Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 123 - OREGON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT › Division 89 - Oregon Innovation Fund › Section 123-089-0080 - Programs

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1) Signature
			 Research Centers (SRCs): The Department and Oregon InC may dedicate a portion
			 of the Fund to support the operations of one or more Signature Research Centers
			 (SRCs). SRCs focus on emerging industry sectors where Oregon has innate
			 advantages and are potential high-growth sectors in the future. SRCs will work
			 with Oregon's research universities in partnership designed to commercialize
			 the technologies being developed at universities, support the commercialization
			 of research and development (R&D) in the private sector, and increase the
			 collaboration and capacity of the universities. SRCs should also add to the
			 entrepreneurial ecosystem throughout the State and support projects and
			 organizations involved in other Oregon InC programs. The Department and the
			 Audit Committee will provide oversight of the SRCs to ensure they are
			 accomplishing their goals and spending moneys from the Fund
			 appropriately.
(2)
			 Commercialization Gap Fund Program: The Department and Oregon InC may dedicate
			 a portion of the Fund to issue grants and/or investments that support
			 commercialization of technologies by early-stage companies often in conjunction
			 with university partners. Due in part to the long-term nature of financial
			 returns from these types of companies, there are very limited sources of
			 funding for these companies. The Commercialization Gap Fund is focused on
			 filling this gap so that these companies can develop to the point of being
			 attractive to private capital to continue their growth and development. In
			 accordance with these rules, the Department will conduct a process to request
			 and evaluate proposals for the management of the commercialization gap fund
			 program with defined criteria, expectations, eligible uses of funds and periods
			 for submission.
(3) High Impact
			 Opportunity Projects (HIOPs) Program: The Department and Oregon InC may
			 dedicate a portion of the Fund to issue grants that support the growth of
			 emerging, potentially high-value industry sectors. The funding will support
			 discrete projects, called High Impact Opportunity Projects (HIOPs) that will
			 remove barriers to growth or increase capacity of Oregon InC's industry focus
			 areas. HIOP funding is not intended to support the development or
			 commercialization of an individual company's technology or intellectual
			 property. In accordance with these rules, the Department will conduct a process
			 to request and evaluate proposals for HIOP grants with defined criteria,
			 expectations, eligible uses of funds and periods for submission.
(4) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
			 Support Program: The Department and Oregon InC may dedicate a portion of the
			 Fund to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Support Program. The SBIR
			 Support Program is intended to help Oregon companies access federal
			 commercialization funding and help those companies that do receive funding fill
			 gaps in how the federal funding can be used. The SBIR Support Program applies
			 specifically to the federal programs called the Small Business Innovation
			 Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which
			 are federal programs designed to stimulate technological innovation and provide
			 opportunities for small businesses to conduct R&D with commercialization
			 potential. The federal SBIR program usually provides grants in two phases:
			 Phase I grants help very early-stage companies do proof of concept/feasibility
			 studies on new technologies, while Phase II grants build on Phase I work to
			 help companies develop commercially ready prototypes to test with customers.
			 The SBIR Support Program has two components: application assistance grants
			 called Phase 0 or Phase 00 Grants and Matching Grants. Phase 0 or 00 Grants are
			 awarded via an application process. As long as a company meets the eligibility
			 requirements and funds are available, the grant is awarded. Matching Grants are
			 awarded via a competitive, request for proposals process. In accordance with
			 these rules, the Department will institute a process to award Phase 0 and 00
			 Grants as well as a separate process to award Matching Grants. The processes
			 will include eligibility requirements, eligible uses of funds and expectations
			 among other things.
(5) Other
			 Activities: The Department and Oregon InC may dedicate a portion of the Fund to
			 support other activities that help achieve Oregon InC's objectives. Any
			 additional programs will be developed in accordance with these rules. If a new
			 program will provide funding via a competitive process, the Department will
			 issue one or more requests for proposals with defined eligibility requirements,
			 eligible uses of funds, criteria and periods for submission. If the funding is
			 used for other activities, including sponsorships, the Department will develop
			 the justification for why the funding is necessary and appropriate and what the
			 funding will achieve. The Department will report on any other activities
			 supported by the Fund at the Oregon InC meeting following the funding
			 award.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS
				  284.706, ORS
				  284.720 & ORS
				  284.742
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS
				  284.720 & ORS
				  284.742