Collaborative research: epiic: building relationships in innovation and development for growth in emerging technologies (bridge-tech)

Bradley University received a $400,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084), effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2028. This collaborative research initiative, titled BRIDGE-TECH (Building Relationships in Innovation and Development for Growth in Emerging Technologies), delivers capacity-building services and institutional development support to a cohort of five primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) across their respective regions. The project provides customized, locally-grounded activities including innovation center creation, regional council formation, ecosystem assessments, faculty fellows programs, and cohort-wide training workshops designed to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems and remove barriers to research, workforce development, and technology commercialization.

The award supports the delivery of strategic services targeting five interrelated outcomes: increased industry-sponsored research, enhanced innovation culture and technology transfer capabilities, design thinking and innovation accelerator development, rapid manufacturing innovation expansion, and synergistic academic research opportunities. Bradley University, as the lead institution, will facilitate access to shared resources and coordinate training activities while participating institutions implement institution-specific initiatives. The project anticipates deliverables including expanded industry partnerships, improved intellectual property and commercialization processes, increased research funding acquisition, and enhanced workforce training outcomes across the participating PUI cohort over the three-year performance period.

Abstract

The bridge-tech (building relationships in innovation and development for growth in emerging technologies) project brings together a cohort of five primarily undergraduate institutions (puis) committed to strengthening regional innovation ecosystems by removing barriers to research, workforce development, and technology commercialization. These institutions each serve regions with untapped economic and technological potential but face common challenges such as limited research infrastructure, fragmented partnerships, and underdeveloped support for technology transfer. Through a coordinated, cohort-based approach, the project will empower faculty and communities by developing sustainable industry partnerships, supporting entrepreneurial programming, and expanding access to emerging technologies. Ultimately, bridge-tech seeks to build ecosystems where innovation thrives and contributes to long-term economic benefits. Technically, bridge-tech proposes a scalable model to increase innovation capacity at puis through strategic capacity-building and shared institutional development. The project focuses on five interrelated goals: (1) increase industry-sponsored research, (2) enhance innovation culture and technology transfer, (3) develop design thinking and innovation accelerator, (4) drive and expand innovation in rapid manufacturing, and (5) create synergistic opportunities for academic research. Each institution will implement customized, locally grounded activities, such as creating innovation centers, forming regional councils, conducting ecosystem assessments, and launching faculty fellows programs, while leveraging cohort-wide training workshops and shared resources. The anticipated outcomes include increased research funding, expanded partnerships with industry entities, improved IP and commercialization processes, and the training of over 40 faculty members. The collaboration ultimately aims to elevate the role of puis in national innovation networks while supporting sustainable economic development. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.