The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, or WARF, the patent and licensing organization of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which also manages profitable research for the university, is launching a $100,000 accelerator challenge to fund concepts that will help combat the Covid-19 epidemic.
Principal investigators and their teams are asked to submit an invention disclosure report to WARF by May 4.
Concepts being sought through the UW/WARF COVID-19 Accelerator Challenge include ideas for devices that protect health care workers, sanitation improvements, data analysis solutions and research tools. Idea concepts that qualify include those that can be commercialized or implemented within six to 12 months.
“WARF has never been more proud to serve UW–Madison researchers. We know that some of our partners are on the front lines of care,” said Erik Iverson, chief executive officer of WARF, in a statement. “Some are tracking, testing and exploring the virus itself, while others are engineering solutions from their labs and homes. The UW/WARF COVID-19 Accelerator Challenge is just one way we intend to support our partners and rise to this moment together.”
