Research And Engagement > iTRANSCEND
iTRANSCEND
Application Guidelines
Have you made a discovery that could matter beyond the lab?
iTRANSCEND is UNCG’s internal award program designed to help faculty take their most promising findings and move them toward real-world impact, whether through a prototype, a validated technology, a new community or industry relationship or a platform that positions your work for competitive external funding.
This program is designed to support the translational work required to determine whether a promising research result can become a viable solution to an important unmet problem.
Program Objectives
- Accelerate the translation of research discoveries into practical innovations with real-world application.
- Support proof-of-concept and validation activities that reduce barriers to applied use, commercialization or community deployment.
- Enable prototype and model development directly tied to a specific emerging discovery.
- Build strategic relationships with industry, community organizations, government partners or other external stakeholders.
- Support access to training, workshops, and specialized expertise in innovation, commercialization or implementation science.
- Generate preliminary evidence that positions projects for external funding through NCInnovation, SBIR/STTR, NIH, NSF or other competitive programs.
- Strengthen UNCG’s institutional research translation pipeline across all disciplines.
Innovation through Translational Research: Advancing New Science, Collaboration, and Emerging New Discoveries
Award at a Glance
| Maximum Award | Up to $10,000 per project |
| Project Period | 8 months |
| Estimated Awards | 5 awards |
| Funding Type | Internal funding |
| RFA Release | April 20 2026 |
| Proposal Deadline | August 14 2026 at 5:00 PM |
| Award Notification | September 30 2026 |
| Project Start Date | October 1 2026 |
Priority Areas
Proposals are welcome from all disciplines. iTRANSCEND is not limited to STEM; translational innovation in education, public health, social sciences, creative arts, humanities, and community engagement are equally valued. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate:
- A clearly defined emerging discovery that is the foundation of the translational work
- Translational potential with a specific pathway to application, deployment, or commercialization
- Opportunities for validation, prototype development, or real-world feasibility testing
- Interdisciplinary or cross-sector collaboration
- A credible path toward external funding (NCInnovation, SBIR/STTR, NIH, NSF, foundations, or industry partnerships)
Eligibility
Proposals may be submitted by full-time UNCG faculty, including tenured, tenure-track, and research faculty, and research staff. Individuals are eligible to serve as Principal Investigators on one proposal. Collaborative proposals are welcome and strongly encouraged, particularly those that bring together expertise from multiple disciplines or departments. Such collaborations can help generate new perspectives and create stronger pathways toward impactful research outcomes.
Proposal Components
All proposals submitted to the iTRANSCEND program must include the following components. Applications should be clear, concise, and aligned with the program’s focus on innovation, translation, and revenue-generating outcomes.
- Executive Summary (max 300 words)
- Briefly describe your project, including the innovation, proposed solution, target audience, and expected impact. Highlight the value and potential for commercialization.
- Project Narrative (max 4 pages)
- Describe what you are developing, why it is innovative, and how it could become a market-ready product. It should also briefly cover your target users, revenue potential, key milestones, team or partners, and overall feasibility and next steps beyond the project period.
- Budget & Justification
- Submit a detailed budget and explain how costs support project development and goals.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Provide CVs (max 2 pages each) for the PI and any Co-PIs, highlighting relevant experience.
Review Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Innovation and originality of the proposed work
- Strength of the translational opportunity
- Feasibility of the proposed activities within the project period
- Potential for future funding, partnerships, or broader impact
- Alignment with the goals of the Translation & Innovation Catalyst Awards program
Reporting & Outcomes
Awardees will be expected to provide a brief report describing project outcomes at the end of the funding period. Outcomes may include prototype development, proof-of-concept validation, technical data generation, intellectual property disclosures, external grant submissions, industry partnerships, or other indicators of technology advancement. Awardees may also be invited to present their work at a Research Innovation Showcase organized by the Division of Research and Engagement to highlight emerging technologies and innovative solutions developed at UNCG.