Minnesota State seeks to support faculty, staff, and student* innovation that shows great potential for improving teaching, learning, and access for students across its 37 colleges and universities.
Submit an application by January 10, 2020 for consideration. Faculty and staff can find more information, resources, and the application on the Innovation Funding Connect page. Log in using your StarID@minnstate.edu as your username.
Funded projects will aim to address obstacles to student success by using existing technologies, resources, or practices in innovative ways. Priority will be given to projects and ideas that support the Minnesota State Equity 2030 initiative.
Types of Innovation Funding Grants
Large Seed Innovation Grants (up to $25,000) – In the spirit of the television show “Shark Tank,” selected innovators who apply for a large seed innovation grant will be invited to compete for funding by pitching their innovative project to an “investor panel” (students, Minnesota State educators, business, and non-profit community members) at the Shark Tank Open on March 26, 2020. In preparation for the pitch, individuals or teams will complete an application packet for the panel to review in advance and will be offered presentation coaching to help them prepare for the pitch.
Small Seed and Sustaining Innovation Grants (up to $10,000) – Innovators are also invited to apply for small seed innovation grants that focus on piloting, enhancing, or sustaining an innovation program.
Pay-It-Forward Funding Innovation Grants (up to $10,000) – Individuals or teams of student, staff, and faculty innovators may submit a funding application for a competitive proposal process for Pay-It-Forward funding. Pay-It-Forward grants allow a campus to replicate a previously-funded innovation project from another campus. The open period for Pay-It-Forward Funding applications begins the day after the Shark Tank Open event on March 26, 2020.
Learn More
To view a selection of previously funded innovation projects, visit the  Shark Tank Open Stories page or the ASA Newsletter’s  Stories of Innovation Series.
To receive updates regarding innovation funding,  subscribe to the ASA Newsletter.
Questions? Contact Stephen Kelly.
*Student innovators will need a faculty sponsor to access the application.
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