In case you missed this via NorTech, here’s a reprint of their recent post:

The State of Ohio’s Third Frontier Project recently released a Request For Proposals for the Research Commercialization Grant Program. Up to $2 million in grants will be awarded for projects that improve the commercial viability of technologies developed through federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) and Advanced Technology Program (ATP) research and development projects. The grants will improve the ability of small technology companies to assess and realize the commercial potential of research projects and to promote the competitiveness of these companies through the augmentation of federal research and development funding.

For more information, please visit the Third Frontier website. The deadline to submit a letter of intent is December 18th. Completed proposals are due January 22nd. Awards announcements for this grant will be announced late April 2009.

About the Third Frontier Project:
The Third Frontier Project was initiated in February 2002. This project is the state’s largest-ever commitment to expanding Ohio’s high-tech research capabilities and promoting innovation and company formation that will create high-paying jobs for generations to come. The 10-year, $1.6 billion initiative is designed to:

• Build world-class research capacity
• Support early stage capital formation and the development of new products
• Finance advanced manufacturing technologies to help existing industries become more productive

Through the Third Frontier Project, additional federal and private sector support can boost the total investment to more than $6 billion. Through the Third Frontier Project and related initiatives, the state offers a comprehensive set of programs that support world-class research, commercialization, training, and information technology infrastructure designed to accelerate company growth and job creation throughout Ohio.