Grants

Grant Application Writing: Batting .727

Since 1993 I have submitted 11 grant applications and been awarded 8.

Ben Franklin Partnership, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Although the structure of this program has changed, its purpose was to foster high tech businesses in Pennsylvania.
My first application, for $25,000 was initially rejected but accepted after reworking.
The second and third, for $35,000 and $79,000 respectively were both approved.
All these grants were made to fund development of a general purpose robot arm for people with high level paralysis. This project later evolved into the Arlyn Arm.

SCRF- Spinal Cord Research Foundation

This is an agency of the Spinal Cord Injury Association and primarily funds research for curing SCI. I applied for $70,000 to develop voice controlled desktop tools. Not awarded. Reviewers questioned how many people with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) would be able to use these tools. They rarely fund product development and I knew when I submitted that this was a longshot.

US Department of Education SBIR Program [Small Business Innovation Research]

Actual funding granted through NIDRR [National Institute for Disability Rehabilitation Research], an office of the Dept of Education.
There is an SBIR program in each department of the federal government which sets aside funds for small business R&D. It is a three phase program. Phase I is a feasibility study- funded by ED
Phase II is for substantial R&D- funded by ED
Phase III is for taking the product to market- funded by private industry

I have applied for six SBIR grant contracts with the Dept of Education and been awarded five.

Phase I application to study the feasibility of using the Arlyn Arm as an educational tool. $27,000 awarded

Phase II application to further develop the Arlyn Arm for educational use. $248,000 awarded

Phase I application to study feasibility of voice controlled desktop tools as accessories for the Arlyn Arm and as stand alone products for one handed people. $30,000 awarded

Phase I application to study feasibility of small robot arm as feeding device for people with high level paralysis. $39,000 awarded.

Phase II application to further develop feeder robot. Not awarded. Reviewers primarily questioned the size of the market, which did not appear large enough. My partner and I are currently gathering extensive information on the size of the market. It appears to be more than adequate.
Phase I application to convert the FeederBot into a wheelchair mounted general purpose robot arm (ChairBot) $74,096 awarded

I write good, clear proposals, read the instructions carefully and try to understand the grantor’s needs and wishes. My results speak for themselves.