bridge over ocean and landscape

TechAdvance®

Commercializing Rutgers Innovations

Reducing Risk, Improving the World

Our goal is to reduce the technology risk while adding value to Rutgers technologies to increase the probability of obtaining commercialization funding from industry and private investors. By supporting early stage technologies at Rutgers, we aim to help our researchers develop useful products and services that will have a positive impact on the world around us.

What is TechAdvance®?

TechAdvance® is an early-stage-technology fund that provides financial support and business expertise for Rutgers faculty and students to advance promising technologies toward commercialization.

TechXpress is a fast-track program of TechAdvance® created to support smaller projects – such as development of prototypes, materials and experiments that generate new information or data to move Rutgers technologies closer to commercialization. For example, TechXpress funds may be used to create a prototype for a new device, purchase a compound for proof-of-concept studies, or fund a toxicology or efficacy experiment to increase the likelihood of patentability.

White puzzle with 8 missing pieces in the center, reading Gap Funding.

Benefits of TechAdvance®

  • Enable inventors to add value to Rutgers technologies to make them more attractive to industry and investors
  • Support Rutgers’ reputation as a source of promising new technologies
  • Promote economic development and growth in New Jersey and the region
  • Improve the likelihood of receiving follow-on funding from public and private sources
  • Generate income for Rutgers via licensing and new ventures
stick figure climbing up staircase towards lightbulb

How it Works

TechAdvance®

  • TechAdvance® offers awards of up to $100,000 to support selected Rutgers technologies.
  • Upon completion of a TechAdvance®-funded project, researchers may apply for additional funds from TechAdvance®.
  • Applicants submit proposals to TechAdvance® using a web-based platform and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
  • Proposals are evaluated by external industry Reviewers and funding decisions are based on Reviewer recommendations.
  • Funded projects must be completed within a 12-month period from the date of the award.
  • Awardees submit progress reports during the project period and participate in an end-of-cycle event to present the results of their research to peers, reviewers, donors, Rutgers administrators, and local community and business representatives.

TechXpress

  • TechXpress offers awards of up to $25,000 for projects that require small amounts of funding and can be completed within a short period of time.
  • TechXpress offers a simplified application and review process.
  • Work must be completed within 6 months.
  • Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.
  • Applicants may apply for both TechAdvance® and TechXpress for separate projects.
Diagram of a business plan. If it works, it leads to funding. If no, back to the light bulb.
White puzzle with 8 missing pieces in the center, reading Gap Funding.
stick figure climbing up staircase towards lightbulb
Diagram of a business plan. If it works, it leads to funding. If no, back to the light bulb.

Contact the Team

TechAdvance - Rutgers Research

TechAdvance® Program - Rutgers Research

TechAdvance supports Rutgers researchers to advance their innovative technologies toward commercialization while providing unique opportunities to present their ideas to mentors, partners and investors. Hear from four TechAdvance award recipients and see how TechAdvance funding is helping them to transform their ideas into products that will make a positive impact on the world around us.