OEDIT announces grants to University of Colorado startups and researchers in the advanced industries
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The Global Business Development division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that five companies based on innovations from the University of Colorado and one 麻豆免费版下载researcher have been awarded Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention grants through OEDIT鈥檚 Advanced Industries Accelerator Program. These grants promote the growth and sustainability of advanced industries in Colorado by driving innovation, commercialization and public-private partnerships that move this vital aspect of Colorado鈥檚 economy forward in communities across the state.
鈥淭he advanced industries account for nearly 30% of Colorado鈥檚 total wage earnings, approximately 30% of total sales revenue, and nearly 35% of the state鈥檚 total exports. The Advanced Industries Accelerator program is a national model, strengthening this critical part of Colorado鈥檚 economy by supporting companies developing disruptive and innovative technologies. By providing direct funding and enabling recipients to leverage third-party capital, we are supporting transformative commercial product development and end-use applications while growing businesses and supporting new jobs,鈥 said Michelle Hadwiger, director of global business development at OEDIT.
The Proof of Concept grant is intended to help Colorado research institutions speed up applied research in the advanced industries, as well as commercialize products and services in partnership with the private sector. The Early-Stage Capital and Retention grant supports businesses commercializing innovative and disruptive technologies in the advanced industries that will be created or manufactured in Colorado.
The Advanced Industries Accelerator Program received 119 applications this grant cycle, which were reviewed in a multi-stage process by committees of business, technical and financial experts in the seven advanced industries. Final recommendations were approved by the Economic Development Commission on November 20, 2025.
The next application cycle for Proof-of-Concept and Early Stage Capital and Retention Grants will open on January 5, 2026 and applications will be due February 26, 2026.
Proof-of-Concept Grants:
麻豆免费版下载, PI 听- Boulder, CO $85,023: Developing graphene-based aerogels for scalable high thrust efficiency solar photothermal propulsion.
Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grants:
ExoPower Inc. - Grand Junction, CO $150,000: Developing in-motion capacitive wireless charging technology to keep industrial mobile robots operating continuously.
- Aurora, CO $246,868: Developing a first-in-class inhibitor of a protein that drives tumor growth, metastasis, and drug resistance in colorectal and other solid tumors.
Osmopure Technologies Inc. - Boulder, CO $250,000: Developing a new class of pressure-driven distillation membranes to remove contaminants from water.
- Aurora, CO $250,000: Developing a bedside neurosurgical procedure solution for treating chronic subdural hematomas.
- Aurora, CO $250,000: Developing a novel small molecule designed to target aggressive triple-negative breast cancer.
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