CNYBAC Medical Device Innovation Challenge

CNYBAC Medical Device Innovation Challenge is sponsored by Central New York Biotech Accelerator (CNYBAC). Provides funding and mentorship for early to mid-stage medical device startups in Central NY, suitable for implantable drug delivery innovations targeting regional health needs. This program should be reviewed carefully against your organization's mission, staffing capacity, timeline, and compliance readiness before you commit resources to a full application. Strong submissions usually translate sponsor priorities into concrete objectives, clear implementation milestones, and measurable public benefit.

For planning purposes, treat April 30, 2026 as your working submission target unless the sponsor publishes an updated notice. A competitive project plan should include a documented need statement, implementation approach, evaluation framework, risk controls, and a realistic budget narrative. Even when a grant allows broad program design, reviewers still expect credible evidence that the proposed work can be executed within the grant period and with appropriate accountability.

Current published award information indicates $50,000 - $250,000 Organizations should verify the final funding range, matching requirements, and allowability rules directly in the official opportunity materials before preparing a budget. Finance and program teams should align early so direct costs, indirect costs, staffing assumptions, procurement timelines, and reporting obligations all remain consistent throughout drafting and post-award administration.

Eligibility guidance for this opportunity is: Early to mid-stage medical device startups/teams in New York If your organization has partnerships, subrecipients, or collaborators, define responsibilities and compliance ownership before submission. Reviewers often look for implementation credibility, so letters of commitment, prior performance evidence, and a clear governance model can materially strengthen the application narrative and reduce concerns about delivery risk.

A practical approach is to begin with a focused readiness review, then build a workback schedule from the sponsor deadline. Confirm required attachments, registration dependencies, and internal approval checkpoints early. This reduces last-minute issues and improves submission quality. For the most accurate requirements, always rely on the official notice and primary source links associated with CNYBAC Medical Device Innovation Challenge.

Upstate Medical University CNY Biotech Accelerator’s (CNYBAC) **Medical Device Innovation Challenge (MDIC)** is a 6-month virtual program mentoring selected early-to-mid stage start-up companies each year.

The MDIC serves as a complementary and collaborative initiative to assist teams in preparation for incubation programs, expand their innovation ecosystem, and assess strategic planning by providing mentorship, resources, funding/pitch opportunities, and connections. To date, 45 teams have participated in MDIC since its inception in 2017 and have achieved impressive milestones during and after graduation.

MDIC program creator and CNYBAC Executive Director, Kathi Durdon, provides more information about the program during a WCNY interview. **MDIC Applications** are accepted January through March 1 each year. Those that are commercializing a Class I, II or III medical device and **fully complete** the MDIC application are sent an Innovation Law Center Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed by March 31.

Only those applicants that fill out both forms will move on to the selection process. Applications are reviewed through due diligence performed by The Innovation Law Center (ILC) College of Law, Syracuse University. They provide a short list of applicants for the MDIC Review Committee to select up to five teams.

The program starts for the selected teams with commercialization research performed by the ILC in June/July. Research can include patent landscape, competitive analysis, device classification/predicate product(s) review, and freedom to operate. Teams are assigned 3+ mentors targeted to their goal setting.

Monthly meetings are held with the team and their mentors as a group in August through December (1 hour/month).

**CNYBAC Medical Device Innovation Challenge (MDIC)Two-step Application Process** Step 1: Confirm eligibility/Complete Initial MDIC Application by March 1 To be eligible to apply, you have an early stage medical device you plan to commercialize or license/sell your technology and: * You are a US-based innovation team/startup company. * Are in early-to-mid stage development of a medical device per**FDA medical device definition**.

* Your innovation is reduced to practice and you are able to apply for a patent, have a provisional patent filed, or patent approved. * You know your FDA device classification and regulatory pathway or intend to include this as a goal within the program if selected. * You have completed an I-Corps customer discovery program or have interest in participating.

* You have not disclosed information about your innovation, such as through a presentation or publication prior to patent filing. * Agree to meet the requirements of the program: attend all monthly mentor meetings, actively participate in action items advised by mentors, and attend CNYBAC virtual education events (most are recorded/you can access at your convenience). * Prior year applicants not selected are welcome to apply.

* This program does not provide direct funding to teams. The goals of this program are to help teams develop a strategic plan for product development and regulatory submission pathway. * If you meet the eligibility, complete the MDIC Application as of January 1 and return by March 1 to durdonk@upstate.

edu. Step 2: Complete Innovation Law Center (ILC) Supplemental Questionnaire by March 31 * Those applicants which meet eligibility will be sent the ILC Supplemental Questionnaire to complete by March 31 - sent to: durdonk@upstate. edu.

* Only those applicants who have completed the ILC Supplemental Questionnaire will be considered for MDIC review. * The MDIC Review Committee will select teams in May/June. Those selected are required to complete an MDIC Agreement.

We do not take any equity/all IP is owned by the applicant. * CNYBAC covers the costs of student-based commercialization research for each selected team performed by the Innovation Law Center, **NYS Science and Technology Law Center**, Syracuse University College of Law. * Mentorship: mentors are assigned to each team based on individual team goals.

Hour-long virtual mentor meetings are held monthly, scheduled Mon-Fri, 8:00 a. m. - 3:00 p.

m. EST starting in August. * Selected teams gain coordinated access to **SUNY Upstate Medical University research partners**and **Core Facilities.

** * We provide targeted resource assistance and networking opportunities throughout the program. * We help connect teams to innovation ecosystem opportunities/resources. For questions or more information call 315-464-9290 or email durdonk@upstate.

edu