IGEM-Commerce Grant Program | IGEM Analysis

IGEM-Commerce Grant Program

Key Findings

$1 million annual funding, with $950,000 awarded in grants
43 original projects and 8 supplemental grants funded to date
Average grant request: $231,898; Average grant award: $197,671

Analysis

Small Business Perspective

The scale of these grants is far beyond the reach of most small businesses. The average award of nearly $200,000 exceeds the typical R&D budget of businesses under 20 employees, effectively excluding them from participation.

Big Business Perspective

These grant sizes are well-suited for larger corporations or university spinoffs with substantial resources. The program's structure favors entities capable of engaging in large-scale research projects and navigating complex application processes.

The IGEM-Commerce grant program demonstrates a clear bias towards larger enterprises, contradicting the "entrepreneurial" aspect of its mission. Entrepreneurs, often found in small businesses, are systematically excluded from these opportunities.