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BARDA: Mask Innovation Challenge

To accelerate the development of the next generation of masks, BARDA and NIOSH have partnered to launch the Mask Innovation Challenge: Building Tomorrow’s Mask. The Mask Innovation Challenge aims to improve the comfort, utility, and protective capabilities of available community masks that are worn during day-to-day activities when physical distancing is not possible. This competition is designed to support the development of mask designs that meet predefined performance standards, while providing increased comfort and durability to the average consumer.

Can you help build a better mask – one that people are interested in wearing? You will have helped solved one of the biggest problems of the day! The mask design innovation challenge puts up a $500,000 prize purse for new mask designs that overcome the common reasons people don’t wear masks in the current pandemic. Phase 1 is design, due 5 p.m. April 21, 2021; phase 2 is testing of prototypes by NIOSH scientists and partner labs. Learn more at drive.hhs.gov/mask_challenge.html and then see Challenge.gov for the rules, criteria, timelines and how to submit.

Mask Innovation Challenge Event 4/15

Don’t miss the Mask Innovation Challenge event at the Venture Café at UCSC on Thursday, April 15, 2021: “Why we need to innovate on the non-medical grade face mask” from 3-4pm EDT. HHS’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will discuss comfort, utility, and protective factor of current non-medical grade face masks as well as opportunities to innovate on these designs.

Event link*: https://venturecafephiladelphia.org/event/why-we-need-to-innovate-on-the-non-medical-grade-face-mask/

8this link can be used to access the event on the day of the talk, no registration required)

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Attention Stony Brook University Faculy and Staff: Applications for the second cycle of the President’s Fast Impact Fund (FIF) opened August 3, 2026. Open to all Stony Brook faculty and staff, this special initiative supports immediate-impact projects that can be launched quickly and deliver results within six to ten months.

The FIF provides awards of up to $300,000 focused on low‑investment, high‑reward initiatives that create visible, positive change. Examples of projects that would be considered include specialized equipment or technology acquisitions, pilot programs or proof‑of‑concept initiatives, targeted renovations or seed funding, among other opportunities.

All proposals must include a customized, high-level budget and be endorsed by the relevant vice president or dean with authority to implement the project. Applications for the August cycle will be available beginning August 3 with submissions due Friday, August 21 by 5 pm, ET. Please visit the Fast Impact Fund website for additional information and to submit an application.

[post_title] => SBU President’s Fast Impact Fund (FIF) [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => sbu-presidents-fast-impact-fund-fif [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-08-19 08:30:44 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-08-19 12:30:44 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=5031 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2971 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2018-05-15 15:18:07 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-05-15 15:18:07 [post_content] => The Long Island BioMentor Initiative (LIBMI) officially accepted its first program applications in a “launch event” at the de Seversky Mansion on Thursday May 10, 2018. Already a year into a “pilot phase,” the LIBMI was developed in league with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Venture Mentoring Service which employs an “objective team-mentoring model” for early-stage businesses that champions one strict rule above all others: The uber-qualified mentors are prohibited from investing in, pitching business to or otherwise profiting from their mentees. Read the full article from Innovate Long Island. [post_title] => “Heavy-Hitting LI BioMentor Initiative Makes It Official” [post_excerpt] => The Long Island BioMentor Initiate (LIBMI) officially “launches” at an event held at the de Seversky Mansion on Thursday May 10, 2018. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => heavy-hitting-li-biomentor-initiative-makes-it-official [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-01-25 14:48:57 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-01-25 14:48:57 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=2971 [menu_order] => 122 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 3826 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2021-09-20 16:07:19 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-09-20 16:07:19 [post_content] =>

Led by experts from BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting, join our live Virtual Classroom for an interactive, 2 day SBIR/STTR workshop. We’ll review the basics including program purpose; eligibility; and sources of funding. Then we’ll provide proposal prep essentials of the NIH and NSF programs. In addition to up-to-date information on the SBIR/STTR programs, we will cover:

  • NIH and NSF grant mechanisms and where to find them
  • How to find the program officers, how to approach them, what questions to ask
  • How to do research using the web tools available (eReporter, SBIR.gov, etc.)
  • Common pitfalls and how to avoid them, and much more.

Workshop registration fee: $25.00. Please register online: https://cfbsbirtrain2021b.eventbrite.com

Workshop is produced by the Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University and in partnership with Columbia Technology Ventures.

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Stony Brook University's Office of Technology Licensing and Industry Relations (OTLIR) has unveiled a new website allowing users easy access to important marketing information about SBU inventions, including images, technology descriptions, names of inventors, patent and licensing status, and technology licensing contacts. Users may browse by category, or search by keyword to find any particular technology, topic, or inventor. Visit the newInnovation site here: https://www.stonybrook.edu/technology-licensing/innovations/

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Attention Stony Brook University Faculy and Staff: Applications for the second cycle of the President’s Fast Impact Fund (FIF) opened August 3, 2026. Open to all Stony Brook faculty and staff, this special initiative supports immediate-impact projects that can be launched quickly and deliver results within six to ten months.

The FIF provides awards of up to $300,000 focused on low‑investment, high‑reward initiatives that create visible, positive change. Examples of projects that would be considered include specialized equipment or technology acquisitions, pilot programs or proof‑of‑concept initiatives, targeted renovations or seed funding, among other opportunities.

All proposals must include a customized, high-level budget and be endorsed by the relevant vice president or dean with authority to implement the project. Applications for the August cycle will be available beginning August 3 with submissions due Friday, August 21 by 5 pm, ET. Please visit the Fast Impact Fund website for additional information and to submit an application.

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SBU President’s Fast Impact Fund (FIF)

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“Heavy-Hitting LI BioMentor Initiative Makes It Official”

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SBIR/STTR Virtual Workshop 9/28-9/29

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Stony Brook University Innovations Webpage

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