Fueling Economic Growth in Colorado
The Advanced Industries Proof of Concept (AI POC) Program funding is provided to Colorado State University (CSU) through the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and is intended to accelerate the commercialization of CSU innovations with high potential for creating economic impact in the State of Colorado. CSU applicants may request up to $130,000 in funding for POC projects related to the following industries: Aerospace, Advanced Manufacturing, Bioscience, Electronics, Energy and Natural Resources, Infrastructure Engineering, and Technology and Information. A 1:3 cash match is required.
Application Process and Timeline
The application deadline for this year’s Advanced Industries Proof of Concept Grant Program has passed, and we are no longer accepting submissions. Thank you to everyone who applied. We appreciate the time and effort that went into your proposals. For information regarding the review and selection timeline, see the FAQ section below.
The next AI POC funding round is anticipated in summer 2027. Sign up to be notified when the RFP and application details are released, and check back on this page for updates.
Additional AI POC funding is available to researchers at eligible Colorado research institutions directly through OEDIT. CSU researchers should contact CSU Strata about applying for these funds.
Questions? Contact techtransfer@csustrata.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
The AI POC Program is funded by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) to advance innovations developed at Colorado research institutions in the advanced industries towards commercialization, leading to economic impact in the State of Colorado. These industries include: Aerospace, Advanced Manufacturing, Bioscience, Electronics, Energy and Natural Resources, Infrastructure Engineering, and Technology and Information. Since 2013, more than $5 million have been allocated to CSU under the AI POC Program, funding more than 60 projects.
CSU Strata, in collaboration with the Offices of Sponsored Programs.
AI POC grant funding is available to any Colorado State University non-temporary, salaried, state classified or general faculty employee.
The process is outlined in the figure below:
All questions regarding AI POC grants at CSU should be directed to Sarah Belford via email, sarah.belford@colostate.edu.
| Date | Who is Required to Participate | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| July 16, 2026 | All Applicants (optional) | Information Session and Q&A |
| July 22, 2026 | All Applicants (optional) | Seminar to help applicants answer questions related to market and commercial outcomes |
| August 10, 2026 | All Applicants | Deadline for applicants to submit their video presentations via InfoReady |
| August 25, 2025 | All Applicants | Notice of request to submit internal proposal |
| September 21, 2026 | Final Applicants | Internal proposal due by 4pm MST |
| October 5, 2026 | Final Applicants | Notification of internal selection |
| October 20, 2026 | Internally Selected Applicants | OEDIT proposals due to OSP for approval |
| October 30, 2026 | Internally Selected Applicants | OEDIT proposals due in OEDIT application portal |
For example, applicants requesting the full $130,000 from the State must provide a minimum of $43,333 in matching funds, for a potential total project budget of $173,333.
CSU Strata may provide a portion of the matching funds for a limited number of projects; however, applications that have matching funds identified will receive priority status in the review process.
Matching funds must be cash (not in-kind) and cannot be other State of Colorado funds or funds from existing sponsored projects. Other internal funds, funds provided by industry sponsors or investors, and donor contributions can be used as match. Matches may come from multiple sources. Faculty effort is not allowed as a match.
More information may be found at choosecolorado.com/doing-business/advanced-industries.