Market Assessment Program (MAP)

Goal of Market Assessment Program (MAP)

• Help Faculty/Researcher understand market and technology development needs for successful commercialization
• Structured process of evaluating and identifying technologies for commercialization
• Foster earlier industry and market input and interaction with our faculty
• Broaden pipeline of quality submissions to Proof of Concept program
• Develop clearer patent portfolio strategy
• Increase interaction between engineering/science and business at the faculty and student level

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Structure of Market Assessment Program (MAP)

1. CU Cleantech will work with the Boulder Innovation Center to supply industry experts
2. Faculty and identified industry experts will form a team and write a full proposal detailing targeted markets and key questions to be answered
3. Teams executing the project will typically include one industry lead, 1 technology transfer officer, 1 faculty/grad student researcher, and 1 MBA student
4. Winning proposals will be granted ~$8K for a 3 month market assessment
5. Final deliverable will be a report answering the following questions
• Which markets / applications have the most promise for the technology
• Who are the potential customers, buyers or users of the technology
• How should the technology be commercialized (start-up, license, partnership)
• What additional developments need to occur for the technology to have commercial potential
• How and what should be protected via Patents vs. Trade Secret, etc
• Recommended next steps (more research, POC, start-up, license, etc)

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MAP Program Requirements

• MAP proposals must be based on intellectual property created at the University of Colorado at Boulder and related to the development of cleaner, renewable energies, energy efficiency and natural resource management. Possible areas include
• Alternative Fuel (e.g. hydrogen) Production and Utilization
• Biofuels and Biorefining
• Carbon Capture and Sequestration
• Demand Side Management Strategies
• Energy Conservation Technologies or Strategies Energy Efficient Buildings
• Energy Efficient Industrial Processes
• Energy Storage, Distribution and Transmission
• Nanoscience, Materials and Catalysis
• Smart Grid Technologies
• Solar Energy Conversion
• Wind Energy
• In order to apply, a complete Invention Submission Form describing the subject of technology must have been filed, with CU’s Technology Transfer Office

• In order to apply, a pre-proposal must have been filed with the The Renwable and Sustainable Energy Institute and/or the Technology Transfer Office. The pre-proposal should be a 1-2 page description of the technology (what is it and where it is in its development process), expected market benefits, potential go-to-market pathway, and a brief explanation of commercial interest from industry to date (if any). 

• In order to apply, investigators must have attended at least one meeting with representatives from the TTO or CU Cleantech.  A TTO case manager will be assigned who will work with you to coordinate the meeting.

• MAP funds must be used for MARKET research that will clarify the applicability  of the technology in the market and the best paths to market.  This may include research including discussions with end-customers, 3rd party market analysts, potential competitors and commercialization partners. The project should produce a significant step towards understanding the commercialization pathway and will be used to inform the POC process.

• Project should be completed within 6 months  timeframe

Winning proposals will have the following

• Clear plan to answering the following questions:
• Which markets / applications have the most promise for the technology?
• Who are the potential customers, buyers or users of the technology?
• What additional developments need to occur for the technology to have commercial potential?
• How and what should be protected via patents or copyrights?
• Recommended next steps (more research, POC, start-up, license, etc)?
• Target market/industry people to speak with
• End customers
• Partners
• Integrators
• Competitors
• Clear breakdown of use of funds

• Proposals with innovations that can have significant energy impact (gigawatt production levels or gigawatt energy savings when deployed at scale) will be of particular interest in this year’s MAP program.

How to Apply

• File an Invention Submission Form with the TTO by October 14, 2011.
• Pre-Proposal:  By October 16, 2011, complete (1) a 1-2 page pre-proposal outlining the technology and potential target markets;  (2 - optional) a 30 min phone call or meeting with Trent Yang of CU Cleantech (trent.yang@colorado.edu, 303.492.4645) and your TTO case manager to discuss your intent to apply for the program for a certain technology.
• Full-Proposal: CU Cleantech will facilitate a meeting in Mid October for select projects with TTO case manager and a representative from the Boulder Innovation Center.  CU Cleantech, BIC and TTO will identify an industry lead to collaborate on the full proposal.

• Download this MAP Application Template and work with the industry lead to complete the application.
• Send a copy of the proposal by October 28, 2011 to Trent Yang (RASEI) and your TTO case manager.

CU Cleantech and TTO Contact

For questions and assistance concerning the MAP and POC application process and criteria, please contact:

• CU Cleantech:   Trent Yang (trent.yang@colorado.edu, 303.492.4645).
• TTO:   Kate Tallman (kate.tallman@cu.edu, 303.492.5732)

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NOTE:THIS PROPOSAL MAY BE MADE PUBLIC.  PLEASE ATTACH ALL CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IN A SEPARATE APPENDIX OR REFER TO THE INVNETION SUBMISSION FORM FOR ANY NOVEL AND, PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED IDEAS.