The SC EPSCoR Phase-0 Program provides seed funding of up to $6,000 to small South Carolina businesses to support their proposal development activities for the SBIR program. The goals are to increase small business and academic participation in private sector research and increase research funding in the state. Eligible businesses must be registered in SC and have fewer than 500 employees. Funding can be used for tasks like acquiring preliminary data, developing prototypes, and obtaining proposal reviews. Proposals are reviewed through both administrative and external review processes. The next funding round will be available in the fall of 2021.

1. SC EPSCoR Phase-0 Program
April Heyward, MRA
SC EPSCoR Program Manager
2021 Academic Leadership & Career Development Workshop
Monday, June 14, 2021

2. SC EPSCoR Phase-0 Program Objectives
• Encourage and support South Carolina small businesses in
their proposal development activities to compete effectively
for SBIR.
• Provide seed funding to small businesses preparing SBIR
proposals.
• Increase small business participation in SBIR competitions
• Increase research dollars in South Carolina’s private sector.
• Increase involvement of academia in private sector research.

3. Federal Agencies Providing SBIR Funding

4. SC EPSCoR Phase-0 Program Eligibility
• Small business must be registered with the South Carolina
Secretary of State – Domestic or Foreign Corporation.
• Small business must be American-owned, for profit, and fewer
than 500 employees.
• If the proposing entity is more than 50% owned by another
entity, the majority owner(s) will be considered the proposing
entity and is subject to the basic qualifications.
• Must identify a specific SBIR solicitation to which they intend
to apply.

5. SC EPSCoR Phase-0 Program Award Information
• Maximum Funding Amount Per Award - $6,000.00
• Maximum Funding Amount for Undergraduate Student
Internships - $3,000.00
• Please note Undergraduate Student Internship supplemental
funding is for Material Science related topics.
• Award Duration – 12 Months

6. SC EPSCoR Phase-0 Program Sample Funding Utilization
• Acquire and analyze preliminary data.
• Develop a prototype.
• Obtain scientific and technical consultant support.
• Obtain proposal reviews for scientific merit.
• Domestic travel for specific SBIR conferences and workshops.
• Domestic travel to meet program officers at targeted federal
agencies.

7. Eligible Phase-0 Proposal Topics
Note: Figure adapted from Vision 2025: South Carolina Science and Technology Plan

8. Eligible Phase-0 Proposal Topics
 Hierarchical Structures with Controlled Optical,
Electrochemical, and Magnetic Properties - The goal is to
explore the inorganic crystal structure and mesoscale
assembly of hybrid inorganic and organic materials to control
and tailor their optical and magnetic properties.
 Stimuli Responsive Polymeric Materials - The goal is to design
and develop synthesis strategies for polymers able to respond
to external cues.
Material Science Related Topics

9. Eligible Phase-0 Proposal Topics
 Rational Design of Interactive Biomaterials - The goal is to
develop a fundamental understanding of the effect of physical
and chemical signals on cellular behavior across a range of
length scales, leading to the development of interactive
biomaterials.
 Multiscale Modeling and Computation Core - The goal is to
develop multiscale models and computational tools
synthesizing theories, methods, and infrastructure to provide
optimized solutions for the materials system.
Materials Science Related Topics

10. Proposal Review Process
 There are two levels of proposal review.
 Administrative Review – Review is based on whether the
proposal is complete and adhere to the Phase-0 Solicitation.
 External Review – Proposals that successfully pass the
Administrative Review will be sent to external reviewers
outside of South Carolina.

11. SC EPSCoR Phase-0 Program Next Steps
 Phase-0 Program Webinar will be held in Fall 2021.
 Next round of funding will be available in Fall 2021.

12. April Heyward, MRA
SC EPSCoR Program Manager
South Carolina Research Authority
T: 803.733-9068
E: april.heyward@scra.org
W: www.scepscor.org