Science Trust opens competitive request for proposals to stimulate Puerto Rico’s knowledge economy through innovation

This article is reproduced by CienciaPR with permission from the original source.

PDF versionPDF version

CienciaPR Contribution: 

No
The Trust has recently launched the Science and Technology Grants RFP (Request for Proposal) Program, aimed at funding innovation in all areas of science and technology, and is actively seeking proposals from the field’s brightest minds. (El Nuevo Día)

Close to $5 million have been designated by the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (PRST) for a grants program focused on proposals presented by scientists and researchers related to the development and research in the fields of natural sciences, biotechnology, aerospace technology, communication, medical innovations, electronics, clean and renewable energies and related sciences, announced Iván Ríos Mena, acting Executive Director of the PRST.

“Recently the Board of Trustees created a $4.7 million funding program for grants that have the purpose of promoting vanguard projects, which will propel Puerto Rico to become a center for research and innovation. This is a key tool for strengthening the knowledge economy, a pillar in Puerto Rico’s economic development strategy,” Ríos Mena said.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) and the guidelines to request these funds are available starting August 15, 2014.  Each grant can reach the amount of $150 thousand and will be available for startups, established companies, public and private academic institutions and nonprofit organizations.

The first phase of the RFP consists of the presentation of a Letter of Intent which must be submitted before or on, September 26, 2014, and will only be accepted through the form available on the Trust’s website. The application form, the key dates and the list of necessary documents can also be found on the website www.prsciencetrust.org.

On the other hand, Dr. Daniel Colón Ramos, PhD, member of the Board of Trustees, professor at Yale University and founder of the website www.cienciapr.org explained that “based on the description in the Letter of Intent, the trust will select projects and invite selected applicants to submit proposals for evaluation.”

These proposals will then be evaluated by scientific experts (in a process known as “peer review”) who will issue recommendations based on the merit of the proposals. Thus, this mechanism will recognize and reward the best proposals that will result in the greatest benefit in innovation and Puerto Rico’s scientific research.

The professor added that they are expecting a broad participation with great ideas for the country that will support Trust’s flagship program: Science City. He anticipated that the Trust expects to approve from 10 to 15 of meritorious proposals submitted.

“With this announcement, we are taking an important step in our efforts to position Puerto Rico as a world-class center of research and innovation. In addition, we are generating opportunities so more creative and productive minds can have the resources to make their ideas and projects a reality. These funds will pave the way for science and technology projects and provide the resources to bring ideas to a level that allows them to obtain additional funding, research and innovation impact in Puerto Rico and even promote their development and eventual commercialization,” Ríos Mena emphasized.

For more Information regarding the calendar, the RFP documents and the Science Trusts mission, you can access the website www.prsciencetrust.org.

Tags: 

Content Categories: