Nebraska Academic Research
and Development Grants

This program offers Nebraska businesses a matching competitive grant for research and development activities done in conjunction with a Nebraska college or university.

Eligibility Requirements

• Phase I R&D awards are capped at $100,000.
• Phase II R&D awards are capped at $400,000. Businesses are eligible to apply for Phase II awards if they have successfully completed a Phase I award as determined by DED.
• DED will not grant more than two awards in any four-year period per project.
• R&D grant funding must be matched at 100% (1:1) of the requested grant amount with eligible matching funds. R&D Grant funding for value-added agriculture projects must be matched at 25% (4:1) of the requested grant amount with eligible matching funds. Please discuss project details with DED staff to determine if the project meets the value-added agriculture category requirements.
• Each phase will generally be completed within 24 months of award.

Eligible matching funds include any non-state source such as private foundations, federal or local governments, quasi-governmental entities, commercial lending institutions, investors, or other sources provided they are not using funds appropriated by the Nebraska Legislature.

Any for-profit business that has physical operations facilities in Nebraska will be considered for Academic R&D funding.

Projects are defined by the scope of work and the reasonable costs associated with the academic research and development activities undertaken by a business in cooperation with a Nebraska college, university, or faculty member. They’ll research to develop new products and processes and make modifications to existing products.