrial Program Director, 607-255-8809, mjv28@ccmr.cornell.edu, with any questions.

Overview

The JumpStart program of the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) is designed to help small NYS businesses develop ongoing collaborations with university research centers in support of company needs.

The program provides:

• A one-semester project utilizing university resources around a topic of mutual interest
• An opportunity to build a relationship with university faculty and facilities
• Up to $5000 in matching NYSTAR funding

This innovative program developed by CCMR includes NYSTAR-funded university technology centers. The center websites, linked below, are good sources of information about their subject matter expertise.

• The Integrated Electronics Engineering Center, Binghamton University
• Center for Advanced Information Management, Columbia University
• The New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Photonics Applications at the City University of New York (CUNY)
• The Center for Future Energy Systems, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
• The Center for Engineered Polymeric Materials, CUNY, College of Staten Island
• The Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology, Alfred University
• The Center for Advanced Materials Processing, Clarkson University
• CCMR

Funding

Awardees may utilize $1 of NYSTAR funds (via the center sponsoring their project) for every $2 of company expenses for projects of up to $15,000 in value. Up to half of company expenses may be in the form of non-cash contributions such as employee time, travel expenses, and materials supplied, and the remainder in the form of cash expenditures. Project funding covers resources such as faculty, research staff, facilities services, and materials.

Eligibility

• NYS Companies (headquartered or with a facility in New York State)1 are eligible for the program. Small companies,2 employing a total of 100 or fewer persons including any parent companies or subsidiaries, are given preference.
• Companies which have a prior relationship with a participating university involving collaboration, funding or technology licensing are not eligible for a project based at that university. They may be eligible projects based at the other participating universities.

Additional Information

Recipients will be selected within one month of the close of applications based on meeting the above criteria and on the judgment of the JumpStart program review board of one of the participating centers. Projects will be conducted during the upcoming semester. Those receiving a JumpStart program award will be notified by both email and telephone. Applicants not awarded under the program will be notified by email.

JumpStart program recipients may be surveyed at the conclusion of the activity by the participating research centers, their Regional Technology Development Center (RTDC), or NYSTAR in order to access the impact value of the project with respect to technology development, transfer or commercialization.