Applications Open for Maternal and Infant Health R&D Seed Grant Program

The New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology (CSIT) opened applications for its $750,000 Maternal and Infant Health Research and Development (R&D) Seed Grant Program this month. The application is available at https://www.njeda.com/maternal-and-infant-health-grant.

Through the Maternal and Infant R&D Seed Grant Program, CSIT will award 10 grants of up to $75,000 each to help New Jersey-based early-stage innovation-based companies accelerate the development of technologies, products, and services that support pregnant women and new mothers. Specifically, the Maternal and Infant Health R&D Seed Grant Program will support investments in R&D and new technologies supporting maternal and infant health in targeted sectors including life sciences, technology, and non-retail food and beverage.

With the Maternal and Infant Health R&D Seed Grant Program, CSIT will advance the innovation economy through the development of critically necessary research, products, and services designed to enhance maternal and infant health. This effort supports the goals established by the Nurture NJ Strategic Plan, which aims to make New Jersey the safest place in America to deliver a baby, specifically focusing on ending racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. Launched in 2019 by Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, Nurture NJ is a comprehensive, whole-of-government effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity and ensure equitable care among women and children of all races and ethnicities in New Jersey.

In order to be eligible, applicants must be authorized and in good standing to conduct business in New Jersey, must have $1 million or less in 2021 calendar year sales revenue, and must have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent workers. Complete eligibility requirements can be found at https://www.njeda.com/maternal-and-infant-health-grant. Applications from businesses located in an Opportunity Zone-eligible census tract or a Government Restricted Municipality (Atlantic City, Paterson, or Trenton), or businesses that are minority-, woman-, or veteran-owned are all eligible for bonus points with respect to the scoring criteria.

CSIT hosted an information session about the new grant program earlier this week. A recording of that session is available on CSIT’s website www.njeda.com/csit.

CSIT signed an agreement last month with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) whereby the NJEDA will dedicate $250,000 from the Economic Recovery Fund towards this program and CSIT will provide the remainder of the funding from its current budget.

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