Boise State University Claims Nearly $1 Million in Idaho IGEM Research Commercialization Awards
Boise State University has secured nearly $926,000 in state-funded research grants through the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) Higher Education Research Council program, with five funded projects aimed at turning academic research into commercial products and driving economic growth across Idaho. The awards represent the largest single-institution haul from this year’s statewide competition, reinforcing Boise State’s growing role as a research and innovation engine in the Treasure Valley.
About the IGEM HERC Program
Funded by the Idaho Legislature, the IGEM HERC program operates differently from traditional academic grants. Rather than rewarding scholarly output alone, the program evaluates proposals on their potential to solve real industry problems, launch market-ready products, and strengthen Idaho’s economy. A selection committee made up of university research vice presidents, industry representatives, and a delegate from Idaho National Laboratory reviews submissions through that commercial lens.
Of 18 initial proposals submitted across Idaho’s major research institutions, only 11 advanced to the final round. Boise State submitted six of those finalists — a strong showing that underscores the university’s focus on applied, market-oriented research.
“It is heavily commercialization-focused,” said Brett Adkins, director of Boise State’s Office of Technology Transfer. “The committee wants to see how you are actively pushing a concept along to become an actual product.”
This Year’s Funded Projects
The 2026 awards include three new grants and two renewals spanning fields from semiconductor technology to agricultural science and battery materials.
New awards:
Assistant professor Alex Sheldon received $152,600 to work alongside American Semiconductor, a Boise-area microchip firm, on technology designed to make fiber-optic data transmission faster and less costly. Sheldon, who joined Boise State last semester following a career in industry, was connected with American Semiconductor through the university’s Office of Technology Transfer, which used its industry network to help anchor his proposal.
Konrad Meister was awarded $145,000 for a partnership with Hyacinth Proteins to advance research into ice-nucleating proteins — a field with applications in agriculture, food science, and biotechnology.
Todd Otanicar received $125,000 in partnership with NxEdge to develop 3D-printed gas distribution components for semiconductor manufacturing, a sector of growing importance to Idaho’s technology economy.
Renewed awards:
Owen McDougal secured $372,800 — the largest single grant in this year’s cohort — continuing established research with Genesis Organics and the Gibby Group in agricultural science and food chemistry.
Claire Xiong received $130,300 to advance her work on next-generation battery technology and renewable energy materials, an area with broad implications for Idaho’s energy future.
The Role of Boise State’s Office of Technology Transfer
A key factor in Boise State’s success rate is the involvement of its Office of Technology Transfer, which helps faculty translate deep technical expertise into commercially compelling grant proposals. Because IGEM reviewers prioritize market potential over academic theory, researchers benefit from early guidance on how to frame their work for a business-focused audience.
Beyond proposal coaching, the office also functions as a bridge between faculty and Idaho’s private sector — connecting researchers with industry partners whose involvement strengthens proposals and, ultimately, the odds of funding. The Sheldon-American Semiconductor partnership is a recent example of that matchmaking in action.
How to Apply for Future IGEM Funding
The IGEM HERC program accepts proposals on an annual cycle, with core funding priorities centered on health care, artificial intelligence, and agriculture — three areas aligned with Idaho’s long-term economic development goals. The process begins with a streamlined three-page pre-proposal. Applicants who advance to the final round have several weeks to develop a full ten-page submission.
The program offers tiered funding tracks — including proof-of-concept, scale-up, and full commercialization stages — with awards reaching up to $300,000 annually as a project demonstrates stronger market viability. Faculty with research they believe has commercial potential are encouraged to connect with Boise State’s Office of Technology Transfer early in the process to ensure their proposals emphasize the economic impact metrics the state committee weighs most heavily.
For Ada County taxpayers and Idaho families, the IGEM program represents a direct return on the Legislature’s investment in higher education — turning university research into new products, new companies, and new jobs right here in Idaho.