The Intellectual Property Management Fund
The Intellectual Property Management Fund was established to help Missouri start-up companies and universities pursue patent protection for promising new technologies. These funds will help alleviate a significant bottleneck which exists in small company formation due to a lack of financial resources for filing appropriate patent protections.
Funds Available
Low-interest loans up to $15,000 for the preparation, filing, and prosecution of a patent application will be provided to eligible applicants through the fund.
Goal
Economic growth will be stimulated across Missouri as more technologies are protected through patents and other legal means which will attract additional venture capital and seed funding to flow to Missouri start-ups.
Who is Eligible
The fund is available to Missouri-based start-up companies working with Missouri Innovation Centers, Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Centers, and University technology transfer offices to commercialize their technologies.
A Missouri business wanting to access the program, must first contact the appropriate Innovation Center or Small Business & Technology Development Center in their area. They must also complete the web-based application.