2026 Call for Applications: Evergreen Gap Fund

Letters of Intent for the Fifth Round of the Evergreen Gap Fund

Read more about the Evergreen Gap Fund here.

Georgetown University’s Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC), in partnership with the Office of Advancement and University leadership, is pleased to announce the fifth funding round of the Evergreen Gap Fund. Applications are restricted to Georgetown University researchers.

Submission Deadlines, Award Tiers and Eligibility Criteria

The OTC will begin accepting Letters of Intent (LOI) on  Feb. 3, 2026. The deadline for LOI submission is  Feb. 24, 2026, at 5 pm EST. 

This year, applicants may apply for one of two distinct awards:

1. Catalyst Award of up to $10,000 (Very Early-Stage Concepts)

• Use of Funds: Expenses related to validating a core hypothesis.
• IP Status: Must be formally disclosed to OTC prior to LOI submission; need not yet have a formal patent application; or is copyright eligible. Submit a disclosure through this link.
• Criteria: Focus is on the originality of the concept and its potential to solve a significant problem.
• Award Selection will be based solely on the LOI. Catalyst awardees will not be required to submit full applications.

2. Full Application Award of up to $70,000 (Advanced Research Projects)

• Development Stage: Must have preliminary proof-of-concept data and address an unmet need.
• IP Status: Must be formally disclosed to OTC; patent pending or issued; or copyright eligible; not currently licensed or optioned.
• Exclusions: Technologies previously funded by the Gap Fund are ineligible.
• Criteria: Must demonstrate significant human impact and clear commercialization potential. Applicants must show a strong commitment to follow-through.
• Award Selection: LOI is the first step; selected finalists will be invited to a submit a full application.

Researchers interested in submitting an LOI are strongly encouraged to attend the Evergreen Gap Fund LOI Workshop on Feb. 3, 2026 at 1 pm EST. The workshop will provide guidance on writing a competitive LOI.

For any questions or assistance, please contact techlicensing@georgetown.edu

REGISTER FOR THE FEB. 3 WORKSHOP

Evergreen Gap Fund Timeline