The program is designed to help current BRAIN-funded investigators from a research institution or early-stage start-up better understand how to apply their innovative technology to an unmet market need.
The NIH BRAIN Initiative is providing a training opportunity for researchers developing a novel technology to participate in the Concept to Clinic: Commercializing Innovation Education (eC3i) Program.
The eC3i Program is a virtual summer entrepreneurial training program that gives researchers the tools to answer the question: “does my technology have commercial potential?” The program also empowers investigators to incorporate user feedback into their innovation’s design, increasing potential for widespread dissemination and use – a key tenet of the BRAIN Initiative.
Participants in the eC3i Program will acquire an initial set of core skills that will enable them to:
- Characterize the unmet market need
- Identify the main product attributes
- Conduct customer and stakeholder interviews
- Validate the business opportunity
This opportunity is for participants associated with NIH BRAIN-funded active grant awards (F32, F99/K00, K99/R00, R01, R24, R25, R34, R41, R42, R43, R44, RF1, U01, U19, U24, U44, UF1, UG3/UH3, UH2/UH3). The grant principal investigator (PI) is not required to participate. Participants can be anyone involved in the research, from undergraduates to grant collaborators, with a strong understanding of the project science and innovation, and a desire to learn and apply business concepts to explore the commercial potential of the invention.
To be eligible to participate, you must be associated with a NIH BRAIN-funded award that is active or in a No-Cost Extension through September 2025.
Please contact Paige Anderson (paige.anderson@nih.gov) with any questions about the program and to confirm your eligibility if you plan to apply.
The application cycle is currently open. All applications must be received no later than April 14, 2025. Apply today!
Program dates are as follows:
Application deadline: April 14, 2025
Notice of Participation: April 30, 2025
Program Start Date: June 3, 2025
Program End Date: August 22, 2025