NCInnovation Funds Eight University Research Projects
The $6.8 million in approved funding supports innovations at seven North Carolina universities, including an East Carolina University educational video game.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Scholarships
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NCInnovation's Board of Directors unanimously approved $6.8 million for eight projects at seven North Carolina universities. The awards were selected from 26 full applications, each reviewed four times independently.
Why it matters
The funding is intended to help researchers move technologies from early development toward commercial readiness. For North Carolina, it expands the state's pipeline of university-based innovation.
NCInnovation's $6.8 million allocation represents a share of its $43.9 million statewide portfolio across 55 projects, with eight awards chosen from 26 full applications. The individual amount for the East Carolina University project has not been disclosed.
The players
NCInnovation
A North Carolina state-supported organization that invests in university research aimed at commercializing new technologies and services.
East Carolina University
A public research university in Greenville, North Carolina, home to the ATHEMOS project.
The details
The ATHEMOS educational video game, developed by ECU's Brandon Schultz, is designed to help middle and high school students with ADHD build organization, planning and note-taking skills. The board's unanimous approval followed a competitive review process at its meeting hosted by UNC Wilmington.
Timeline
Wednesday, week of November 11, 2026: NCInnovation's Board of Directors approved the funding.
Season Trajectory
This round extends NCInnovation's existing statewide portfolio, which now totals $43.9 million across 55 projects. It adds eight new university commercialization efforts to that set of investments.
For students and researchers at participating universities, the funding signals new opportunities to bring early-stage projects toward commercial use. Readers interested in education support can track how these awards shape future university programs.
The takeaway
Public investment in university research can help turn classroom and laboratory ideas into tools that reach students and markets. Watching how projects like ATHEMOS progress will show whether early funding translates into lasting results.
Further reading
Explore more about education funding in North Carolina to see how university research grants fit into the state's broader support for students and innovators.
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Should North Carolina spend more public money on university research projects?
