The Midwest Advanced Food Manufacturing Alliance (MAFMA) is an association of leading research university and corporate partners formed to develop and transfer new manufacturing and processing technologies for food products from crops and livestock. The purpose of the Midwest Advanced Food Manufacturing Alliance (“MAFMA” or “the Alliance”) is to expedite the development of new manufacturing and processing technologies for food and related products derived from U.S. produced crops and livestock. Research scientists in food science and technology, food engineering, nutrition, microbiology, computer sciences, and other relevant areas from 13 leading Midwestern universities and private sector researchers from numerous U.S. food processing companies will conduct the work of the Alliance. Specific research projects will be awarded on a competitive basis to university scientists with matching funding from non-federal sources for research involving the processing, packaging, storage, and transportation of food products. The close cooperation between corporate and university researchers will assure that the latest scientific advances are applied to the most relevant problems and that any solutions will be efficiently transferred and used by the private sector.
Member Institutions
- University of Illinois
- Indiana University
- Iowa State University
- Kansas State University
- Michigan State University
- University of Minnesota
- University of Missouri
- University of Nebraska
- North Dakota State University
- Ohio State University
- Purdue University
- South Dakota State University
- University of Wisconsin
Request for Proposals Competition
MAFMA encourages technology transfer through university-industry relationships by awarding matching funds to those research proposals deemed worthy through this competition.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Principal investigators must be from a MAFMA university and are allowed only one proposal each in this competition, and additionally can be involved in only one other MAFMA project as a collaborative investigator. Investigators from any U.S. research institution may participate through cooperative projects with investigators at MAFMA universities (but in no more than two proposed projects); however, the principal investigator must be from a participating university. Industry collaborators providing matching funds must have manufacturing sites in the U.S.
For investigators who have previously received MAFMA funding, applications may be made for additional funding for continuation or expansion of the project. In such cases, the project description section should include a brief statement of progress/impact and the objectives should be distinct from those used in previous year. New or expanded sources of industry matching funds must be identified to qualify for another year of MAFMA funding.
PROJECT SCOPE AND DURATION
A wide scope of projects will be considered. Proposals considered to be most relevant will be those that have a regional impact with high visibility, research ideas that the industry believes to be important, and projects that can show success in the short-term such as one year from the date of initial funding. Research areas might include food safety, food engineering, nutrition, food microbiology and chemistry, etc. Projects should not contain specific product development or contract research work. Furthermore, projects must have a food focus; projects involving industrial agricultural products, with no food applications, are not allowed.
REVIEW PROCESS
Proposals will be reviewed by a Peer Review Board established of individuals from universities, industry or consultants who do not have a vested interest in any of the projects under consideration. Final selection of proposals for funding by the Peer Review Board will be based upon scientific merit, industrial interest, short-term impact, matching fund commitments (including level of industry matching) and availability of MAFMA funds.
FUNDING
MAFMA will provide funds up to $50,000 as matching for industry co-sponsored research projects. MAFMA research funds must be matched at least 1:1 with industry funds, but greater industry contributions are allowed. Principal investigators are responsible for identifying sources for matching funds from industry or other sources. Any company providing matching funds automatically becomes an industrial member of MAFMA. Proposals will be funded for one year with the potential for renewal.
Funds will be used for research only. No overhead will be paid on these awards. No Alliance funds will be used for tuition remission, facility renovation or refurbishment, fixed-equipment purchase or installation, or for planning, acquisition or construction of a building or facility.
At least one-half of the match provided by "industry" must be cash, with the remaining from salaries, equipment, supplies, or other forms of "in-kind" contributions. "Industry" funds may be from private industry, trade associations or commodity boards, but some of the match must come from individual food or related companies. No funds from government or university grants are allowed for matching purposes. A letter of commitment indicating specific matching funds is required from each company or association providing such funds and must accompany the submitted proposal. Those letters from food companies should also provide a statement on the industrial relevance of the proposed project. For continuation proposals seeking a second (or more) year of funding, additional (new) sources of industry matching funds must be identified. This must be made clear in the proposal and the industry letters of commitment.
Patent, licensing and exclusivity issues will be negotiated between the universities themselves and their industry partners.
Schedule of Activities
PROPOSAL FORMAT
Proposals must not exceed 8 single-sided 8 ½ by 11 inch pages with one inch margins, single spaced 12-point or larger type, including the cover sheet, budget form, budget narrative, USDA Assurance Statement form, and all attachments. Pages beyond eight will not be given to reviewers. Only multiple industry matching funds proposal budget form and industry letters documenting matching funds are not counted as part of the 8 page limit. A MAFMA cover sheet (attached) must be the first page on all copies.
PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA
The following point system will be used by reviewers to rate proposals.
This may be helpful to investigators during proposal generation.
Points Demonstrated relevance to the food manufacturing industry. . . . . 40
Clearly written - scientifically sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Results have regional impact with high potential visibility . . . . . . . . 20
New university-industry alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Total points available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Absolute requirements (checklist):
MAFMA encourages technology transfer through university-industry relationships by awarding matching funds to those research proposals deemed worthy through this competition.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Principal investigators must be from a MAFMA university and are allowed only one proposal each in this competition, and additionally can be involved in only one other MAFMA project as a collaborative investigator. Investigators from any U.S. research institution may participate through cooperative projects with investigators at MAFMA universities (but in no more than two proposed projects); however, the principal investigator must be from a participating university. Industry collaborators providing matching funds must have manufacturing sites in the U.S.
For investigators who have previously received MAFMA funding, applications may be made for additional funding for continuation or expansion of the project. In such cases, the project description section should include a brief statement of progress/impact and the objectives should be distinct from those used in previous year. New or expanded sources of industry matching funds must be identified to qualify for another year of MAFMA funding.
PROJECT SCOPE AND DURATION
A wide scope of projects will be considered. Proposals considered to be most relevant will be those that have a regional impact with high visibility, research ideas that the industry believes to be important, and projects that can show success in the short-term such as one year from the date of initial funding. Research areas might include food safety, food engineering, nutrition, food microbiology and chemistry, etc. Projects should not contain specific product development or contract research work. Furthermore, projects must have a food focus; projects involving industrial agricultural products, with no food applications, are not allowed.
REVIEW PROCESS
Proposals will be reviewed by a Peer Review Board established of individuals from universities, industry or consultants who do not have a vested interest in any of the projects under consideration. Final selection of proposals for funding by the Peer Review Board will be based upon scientific merit, industrial interest, short-term impact, matching fund commitments (including level of industry matching) and availability of MAFMA funds.
FUNDING
MAFMA will provide funds up to $50,000 as matching for industry co-sponsored research projects. MAFMA research funds must be matched at least 1:1 with industry funds, but greater industry contributions are allowed. Principal investigators are responsible for identifying sources for matching funds from industry or other sources. Any company providing matching funds automatically becomes an industrial member of MAFMA. Proposals will be funded for one year with the potential for renewal.
Funds will be used for research only. No overhead will be paid on these awards. No Alliance funds will be used for tuition remission, facility renovation or refurbishment, fixed-equipment purchase or installation, or for planning, acquisition or construction of a building or facility.
At least one-half of the match provided by "industry" must be cash, with the remaining from salaries, equipment, supplies, or other forms of "in-kind" contributions. "Industry" funds may be from private industry, trade associations or commodity boards, but some of the match must come from individual food or related companies. No funds from government or university grants are allowed for matching purposes. A letter of commitment indicating specific matching funds is required from each company or association providing such funds and must accompany the submitted proposal. Those letters from food companies should also provide a statement on the industrial relevance of the proposed project. For continuation proposals seeking a second (or more) year of funding, additional (new) sources of industry matching funds must be identified. This must be made clear in the proposal and the industry letters of commitment.
Patent, licensing and exclusivity issues will be negotiated between the universities themselves and their industry partners.
Schedule of Activities
- May 20, 2008
Deadline for submission of proposals Deadline for principal investigators to supply written documentation of matching funds/industrial relevance - September 1, 2008
Proposals are funded (other start dates may be considered depending on the circumstances) - August 31, 2009
Finish projects - October 15, 2009
Final reports are due
PROPOSAL FORMAT
Proposals must not exceed 8 single-sided 8 ½ by 11 inch pages with one inch margins, single spaced 12-point or larger type, including the cover sheet, budget form, budget narrative, USDA Assurance Statement form, and all attachments. Pages beyond eight will not be given to reviewers. Only multiple industry matching funds proposal budget form and industry letters documenting matching funds are not counted as part of the 8 page limit. A MAFMA cover sheet (attached) must be the first page on all copies.
- A MAFMA budget form (attached) must be filled out for each proposal.
-
A budget narrative must accompany the budget form (see attached
examples); no budget narrative is necessary for the matching funds
- All budget categories, with the exception of Indirect Costs, for which support is requested, must be individually listed (with costs) in the same order as the budget and justified on a separate sheet of paper and placed immediately behind the Budget form.
- “Nonexpendable Equipment” and “All Other Direct Costs” categories must be itemized and the cost per item must be provided - A USDA "Assurance Statement(s)" form must be completed and accompany all proposals.
- The proposal should include a MAFMA cover sheet, project title, statement of work, objectives, a brief project description, an impact statement, estimated time frame, MAFMA budget form, budget narrative, and USDA Assurance Statement(s) form.
- Written documentation of the matching fund commitment is required at the time of proposal submission.
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Submit the original plus 7 copies by May 20, 2008 to:
Midwest Advanced Food Manufacturing Alliance
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Attn: Jana Hafer
Room 143 Food Industry Bldg
Lincoln, NE 68583-0919
PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA
The following point system will be used by reviewers to rate proposals.
This may be helpful to investigators during proposal generation.
Points Demonstrated relevance to the food manufacturing industry. . . . . 40
Clearly written - scientifically sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Results have regional impact with high potential visibility . . . . . . . . 20
New university-industry alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Total points available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Absolute requirements (checklist):
- Principal investigator is from a MAFMA University
- Industry collaborator has manufacturing sites in the U.S.
- Written documentation of matching funds and industry relevance
- Budget and Budget Narrative included in proposal
- Proposal received by May 20, 2008
- Correct proposal format only will be forwarded to reviewers
