Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024
(1)
General description. The program provides technical assistance
and financial assistance for the expansion of POCR, the expansion of applied
research, and support for MEP. All awards of financial assistance must
ultimately be approved by the board, after submission of a proposal by the
applicant and a recommendation on the proposal by the committee. A contract
must be entered into with the authority before moneys will be disbursed to an
applicant.
(2)
Program
component descriptions and activities. The program has three primary
components: a POCR component, an applied research component, and an MEP
component.
a. The POCR component makes
financial assistance available to applicants who undertake projects that
commercialize new technologies. The authority will award financial assistance
to innovative businesses that are pursuing the validation of the marketability
of a technology. Applicants may submit applications to the authority for
assistance under this component. Such applications should describe in detail
what technologies the applicant is researching, how the applicant is pursuing
commercialization of those technologies, and how the financial assistance will
be used to bring the new technologies to market in Iowa.
b. The applied research component makes
financial assistance available to innovative businesses in order to allow them
to better connect university research to their needs and to accelerate the
transfer of new technologies to the marketplace. The authority may award
financial assistance to university researchers who are attempting to bring
their research more in line with market and industrial needs by forming
partnerships with innovative businesses. Financial assistance under this
component may take the form of grant funds. If grant funds are awarded, the
applicant shall be required to match the amount of grant funds with other
moneys at a ratio of one to one. Applicants may submit applications to the
authority for assistance under this component. Such applications should
describe in detail what activities the applicant will engage in to accelerate
the validation of technology for the marketplace.
c. The MEP component makes financial
assistance available to service providers that form partnerships with
innovative businesses to conduct workshops for the purpose of providing
assistance in determining and prioritizing applied research needs based on gaps
in productivity or product needs and that offer to broker connections between
innovative businesses and the researchers who can perform the necessary applied
research. Financial assistance is also available to innovative businesses under
this component for product development, design verification, custom equipment
development, manufacturing process development, and technology development and
commercialization. The authority will award financial assistance to eligible
innovative businesses. Applicants may submit applications to the authority for
assistance under this component. Such applications should describe in detail
the nature of the partnerships being formed, what activities the partnership
will undertake, and how such activities will further the goals of this
component. Applicants must submit applications for assistance under this
component and must describe in detail how the proposed services will expand the
applicant's market penetration, create a new product with market relevance, or
enhance an existing product by further innovation.
(3)
Application and award
procedures. Applicants to the program may submit applications to the
authority for financial assistance. To be eligible, an applicant must meet the
requirements of one of the components described in subrule 108.4(2). The
applications will receive an initial review to confirm program eligibility
before being sent to the committee for a recommendation on funding. The
committee will provide its recommendation to the board for a final
determination on the provision of financial assistance. The board may approve,
deny, or defer each application for financial assistance under the program. The
board will consider applications for financial assistance on a first-come,
first-served basis. If the board approves funding for a business, the authority
will prepare a required contract specifying the terms and conditions under
which the financial assistance is to be provided to the business.
(4)
Delegation of certain
administrative functions. The authority may delegate certain
administrative functions of the program to a service provider engaged pursuant
to Iowa Code section
15.411.
The functions that may be delegated are:
a.
The initial application review process, including an analysis of the
application and a determination as to whether the applicant meets all
requirements of eligibility under the program and a recommendation on the
amount of financial assistance to be provided and under what terms and
conditions.
b. The tracking and
monitoring of the applicant's progress as well as the eventual outcomes
achieved as a result of an award. The service provider shall report annually to
the authority on the results of the program.
c. The tracking and monitoring of contract
terms and conditions for applicants receiving financial assistance under the
program.
d. The provision of
technical assistance to applicants.
(5)
Administrative functions not
delegated. The authority will retain, and not delegate, the
performance of the following functions:
(1)
the final determination as to whether to approve, deny, or defer an award of
financial assistance;
(2) the
disbursal of moneys provided for in an award of financial assistance;
(3) the final determination as to whether
there is a default in the terms of a contract entered into under the program,
including all decisions regarding appropriate remedies for such a default;
and
(4) any other function not
clearly delegated to a service provider pursuant to subrule
108.4(4).
