IGEM Grant Program — HERC Track

The IGEM HERC Track is a state-appropriated grant program administered by the Idaho State Board of Education's Higher Education Research Council (HERC). It provides seed funding to Idaho's three public research universities — Boise State University, Idaho State University, and University of Idaho — to advance R&D commercialization in priority sectors including biotechnology, biomedicine, energy, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, and microelectronics/semiconductors. Funding is structured across three developmental tracks: Proof of Concept (earliest-stage validation), Initial Startup (next stage toward venture readiness), and Commercialization Track (most mature, closest to market). Proposals are evaluated with priority given to strong inter-institutional collaboration, private-sector engagement, and near-term technology transfer potential. The statutory basis is IDAPA 28.02.03.250.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.