Proof of Concept Programs

Bioscience Discovery and Evaluation Grant Program (BDEGP) for Early Stage Bioscience Company Projects

In 2007, the State of Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade launched a Bioscience Discovery and Evaluation Grant Program (BDEGP) for Colorado bioscience start-up company projects. This program provides proof of concept grants to enable the development and commercial validation of promising technologies that are licensed from Colorado research institutions by Colorado based early stage bioscience companies. These grants address critical business development, market research, legal analysis, and applied research needs that often exist once a start-up company has initiated business planning and fundraising for a technology. The BDEGP Company grants must be matched (at least 1:1) by federal grants or non-founder private investment. The BDEGP matching grants are capped at $250,000 per company, and are currently limited to early stage bioscience companies that have an executed license agreement with a Colorado research institution for the technology that is the subject of the BDEGP-funded project. Since this program was initiated in [2008?], 15 CU biotech start-up companies have received matching grant awards totaling approximately $3,125,000.

The BDEGP matching grant program is administered by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. More information concerning the program requirements can be found at http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/OEDIT/OEDIT/1167928017742.