Opportunity Information: Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2015 2004566
Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2015 2004566
- The Department of Commerce in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2015 Regional Innovation Strategies Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.020 Cluster Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 30, 2015 and posted on Aug 4, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 5, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments State governments Special district governments.
- A State An Indian tribe A city or other political subdivision of a State An entity that (a) is a nonprofit organization, an institution of higher education, a public private partnership, a science or research park, a Federal laboratory, or an economic development organization or similar entity, and (b) has an application that is supported by a State or a political subdivision of a State or A consortium of any of the entities described above.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The FY2015 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program was a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to strengthen regional economies by investing in innovation-driven, entrepreneurship-centered ecosystems. The program is built around the idea that long-term regional growth is most likely when universities, industry, governments, nonprofits, and philanthropic partners work together in coordinated ways rather than in isolation. EDA frames this as building and sustaining regional innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems where new ideas are generated, leaders collaborate across sectors, trust enables partnerships, entrepreneurs can access support and experienced management talent, and early investment capital is available to move concepts into the market. In line with the Department of Commerce FY2014-2018 Strategic Plan, the RIS program specifically focuses on developing regional innovation strategies and clusters that increase a region's capacity to invent, improve, commercialize, and scale new products and services.
Funding under the RIS umbrella supported two separate competitive tracks. The first was the 2015 i6 Challenge, which emphasized capacity-building activities that help innovations move from research or early development to real commercial outcomes. This included support for Proof of Concept Centers (POCCs) and Commercialization Centers (CCs), as well as efforts to expand or scale existing commercialization programs and centers. The second track was Seed Fund Support (SFS) Grants, aimed at providing operational support to organizations that deliver essential early-stage funding to startups, addressing a common gap between promising ideas and the resources needed to validate products, attract customers, and secure follow-on investment. Applicants were allowed to apply to one or both competitions, but were not required to submit to both.
The opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number EDA-HDQ-OIE-2015-2004566 and aligned with CFDA number 11.020 (Cluster Grants). Individual awards could be as high as $500,000, with no stated minimum award floor, and the program required cost sharing or matching funds, meaning recipients needed to contribute a portion of project costs from non-federal sources. Key dates for the FY2015 competition included a posted date of August 4, 2015, and an application deadline of October 5, 2015, after which the opportunity was archived on November 4, 2015.
Eligibility was broad but structured around regional, multi-stakeholder capacity. Eligible applicants included state governments, county governments, cities or other political subdivisions, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits). EDA also allowed applications from entities such as public-private partnerships, science or research parks, federal laboratories, economic development organizations, or similar entities, as long as the application was supported by a state or a political subdivision of a state. Consortia composed of the eligible entity types were also permitted, reinforcing the program's emphasis on collaborative regional approaches rather than single-organization efforts.
Overall, the RIS Program was designed to help regions build the infrastructure, programs, and financing pathways that turn research and innovation into startups, jobs, and competitive industry clusters. By funding commercialization capacity (through centers and scaled programs) and strengthening early-stage funding mechanisms (through seed fund support), EDA positioned RIS as a practical tool for turning regional innovation assets into measurable economic development outcomes. For more information at the time, EDA directed applicants to its Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and provided contact support via oie@eda.gov and the program webpage at http://www.eda.gov/oie/ris/.
FY2015 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program - FAQs
What was the FY2015 Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) Program?
The FY2015 RIS Program was a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the Economic Development Administration (EDA). It was designed to strengthen regional economies by investing in innovation-driven, entrepreneurship-centered ecosystems where partners across sectors work together to move ideas into the market and grow regional industry clusters.
What was the main goal of the RIS Program?
The program aimed to help regions build and sustain regional innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. EDA emphasized coordinated, multi-stakeholder efforts that support idea generation, cross-sector collaboration, trusted partnerships, access to entrepreneurial support and experienced management talent, and early investment capital to advance concepts toward commercialization and scale.
How does RIS connect to broader federal strategy?
RIS aligned with the Department of Commerce FY2014-2018 Strategic Plan and focused on developing regional innovation strategies and clusters that increase a region's capacity to invent, improve, commercialize, and scale new products and services.
What competitive tracks were available under the RIS umbrella?
RIS funding supported two separate competitive tracks: (1) the 2015 i6 Challenge, and (2) Seed Fund Support (SFS) Grants.
What did the 2015 i6 Challenge focus on?
The 2015 i6 Challenge emphasized capacity-building activities that help innovations move from research or early development to commercial outcomes. It included support for Proof of Concept Centers (POCCs) and Commercialization Centers (CCs), as well as efforts to expand or scale existing commercialization programs and centers.
What are Proof of Concept Centers (POCCs) and Commercialization Centers (CCs) in this context?
Within this opportunity, POCCs and CCs were mechanisms supported under the i6 Challenge to strengthen commercialization capacity. The stated emphasis was on helping innovations progress from early-stage development toward real market and commercialization outcomes.
What did Seed Fund Support (SFS) Grants focus on?
SFS Grants were aimed at providing operational support to organizations that deliver essential early-stage funding to startups. The intent was to address a common gap between promising ideas and the resources needed to validate products, attract customers, and secure follow-on investment.
Could an applicant apply to both tracks?
Yes. Applicants were allowed to apply to one or both competitions, and they were not required to submit applications to both.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number for this RIS competition?
The opportunity was listed under Funding Opportunity Number EDA-HDQ-OIE-2015-2004566.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity aligned with CFDA number 11.020 (Cluster Grants).
What was the maximum award amount?
Individual awards could be as high as $500,000.
Was there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award floor was stated in the information provided.
Did the program require matching funds or cost sharing?
Yes. The program required cost sharing or matching funds, meaning recipients needed to contribute a portion of project costs from non-federal sources.
When was the FY2015 RIS opportunity posted?
The posted date was August 4, 2015.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was October 5, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on November 4, 2015.
Which federal agency administered the program?
The program was run by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the Economic Development Administration (EDA), with references to EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included state governments, county governments, cities or other political subdivisions, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits).
Were public-private partnerships or similar entities eligible?
EDA allowed applications from entities such as public-private partnerships, science or research parks, federal laboratories, economic development organizations, or similar entities, as long as the application was supported by a state or a political subdivision of a state.
Could a consortium apply?
Yes. Consortia composed of eligible entity types were permitted, reflecting the program's emphasis on collaborative regional approaches rather than single-organization efforts.
What types of regional partners did EDA emphasize for ecosystem-building?
The program was built around coordinated work among universities, industry, governments, nonprofits, and philanthropic partners, rather than isolated efforts.
What kinds of outcomes was RIS intended to support?
RIS was designed to help regions build the infrastructure, programs, and financing pathways that turn research and innovation into startups, jobs, and competitive industry clusters, including stronger commercialization capacity and improved early-stage funding mechanisms.
Where could applicants find more information or ask questions (at the time)?
EDA directed applicants to its Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and provided contact support via oie@eda.gov and the program webpage at http://www.eda.gov/oie/ris/.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development
Next opportunity: 2016 American Solar Challenge
Previous opportunity: Characterizing air quality in Theodore Roosevelt Rocky Mountain National Parks
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for EDA HDQ OIE 2015 2004566
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (EDA HDQ OIE 2015 2004566) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Governance and Civil Society in Syria Apply for NEAAC ACSYRIA 15 005 Funding Number: NEAAC ACSYRIA 15 005 Agency: Near East Affairs Assistance Coordination Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: $42,000,000 |
| Economic Development Assistance Programs Apply for EDA06222009EDAP Funding Number: EDA06222009EDAP Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| EDD and CEDS Evaluation Research Project Apply for EDA072709RESEARCH Funding Number: EDA072709RESEARCH Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: $460,000 |
| i6 Challenge Apply for EDA05032010I6 Funding Number: EDA05032010I6 Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| FY 2010 Cluster Mapping Research Opportunity Apply for EDA05192010CLUSTERMAPPINGRESEARCH Funding Number: EDA05192010CLUSTERMAPPINGRESEARCH Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Triple Bottom Line Accounting Competition Apply for EDA07012010TBL Funding Number: EDA07012010TBL Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Space Coast RIC Apply for EDA09012010SPACECOASTRIC Funding Number: EDA09012010SPACECOASTRIC Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| FY 2011 Planning and Local Technical Assistance Programs Opportunity Apply for EDA11242010PAT Funding Number: EDA11242010PAT Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| i6 Green Apply for I6GREENEDA031011 Funding Number: I6GREENEDA031011 Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| FY 2012 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs Opportunity Apply for FY2012EDAP111811 Funding Number: FY2012EDAP111811 Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY 09 University Center Economic Development Program Apply for EDAFY2009UC Funding Number: EDAFY2009UC Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Community TAA Program Opportunity Apply for EDA01112009COMMUNITYTAA Funding Number: EDA01112009COMMUNITYTAA Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY 2010 University Center Economic Development Program Apply for EDAFY2010UC Funding Number: EDAFY2010UC Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| FY 2011 Public Works, Economic Adjustment, and GCCMIF Programs Opportunity Apply for EDA10142010EDAP Funding Number: EDA10142010EDAP Agency: Economic Development Administration Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Regional Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "EDA HDQ OIE 2015 2004566", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.