SC Fraunhofer USA Project Application - South Carolina Council on Competitiveness

Home SC Fraunhofer USA Project Application

Now Accepting New Proposals!

The South Carolina Department of Commerce has made significant funding available to match private sector funding for applied research projects between South Carolina’s universities and Fraunhofer USA to promote applied research that improves the competitiveness of South Carolina companies and results in a positive economic impact within the state. Effective immediately we are accepting project proposals to collaborate with the South Carolina Fraunhofer USA Alliance. If you would like to be considered, see below for our process and application. Eligible applicants (see qualifying criteria) can apply for matching funds and must commit a cash match to be eligible.

Project Application Process

The work of SCFUSA Alliance and the research it supports give South Carolina a competitive edge in advancing applied research and increasing the competitiveness of South Carolina-based organizations. Below is our process for SC-based entities to apply for this cash-match funding opportunity.

SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance Assistance: While it is not required that applicants connect with the SCFUSA team prior to applying for funding, we highly recommend that you contact Suzanne Dickerson or Marcel Schaefer prior to starting the application process. They will review the project criteria, help you establish project partners, and offer overall application assistance as needed.

Application Information Packet: Download the SCFUSA Application Information Package which includes descriptions of process, eligibility, requirements, etc.

Download Information Packet

Project Team & Proposal Development: Confer with the Project Team consisting of Fraunhofer and SC University researchers to reach a consensus on Project Goals & Milestones, Impact, Respective Roles, and Budget Requirements.

Download All Required Documents: Applications must include the completed documents. All are available for download and should be uploaded in that format:

University Authorization Form (PDF)
Project Budget (Excel)
Application Narrative (PDF)
Project Assessment, Client Portion (Excel)

Application Filing & Submissions: The SCFUSA team can help with writing the Application Narrative. In the case of a University (PI) application, all applications must receive institutional review and approval prior to submission.

Presentation to Review Board: The project will be presented to the SCFUSA Advisory Board for evaluation and funding decision. Projects are reviewed on a rolling basis and a decision is usually made within 3 weeks of application submission.

Project Application

Project Title

Primary Client

Contact E-mail

Start Date (mm/dd/yyyy)

End Date (mm/dd/yyyy)

Total Budget Amount

Total Client Cash/In-kind Contribution (including portion of administrative fee) Effective with projects to be approved by the Commerce Secretary as of July 1, 2022, a 10% administrative fee will be applied to the overall project budget to support the ongoing programmatic management of the SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance program. Payment of this fee will be equally borne by the Client and by Commerce (which means the company pays 5% and Commerce pays the remaining 5% of the total project budget amount – “Research Institute Total\\\\\\\”). This fee is to be included by the Client and/or the PI in the downloadable budget template within this application

Lead University Partner(s): Please list name, phone, email of contact(s)

Fraunhofer USA Partner(s): Please list name, phone email of contact(s)

Other Partners: Please list name, phone email of contact(s) (required)

Description of Project Impact

(example: $, no. of employees)

Time Scale of Impact

(example: 10% of the growth in first year etc.)

Project Impact Narrative

Limit 1000 words

Post-Pilot Continuation Narrative

Limit 500 words

Detailed Project Description

(Limit 3,000 words)

Does the project enhance the competitiveness of the client and lead to additional job creation?

If yes, please describe how (optional)

Does the project offer other positive secondary impacts? For example: is a supply chain strengthened? Will employee skills be enhanced and justify higher wages?

If yes, please describe impacts (optional)

Upload additional graphics, documents and files here (optional)

Maximum file size: 256 MB.

Upload completed standardized budget template excel document required by The Department of Commerce (download template above application or click here) (required)

Maximum file size: 256 MB.

Captions/Descriptions of attached documents/files uploaded above (required)

I certify that: (1) the information submitted within the application is true, complete and accurate to the best of the principal investigator\\\\\\\’s (PI) knowledge; (2) any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or claims may subject the PI to criminal, civil, or administrative penalties of local, state, and federal statutes; (3) the PI agrees to accept responsibility for the scientific conduct of the project and to provide the required progress reports if a grant is awarded as a result of the application. (required)

Signature of Authorized University Representative

Please type your name. This serves as your official signature on this application.

University Representative Title (required)

I certify that the information submitted within the application is true, complete, and accurate to the best of my knowledge and agree to take the financial and other responsibilities imposed within the Project scope and budget. (required)

Signature of Client

Please type your name. This serves as your official signature on this application.

Client Title (required)

Upload completed University Authorization document (download template above application or click here) (required)

Please upload the completed University Authorization Form