Today’s fast pace ever changing world keeps adding new technologies to people’s lives. Just when you learn how to use one electronic device, someone else develops a better and new product. If you ever wondered where most of the money comes from to create new technologies, the answer is grants. The government encourages entrepreneurship by giving business men and women who are interested in researching and developing new technology ideas, products and services, the chance to do so by providing them with technology grant funds.

Grantors

Technology grants are provided by such government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, the Dept of Education, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, National Endowment for the Arts, the National Science Foundation and other programs. The government knows that small businesses are the backbone of our country and help the U.S. compete in the world by developing new products and services. Women, minorities and other disadvantaged persons benefit from technology grants because they are able to receive the funds for their research and development of advanced and new technologies. Without grants for technology, many new technologies, products and services would never get started.

Technology grants are also available from private organizations and corporations to help fund new technology ideas in education, math, science, engineering and other industries. For instance, companies such as Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies provide grant money for research and development. Colleges and Universities also offer grants for technology.

Proposals

When applying for technology grants, applicants should follow guidelines and submission dates so that applicants do not miss any grant opportunities.  Late applications are generally not accepted unless the grantor has decided to extend the deadline for submission of proposals and applications. Programs must fit the funder’s requirements in order to be considered eligible to receive the technology grant funds.  It is also recommended that applicants get their applications in early because there is a lot of competition for technology grants.  There is no limit to the number of grant proposals applicants can apply for. In fact, the more applications a grantee applies for, the better chance they have of receiving a grant. Grantees can also register on the grantor’s website so that they get notifications of new grants and do not miss any funding opportunities.

With the continued and ongoing need for development of new technologies, technology grants are a great way for grantees to get their funding for research and development of new ideas, products and services. New technologies improve people’s lives and help stimulate the economy.