Review/award process (Repealed)

(a) Each complete application shall be reviewed by a six member panel which will in turn make recommendations for funding to the Department. Said panel shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Economic Development and shall consist of four representatives from institutions of higher education and two representatives from business and industry. Panel members will exclude themselves from evaluating a particular proposal where a potential conflict of interest may exist. For each application, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, with the advice of appropriate review panel members and/or other individuals with relevant expertise, shall select two experts to conduct a comprehensive review. Said reviewers shall report, in writing, to the panel on the merits of the project in terms of its purpose, design, feasibility, staffing, and other elements relevant to a fair evaluation. (b) The criteria to be employed in the evaluation shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) The extent to which the proposed project addresses the purpose of the program; (2) The demonstrated competencies of the parties involved to conduct the proposed project as well as evidence of adequate research facilities and instrumentation; (3) The intrinsic merit of the proposed project; (4) Potential impact on high technology development in Connecticut. (c) Special consideration will be given to those applications which address new research projects and collaborative arrangements; projects involving participation by more than one business or industry; and projects in which there is evidence that the project or program will be effectively continued after termination of the grant period. (d) Within two weeks of the completion of the work of the review panel, applicant institutions shall be notified of the status of their applications. It is the intent of the Department to encourage completion of the review panel evaluation by April 1 of each year. (e) The applicant institution(s) whose projects are approved for funding will be notified of a contingent award, pending allocation of necessary funds by the State Bond Commission. A request will be made to the State Bond Commission to allocate the necessary funds.