Iowa Innovation Corporation is now BioConnect Iowa, a name change to better reflect our organization’s focus on expanding the state’s bioscience sector.
We move
ideas forward.
Our Mission
is Two-Fold:
To foster commercial growth of targeted bioscience sectors in Iowa and to administer the state’s SBIR/STTR Outreach Program.
BioConnect Iowa’s mission is to make Iowa a powerhouse of bioscience research and industry and create exciting and high-paying careers for Iowans whose work will improve the health and welfare of people around the globe.
Imagine an Iowa where research and innovation lead to vaccines that prevent major diseases; environmentally friendly biobased products; medical devices that save countless lives; and precision and digital agriculture that transform food production.
This is the future of bioscience in Iowa, and the mission of BioConnect Iowa is to make it happen.
Biobased
Chemicals:
Biobased chemicals and products—derived from plants and other renewable biological materials—offer an exciting alternative to many petroleum-derived and non-renewable products. Iowa is a preferred location for bioproduct manufacturing and is fast becoming an R&D leader.
Precision and
Digital Agriculture:
Big data, analytics, and sophisticated farm machinery are transforming the way we raise crops and livestock and are fundamental to our planet’s future. Iowa agriculture businesses lead the nation in precision and digital agriculture innovation, and our goal is to strengthen this lead.
Vaccines and
Immunotherapeutics:
In a world where deadly viruses can travel halfway around the globe in a matter of hours, global health is more important than ever. Iowa researchers are working on vaccines for humans and animals that offer ground-breaking improvements to healthcare. Immunotherapies hold much promise for treating chronic disease and prolonging life, and our goal is to bring these products to the market so everyone can benefit from them.
Medical
Devices:
The medical device industry is booming, and we want to leverage Iowa’s concentration of medical experts and researchers to contribute to this boom. The state’s strong public university system serves as a giant incubator of bioscience and medical innovation, and the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics has a national reputation for medical and scientific excellence. There has never been a better time to position Iowa as a leader in this area.
SBIR/STTR
Outreach Program
Growing Iowa's own by increasing Iowa's
SBIR/STTR successes
BioConnect Iowa works with Iowa bioscience and biotech entrepreneurs to prepare winning applications for the federal Small Business Administration’s Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs, which award funds to qualifying businesses to stimulate high-tech development in the U.S. and to meet the nation’s research and development needs.
The program has four components:
1.
Pre-Registration Requirements
There are several preliminary steps required to apply to BioConnect Iowa’s SBIR/STTR Outreach Program.
2.
Proposal Idea Review
Entrepreneurs and businesses who qualify for the Outreach Program work with Grow Emerging Companies, an R&D funding consulting firm, to evaluate Phase I SBIR/STTR ideas.
3.
Third-Party-Proposal Assistance
BioConnect Iowa pays 100% of the cost of further professional proposal assistance for SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II applications. SBIR/STTR Phase I awards are generally $50,000 – $250,000 for six months (SBIR) or one year (STTR). SBIR/STTR Phase II awards are usually $750,000 for two years.
4.
Matching Financial Assistance
BioConnect Iowa provides financial assistance up to $25,000 to successful Phase I federal award recipients. A further $25,000 will be awarded to eligible applicants on submission of a Phase II solicitation.
Iowa Go To Market Program
The Go-to-Market Accelerator program provides entrepreneurs with training in sales, marketing, corporate development, and finance, as well as pro bono legal, marketing, and HR services from more than a dozen participating firms. With these support services, entrepreneurs will achieve commercial success.
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