Skip to main content
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Moore Inventor Fellowships 2019

To:Chairs and Administrators, Departments in the Biological and Physical Sciences; Associate Deans for Research; College/School Research Administrators
From:Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Education
Date:November 27, 2018
Subject:Moore Inventor Fellowships

Deadline

Deadline for Internal Review:January 07, 2019

Project Description

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation announces the fourth competition for Moore Inventor Fellows.
The Foundation seeks to identify outstanding inventors and innovators who harness science and
technology to enhance the conduct of scientific research, strengthen environmental conservation, or
improve the experience and outcomes of patient care.

The Moore Inventor Fellows program focuses on supporting scientist-inventors at a critical stage of
research to capture opportunities that otherwise might be missed. The Foundation seeks to provide freedom and
support to promising inventors with the most compelling ideas to pursue creative work.

The Foundation plans to allocate nearly $34 million through 2026 to support 50 Moore Inventor Fellows.  The competition will focus on early-career staff at major research universities and others.

Amount per Award: $675,000
Duration of Award: 3 Years
Number of Awards: 5 Awards

Eligibility

Candidates must be faculty, research scientists, postdocs, or other full-time staff. Candidates must be within ten years of receiving the advanced terminal degree in their field (M.S., Ph.D. or M.D.).

The scope of this call is intentionally wide: proposed projects do not need to fall within current
funding priorities, but should be broadly within the program areas of foundation interest (science,
environmental conservation and patient care). The exception is for nominees proposing ideas and
inventions that target patient care. Within this realm, overlap with current emphasis on
improving the experience and outcomes of patients, including solutions in the areas of diagnostic
excellence, medication safety in the community and community-based serious illness care.

The Foundation aims to support inventions at an early stage that could lead to proof-of-concept work on an invention
or advance an existing prototype that tackles an important problem. Innovations with the
promise of making a long-lasting impact by addressing underlying problems in their field, but a clear
path toward commercialization is not a requirement. The Foundation is not interested in supporting projects that
are already at a stage where significant venture capital is available. As with all Moore grants, the Foundation seeks to
measure progress toward a defined goal during the three years of support. The Foundation’s policy is
that intellectual property that results from a grant must be managed and disseminated in a manner that
leads to the greatest impact. Each award will include IP terms to reflect the needs of that project.

If you are proposing an invention assigned to WARF, please contact WARF prior to proceeding with your application.

Each host institution will be required to contribute $50,000 in annual direct support of the inventor’s work. This can be “in kind” as released time or access to special facilities for which there is normally a charge. Each fellow is required to devote at least 25 percent of their own time to their invention.

UW-Madison is allowed to submit two nominations.

Website

Internal Competition Application Instructions

Applications for Internal Review

To submit your application, follow this link: https://inic-uwmadison.fluidreview.com/

Please include the following information:

A. Statement of invention (no more than two pages, single-spaced, 12-point font and one-inch margins). The first paragraph should describe clearly and without jargon the invention, the problem it seeks to address, and its potential impact. The statement of invention should also include the following information: Description of invention; Importance in the area of science, environmental conservation, or patient care and experience; Stage of invention; Current funding;  Feasibility; and, Approach for measuring progress during the grant term.

B. Summary CV to include (no more than two pages): Educational and professional background; Key accomplishments, honors and demonstrated areas of expert knowledge; and, Other background information relevant to this invention.

C. One-page budget narrative that outlines how grant funds will be used and how the cost sharing commitment will be met.

D. Statement of plan to assure the applicant has at least 25 percent of their time to devote to their invention and $50,000 in annual direct support of the inventor’s work.

Sponsor Deadlines

Nominations are due to Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation by February 11, 2019. Applications are due to Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation by March 04, 2019.

Questions?

Contact grants@research.wisc.edu.