The Science Technology Initiation Grant (STIG) provides grants to support university-affiliated researchers to develop preliminary data and to conduct proof of concept experiments or other precursor research activities required to pursue larger, commercially-oriented grants from a federal agency, grant making foundation, industry or related entity. The goal of STIG is to increase the amount of external research funding received by Utah's universities, promote interdisciplinary and cross-university collaboration and strengthen the research and development capacity at state universities in commercially-oriented areas aligned to existing state industry sectors. STIGs are to be administered to the university that employs the applicant.