June 16, 2023

Life Science Washington

Life Science Washington Institute (LSWI), a Life Science Washington affiliate focused on supporting early-stage companies and entrepreneurs in Washington state, announced two new grant programs, the SBIR/STTR Matching Fund and Washington Competes, to expand the pipeline of diverse and early-stage companies located throughout Washington. The new grants were unveiled at Life Science Washington's annual East West Life Science Summit as part of a larger discussion among medical innovators about the challenges startups and entrepreneurs face in serving rural and underserved populations. Each grant program can award up to $25,000 to Washington-based life science companies that are developing technologies that will improve the health and wellbeing of Washington citizens. The new grants are made possible through a partnership between the Commerce Department and LSWI to redeploy money that was returned to the state's Life Science Discovery Fund. The SBIR/STTR Matching Fund program will focus on supporting companies outside of King County, where SBIR/STTR awards have been less common. The Washington Competes program will be open to all Washington-based life science companies but will prioritize companies outside of King County, as well as companies that are women-owned or socially or economically disadvantaged. Along with these new grants, LSWI will continue its Washington Innovation Network (WIN) and Commercialization Support programs. Each new grant program will have an information session when the full solicitation is released on June 23, 2023.