Section 545.120  Authorized Programs and Activities

a)         Grants may be awarded for the activities specified at Section 2002 of the Act, including:

1)         Advanced Technology Projects – The Department may award initial grant funds for applied innovation research projects that respond to unique, advanced technology projects and which foster the development of Illinois' economy through the advancement of the State's economic, scientific, and technological assets.

2)         Leveraged Technology Projects – The Department may award initial grant funds for applied innovation research projects to assist eligible applicants in the State to apply for, or qualify for and leverage, federal funds awarded for advanced technology projects concerning research and development, business innovation research or technical development, or transfer of useful technology to the private sector.

3)         University-Industry Partnerships – The Department may grant funds for joint university and industry initiatives that create high-skill employment opportunities and internship activities that enable graduates and faculty to stay and work in Illinois.  The Department may also grant funds for joint university and industry initiatives designed to strengthen the relationship between industry and academia, so that applied university research is responsive to the needs of Illinois' industries.

4)         Technology Commercialization Centers – The Department may award grant funds to create and operate centers of excellence in technology commercialization, innovation evaluation, and intellectual property management that encourages the growth of new enterprises based on technologies developed at Illinois research centers, including technology partnerships, technology consortiums or research centers, and industry technology associations that are, or will be, established to perform research and development in present and emerging technologies that can be developed for use by commerce and industry.

5)         Technology Transfer Projects – The Department may award grant funds for technology transfer projects involving promotion of new or innovative technologies among small and medium-sized Illinois manufacturers where the technologies have immediate commercial application.

6)         Continuous Improvement Projects – The Department may award grant funds to provide for planning and operational support for statewide support that improves practices in technology commercialization, including needs assessment and evaluation of the status of technology implementation throughout the State. [20 ILCS 700/2002]

7)         Capacity and Program Development Projects – The Department may award grant funds to qualified not-for-profit organizations or educational institutions in order to support service delivery improvement projects, in order to extend Department capacity in relation to implementation of homeland security market development programs, or for the operation of legislatively directed councils or coordinating bodies.

8)         Product and Service Development Projects – The Department may award grant funds to individual companies or partnerships with operations in Illinois for products or professional services that address unique or emerging national needs in homeland security, safety or defense, or support the development of solutions to these needs.

b)         Allowable Costs – Allowable costs are specified in Section 2002(b) of the Act, including costs for capital improvements, equipment, contractual services, commodities, personnel, support costs, including telecommunications, electronic data and commodities, or other costs.  All costs are subject to the approval of the Department.  Indirect costs shall be limited to no more than 15% of direct grant costs. [20 ILCS 700/2002(b)]

c)         Combination with Technology Enterprise Development Centers – As a means of increasing cost efficiency of program delivery, the Department may combine program responsibilities for activities authorized under subsection (a)(4), Technology Commercialization Centers, with activities authorized under Technology Enterprise Development Centers, as described in Section 545.240 of this Part.  As authorized by the Department through an agreement, Technology Enterprise Development Centers may serve as Technology Commercialization Centers.

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 8450, effective April 19, 2006)