Blog/Initiatives

Dec 4

Official PostX Announcement

PostX Announcement

UC Berkeley, December 4, 2020

PostX is a new program for Postdocs that provides an introduction to UC Berkeley’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) ecosystem at a level of engagement appropriate to each. It is experientially based and focuses on the skills and actions needed to transfer technologies from labs to wider impact. Our first partner is the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) to assess and develop opportunities derived from Berkeley-based technology that address dual-use needs. PostX provides support and resources up to $55,000 per team.

Entrepreneurial Essentials

Program content is focused first on introducing Postdocs with little prior experience or knowledge to the world of I&E. At this first stage the material is largely asynchronous and fully accessible. The second stage turns to defined learning goals for launching technology-enabled ventures, empowering Postdocs with skills that can be universally applied, even beyond entrepreneurial endeavors. This stage leverages content on many essential topics, from managing IP to storytelling, opportunity recognition, and negotiation. The asynchronous content in both stages one and two eases scalability, accommodating participants’ needs while ensuring achievement of learning goals via interactive modules.

Entrepreneurial Pathways

Teams with postdoc members participating in StEP or the I-Corps regional program can receive up to a $5,000 grant from PostX to develop Minimal Viable Products or proof of concepts.

Opportunity Recognition

Teams admitted to the national I-Corps program will receive $50,000 of non-dilutive capital to complete the validation process and assess product-market fit.

SBIR Direct-to-Phase-II Eligibility

Startups formed with eligible postdocs that complete the opportunity recognition phase and are ready to make a go decision will be eligible for direct-to-phase-II SBIR support from one of our DoD partners.

Partnering with National Security Innovation Network (NSIN)

PostX is partnering as noted with the National Security Innovation Network in support of the National Security Academic Accelerator (NSA2) to bolster five areas of dual-use technology.

Remote Autonomous Robotics: PostX is seeking robots and robotic systems of various types that have the ability for autonomous operation using sophisticated onboard control systems or remote control systems, and all the components that make them work. Special emphasis will be placed on those dedicated to space robotics.

Defense Healthcare: PostX is interested in health-related technologies that push past the current state of the art in areas of informatics, infectious disease, psychological health, delivery of care including rehabilitation, radiation-related wound care, and all aspects related to biological and chemical threats.

Advanced Communications (5G) Infrastructure: There is a broad recognition that civilian communications infrastructure is advancing at pace and well in advance of defense-related infrastructures. This creates the opportunity for mutual-benefit partnerships of all types between the commercial and federal sectors in areas of research, prototyping, and core installations.

Resilient/Aware Infrastructures: Since early construction of the internet, designers and engineers sought to create systems that could withstand significant challenges. The systems have advanced from generalized networks to sophisticated architectures and communication systems creating a more complex and potentially less resilient system. The threats to the systems have also shifted to be hyper-focused and purposeful. This creates several interesting problem areas for research and new products, including in the emerging area of quantum computing.

Rapid AI Implementations: AI, ML, and other sophisticated data-analytic tools are capable in theory of rapid implementation and use. Many gaps must be overcome to make this a matter of practice including problem-solution matching, verification, validation of data sources, evaluation of solutions for impacts, and deployment, among others.

Background: The NSIN National Security Academic Accelerator (NSA2)

NSA2 connects U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) customers (e.g., operational units, defense laboratories, etc.) that have missions in long-horizon technology to both the talent and the deep technology at our nation’s top research universities. Teams working in areas of interest to the DoD have the opportunity to accelerate the development of new dual-use ventures (i.e., applicable to the commercial and DoD markets). The NSA2 accelerates university intellectual property to meet user needs (DoD as well as commercial users) through connections with DoD end users and business development experts. The primary pathway to solution adoption will be via Phase II SBIR.

For more information, please contact Yvette Lane-Newton (ylanenewton@berkeley.edu)