LANSING ? As reported earlier, $26.5 million is available this fiscal year from the Michigan Technology Tri-Corridor to fund research, development and commercialization projects in life sciences. Unlike last year, money for auto technology and homeland security technology will not bleed cash from life sciences starts ups.
But now the story reported by Mitechnews.Com is official. Last year, the siphoning of funds away from the Life Sciences Corridor, created by former Gov. John Engler, raised hackles among the state’s powerful life sciences community, and increased pressure in Lansing to reverse the governor’s controversial plan.
“This funding provides the winning researchers and entrepreneurs an incredible opportunity to make products and services available to help make Michigan a global economic powerhouse in the 21st-century,” said Gov. Jennifer Granholm. “The development and commercialization of these products will continue to create new job opportunities for Michigan workers.”
The governor said about 100 new life sciences companies have been added in Michigan over the past four years alone. But she said nothing about the $10 million that was earmarked last fiscal year to fund technology in the homeland security and auto areas, the other two legs of the Technology TriCorridor. Earlier, MEDC officials said funding for those two areas would be sought from other sources, perhaps the federal government.
Any Michigan universities, public and private research institutions and Michigan-based for-profit firms interested in competing for funding must submit pre-proposals to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation no later than November 17. The tentative date when full proposals will be due is March 9, 2005, with final selections expected to be announced in June, 2005.
Applications are handled completely online at
Here?s the rest of the fine print:
Life sciences proposals may include technologies that have cross-over applications to advanced automotive technology and homeland security, the other two sectors of the Technology Tri-Corridor initiative. Examples of cross-over technologies include sensors and measurement devices and bio-sensing, anti-toxins, food and water safety and security, and surveillance/ detection. Additionally, life sciences proposals may include technologies such as microsystems, MEMs, nanotechnology, and information technology that may have applications in all three Tri-Corridor industry sectors.
Funding decisions will be determined through a competitive, independent peer review-based process. The prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science will independently evaluate the proposals and make recommendations to the Tri-Corridor Steering Committee. Interviews will be conducted for the most promising proposals before the committee makes its final award selections.
