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The purpose of the Centers of Excellence Program is to accelerate the commercialization of promising technologies that have strategic value for Utah.  The end goal of the COE Program is to help drive economic development and job creation.

"Our Job is Jobs"

The Centers of Excellence Program is a State funded GRANT program developed by the Utah Legislature in 1986 to help accelerate the process of taking university-developed cutting-edge technologies to market, thereby driving economic development and creating jobs for Utahns.  

Historically, the COE statute only permitted grants to Utah universities, however, in 2007 the Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law, changes to the COE statute that now permits grants to companies who license technology developed at Utah's colleges and universities, including startups as well as existing companies who plan to create a new product or product line from the licensed technology.

The Centers of Excellence program issues a solicitation in approximately December of each calendar year.  Proposals are due generally in March, with the selection review process taking place in April and May.  The review process includes an in-person presentation by the proposing team in front of members of the Centers of Excellence Advisory Council, who are volunteer experts from Utah's technology business community.  Final selections are made in late May, presented to the GOED Board in June and funds are available beginning in July. 

The program requires 1:1 matching funding.  For every dollar granted by the program, the Licensee must also bring in funding that is not a loan, and may include appropriate equity investment,  revenue, other Federal or Industry sources of contract or grant funding.  Funding from a college or university is not eligible as a source of matching funding.