Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) Fund?
- What legislation created the EDGE Fund?
- What are the size and duration of EDGE grants?
- How do I share my comments or thoughts on the EDGE Program?
Where is information available about the EDGE program's proposal guidelines?
- When will EDGE begin accepting applications for the funding competition?
- What process is involved with in an EDGE application?
- What is a Pre-proposal?
- When will the 2011 requests for Pre-proposals be due?
- How are application materials submitted?
- Is collaboration required for EDGE proposals?
- What is the purpose of the authorized signature on a proposal?
What is the EDGE funding policy?
- What costs are allowable for funding by EDGE?
- Are indirect costs/facilities and administration charges supported through EDGE funding?
- Is cost-sharing required?
- Are EDGE funding competitions carried out in a confidential manner?
- Who owns the intellectual property developed under the EDGE funding program?
- Is the EDGE Fund a likely source of start-up funds for my new company?
How are EDGE proposals evaluated and selected for funding?
- How are proposals selected for awards?
- Can a non-awarded proposal/Pre-proposal be revised and resubmitted in a later EDGE competition?
What are the key features to an EDGE funding agreement?
- Are awardees required to submit progress reports? If so, how often?
- When, how, and under what conditions will a recipient organization receive funds once a proposal is selected for funding?
What is the Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) Fund?
Oklahoma created the EDGE Fund as a public source dedicated to funding the development and commercialization of applied research. The EDGE Policy Board’s mission is to make investments in Oklahoma’s knowledge infrastructure to bolster the State’s long-term economic growth. Technology-based research and development, commercialization and entrepreneurial successes historically attract capital, create more high-paying jobs, expand and diversify the State’s economy, and provide greater prosperity for generations of future Oklahomans.
- What legislation created the EDGE Fund?
The statute creating the EDGE endowment fund is (Title 62 O.S. Supp.2007 §47, §52).
- What are the size and duration of EDGE grants?
EDGE grants vary in size and duration depending on the competition focus and the availability of funds. Specifically, the Policy Board may set one-year or multi-year business sector priorities and invest relatively large dollar amounts over one to several years in competitively-approved projects. See Previous Investments under Opportunities.
- How do I share my comments or thoughts on the EDGE Program?
Oklahoma’s success in the knowledge-driven, technology-based global economy depends on active sharing of ideas by its citizens from all over the state. Therefore, the EDGE Policy Board invites you to share ideas, information and suggestions here. These entries will be available to all those who participate in this EDGE web site, and in addition, the EDGE program will send these contributions to other organizations with special interests in each of the items.
Where is information available about the EDGE program's proposal guidelines?
General inquiries about the EDGE program and proposal guidelines may be addressed to EDGE@okedge.org. For each funding competition, a detailed Request for Proposals (RFP) is published on the EDGE web site. For complete proposal requirements visit our Funding Opportunities page.
In addition to these resources EDGE welcomes inquiries from the public, the media, awardees, or future applicants at any time. (405) 319.8288 or EDGE@okedge.org
- When will EDGE begin accepting applications for the 2011 funding competition?
The EDGE Policy Board Office will begin accepting applications for the 2011 funding competition on April 20, 2011. For a complete time line of the 2011 funding competition please visit the Information and Records page.
- What process is involved with in an EDGE application?
Specific requirements for EDGE funding are included in the RFP but applications generally consist of two steps: (1) Request for Pre-Proposal (2) Full Proposal.
Only Pre-proposals applicants selected by the EDGE Policy Board will be invited to participate in the second phase, namely being submission of a full proposal in response to the Request for Proposals.
Pre-proposals briefly describe the research and/or technology commercialization that is being proposed. Due to our many funding requests this step has been implemented to pre-screen proposals based on research priorities and alignment with the goals of the EDGE program. Pre-proposals must follow the guidelines that have been set by the Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) Fund Policy Board.
Guidelines that are specific for Pre-proposals can be found here. Pre-proposals that do not follow EDGE guidelines will be not be reviewed and will be returned.
- When will the 2011 requests for Pre-proposals due?
The Pre-proposal submissions are due to the Policy Board office by 5:00PM CST, May 18th, 2011. In fairness to all applicants, Pre-proposals submitted after the stated deadline will not be accepted.
Complete Pre-proposals must be submitted electronically to edge@okedge.org. For more information on submissions please visit the Funding Opportunities page.
- Is collaboration required for EDGE proposals?
No, but it is strongly encouraged and the statute states that preference will be given to collaborative proposals. Although there are no minimum or maximum dollar limitations on awards, in general, the Board expects to fund and invest in large integrated projects involving multiple partners and that address one or more of the EDGE objectives.
- What is the purpose of the authorized signature on a proposal?
The authorized signature warrants that the applicant organization will be legally and financially responsible for the proposed activities if the project is awarded EDGE funds.
What is the EDGE funding policy?
Awards include only direct costs. At least 25% of the monies distributed by the Policy Board in any given fiscal year will support technology transfer and technology commercialization. The statute also specifies that no more than 20% of the annual allocation by the Policy Board will be used to purchase equipment. These limitations apply to the collective funds invested each year by the Policy Board—they do not apply to individual awards.
- Which costs are allowable for funding by EDGE?
All costs reasonably associated with accomplishing the proposed research are eligible to be included in a proposal budget. Such costs include salaries, equipment and facilities, administrative costs, supplies, services, and related travel.
- Are indirect costs/facilities and administration charges supported through EDGE funding?
Yes, but only when they are expressed and documented as direct costs, i.e., included as a direct cost of performing the research.
- Is cost-sharing required?
No specific formula for cost-sharing is required. However, in EDGE funding competitions, applicant organizations will be expected to make tangible resource commitments to support proposed programs.
- Are EDGE funding competitions carried out in a confidential manner?
Yes. EDGE holds all applications confidential, subject to the public disclosure laws of the State of Oklahoma. EDGE reviewers are required to sign confidentiality agreements.
EDGE reserves the right to publicly disseminate information about its granting activities through a variety of means. Such communications may include lists of proposals received, the names of principal investigators and applicant organizations, the field(s) in which the research will be conducted, descriptions of the proposal funded, and reports about research progress and outcomes.
- Who owns the intellectual property developed under the EDGE funding program?
EDGE takes no ownership position in intellectual property (IP) developed from EDGE-funded research. Typically, the IP resulting from funded programs will be owned by the applicant organization. Proposals are expected to make clear specifically who will manage IP and, in the case of collaborative research, how rights to the IP will be shared among collaborators.
- Is the EDGE Fund a likely source of start-up funds for my new company?
Although some EDGE funding has provided support for start-up companies, these investments are connected with broader research and development (R&D) activities. EDGE is designed to increase R&D capacity, to develop new products which ultimately provide more jobs in Oklahoma. In other words, EDGE focuses more on applied research and the early commercialization of technology, but it is not an angel investor nor does it serve as a venture capital firm.
How are EDGE proposals evaluated and selected for funding?
All funded projects and programs must be scientifically and technically meritorious. Specific evaluation criteria are described in the Request for Proposals (RFP) for each funding competition. The general criteria for EDGE awards, however, are consistent with the Fund's goals: to promote research and technology development, to increase research capability and competitiveness especially to attract external dollars into Oklahoma, to commercialize technology, to create more jobs in Oklahoma and strengthen the economy, and to improve the quality of life of all citizens of the State.
- How are proposals selected for awards?
Expert reviewers evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each proposal and summarize their evaluations for the EDGE Policy Board and the Advisory Committee. The Board's selections are based on these evaluations, the availability of funds, and the goals of the EDGE program. Consistent with these and with its enabling legislation, the Board also considers factors such as the following in making awards:
- diversity of research
- variety of benefit
- economic return
- geographic impact
- Can a non-awarded proposal/pre-proposal be revised and resubmitted in a later EDGE competition?
Yes. Applicants must indicate that their proposal is a resubmission and identify the earlier EDGE competition in which their proposal was considered. Applicants must also supply a copy of the earlier reviewers' comments and provide a response to those comments.
Resubmission of proposals must follow the submission process as described on the Funding Opportunities page. Applicants must first submit a request for Pre-proposal. Only Pre-proposals selected by the EDGE Policy Board will be invited to participate in the second phase of submitting a full proposal in response to the Request for Proposals.
What are the key features to an EDGE funding agreement?
Funding agreements or contracts with recipients establish the legal relationship between EDGE and its awardees. The agreement is negotiated prior to the beginning of the project and the distribution of funds.
- Are awardees required to submit progress reports? If so, how often?
Yes. Reporting by principal investigators is the primary way that EDGE is able to track program progress and return on its investment. Reporting requirements, specific for each funded proposal, will be finalized in the funding agreement.
- When, how, and under what conditions will a recipient organization receive funds once a proposal is selected for funding?
Funding will be distributed to recipient organizations on a cost-reimbursement basis, subject to invoice. Disbursements will be authorized by EDGE subject to timely achievement of the specific milestones delineated in the funding agreement and submission of required reports.
Reimbursements will be made no more often than monthly and no less often than every six months. Request for Payment invoices are due to the EDGE Policy Board office by the 10th of each month.
