See How MUCI Fills the Gap

MUCI has a mature process and structure that have proved efficient and effective in accelerating the pace of commercialization of university technology. The ability to access pre-seed funds quickly throughout the year is essential for university technology transfer offices that may have the appropriate consultant or potential investor available for only a short time, or for those working with faculty inventors whose academic schedules limit their flexibility. Far from duplicating the much larger state-level competition for funds (MLSC, MTTC and now the 21st Century Jobs Fund), the MUCI Challenge Fund complements rather than competes with the larger program by providing for the following:

• Multiple competitions per year, supporting rapid access to a much needed resource
• Rapid decision making and award dispersal (1 month from deadline)
• Relatively small amounts of money for focused steps along the path to commercialization ($150,000 cap which may be awarded in stages based on milestones)
• Projects are put forward by the institution’s technology transfer office or its equivalent, which assures
  • a first screening process accessing commercialization potential
    a guarantee of institutional support
  • a commitment that intellectual property, conflict-of-interest, and regulatory issues are
    under institutional management
• Peer review by experts in commercialization as well as technologies
• Real time feedback on specific commercialization steps
• Feedback that helps technology managers and investigators improve their knowledge of how to
  commercialize their research and be successful in future grant-writing and business plan development efforts

Just as MUCI fulfills a different function from that of the 21st Century Fund, the MUCI Challenge Fund does not replicate the type of seed funding offered by the Michigan SmartZones and their incubators, or other Michigan incubators and new business assistance programs. Most MUCI projects have not reached a point where theseorganizations are appropriate options. SmartZone funds are available to the larger, non-university community and support later stage projects. MUCI funds are awarded only to member universities and the Van Andel Institute, and support very early stage commercialization efforts.

At these early stages, a startup company may be planned but it has not yet been established. The technologies show promise but there are commercial issues to be addressed. Few projects have even progressed far enough to warrant private investment, let alone decisions such as potential options or licenses for the technology. Given these realities, many of the programs in existence—even those for high-tech firms—are not realistic sources of funding and business assistance. This is the area in which MUCI plays a significant role in Michigan’s economic development.

Michigan Resources
(adapted from Tim Faley, Managing Director, UM Ross School of Business, Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies)

If you have any questions about MUCI, please contact the MUCI Business Manager at MUCIadministrator@umich.edu