From NCIIA: Sustainable Vision Program (Deadline November 8!)

Sustainable Vision Grants fund educational programs in which student teams create and commercialize technologies that benefit people living in poverty.

• Up to $50,000
• Grant period: one to three years
• Who may apply: faculty from NCIIA member institutions

             Upcoming submission deadline: November 8, 2013 

Program Guidelines
Read the guidelines before you apply!
The answers to most of your questions are in the program guidelines---program details and deadlines; how to apply; examples of eligible technologies; selection criteria; information about how to apply, and more.

Program Overview
Since 2006, over 60 Sustainable Vision grants have been awarded to NCIIA member / US universities to innovate, commercialize, and distribute technologies in the US and 30+ countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Grantees have access to funding, venture development support, coaching and a network of advisors, entrepreneurs, faculty and students.

Note that the Sustainable Vision grants program focuses on supporting educational programs only. If you are part of a team focused on the development and deployment of a specific technology-based solution to poverty alleviation, you may be eligible to apply for NCIIA’s E-Team Program.

Selection Criteria
Successful proposals:

• create and improve new or existing university courses, certificate programs, minors, majors, and/or extracurricular programs with a focus on technology invention, innovation and entrepreneurship to address poverty alleviation and basic human needs.
• result in the formation of multidisciplinary and entrepreneurial student E-Teams* to develop technology-focused inventions and innovations that address critical global problems.
• establish a network of faculty and students who are working to solve problems with technology solutions and an entrepreneurial approach.

*What's an E-Team?NCIIA defines an E-Team as a multidisciplinary group of students, faculty, and industry mentors working together to bring a technology-based invention (product or service) to market. The "E" stands for entrepreneurship.

How to apply
Click here to apply. Detailed instructions and information about the application process can be found in the program guidelines.
You may preview a PDF of the online application here.
PLEASE NOTE: this PDF includes screen shots of NCIIA's five-step proposal process. This PDF is for preview purposes only.
If you have an idea for a Sustainable Vision proposal, but are not sure whether it's a fit with NCIIA guidelines, you may send a one-paragraph summary to facultygrants@nciia.org. We are glad to review your brief summary on a first-come basis and provide you with feedback. Please note that due to high volume, we are unable to guarantee replies to inquiries made less than two weeks prior to the proposal deadline.