NCInnovation Unanimously Approves $7.9 Million for Nine University Projects, Expands Statewide Portfolio to $37 Million Across 47 Projects
Growing portfolio reflects focus on regional economic development and preparing university technologies for private-sector investment
By Michelle Fiscus, Senior VP & Chief Communications Officer
Research-Triangle Park, NC
May 12, 2026
The NCInnovation Board of Directors today unanimously approved $7.9 million in funding to support nine applied research projects, bringing NCInnovation’s statewide commercialization portfolio to $37 million across 47 projects. The growing portfolio supports technologies advancing through technical validation, product development, and industry engagement across North Carolina.
The May 2026 slate continues NCInnovation’s twice-yearly funding cycle and expands a growing portfolio of technologies advancing through applied research and development across North Carolina. The May 2026 slate marks NCInnovation’s second statewide project approval cycle within six months.
“Each funding cycle adds more depth to the portfolio we are building across North Carolina,” said Kelly King, Chair of the NCInnovation Board of Directors. “We are continuing to identify technologies with strong commercial potential and support the work required to help them grow into the companies, industries, and jobs of tomorrow for this state.”
The projects approved in this round span agriculture, energy systems, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and digital infrastructure. They are located across multiple regions of North Carolina and reflect NCInnovation’s long-term focus on helping universities move technologies closer to private-sector investment and commercial adoption.
NCInnovation supports research teams during the stage between proof of concept and market readiness, when technologies often require additional testing, product development, industry engagement, and technical validation before they are positioned for outside investment.
Projects approved in the May 2026 slate include:
- At Appalachian State University, Brett Taubman is developing plant-based milk and food products made from surplus sweet potatoes that would otherwise go unused.
- At UNC-Chapel Hill, Brianna Vickerman is developing cancer treatments designed to activate only at targeted tumor sites in an effort to reduce damage to healthy tissue.
- At North Carolina A&T State University, Debasish Kuila is working on a process that converts plastic waste into jet fuel and other chemicals.
- At UNC Greensboro, Hemali Rathnayake is scaling a process for producing battery materials using less water and fewer harsh chemicals.
- At UNC Wilmington, Karl Ricanek and Alex McDaniel are developing software and brain-health monitoring tools that work with fabric-based sensors designed for at-home neurological monitoring.
- At East Carolina University, Lok Pokhrel is developing a device that delivers mite treatment to honeybee colonies as bees move through the entrance of a hive.
- At NC State University, Ricardo Hernandez is developing indoor growing systems for producing disease-free strawberry starter plants.
- At UNC Charlotte, Tiefu Zhao is developing a safety system designed to quickly detect and stop electrical faults in high-voltage power systems used in data centers.
- Also at UNC Charlotte, Shenen Chen is developing a battery-powered rail system with wireless charging designed to reduce the infrastructure required for rail electrification.
All projects selected for funding demonstrated proof of concept and were evaluated through a multi-step review process that included external subject-matter expert review and market considerations before final approval by the Board of Directors.
In addition to non-dilutive funding, NCInnovation provides support designed to help research teams strengthen technical validation and prepare technologies for future industry and investor engagement. That support can include Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, commercialization guidance, industry connections, and milestone-based development planning.
With 47 projects now funded, NCInnovation is continuing to build a statewide commercialization pipeline designed to help more North Carolina technologies reach the stage where they can attract industry partnerships and future private investment.
“North Carolina’s universities are producing work that directly connects to industry and economic growth,” said Deanna Ballard, Chair of the Programs Committee for the NCInnovation Board of Directors. “This slate demonstrates that when you combine strong research with the right commercialization support, you can build something that scales.”
As NCInnovation’s portfolio continues to expand, the organization is also building a broader pipeline of technologies across North Carolina’s regions and industries through its regional innovation network model, which connects universities with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry partners across the state.
“With 47 projects now funded, we are continuing to build a statewide portfolio of technologies across agriculture, energy, healthcare, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing,” said Michelle Bolas, President and CEO of NCInnovation. “These projects are long-term assets for North Carolina. Our role is to help research teams move through the stage where technologies still need additional validation, testing, and development before they are ready for broader industry adoption or private investment. Through milestone-based funding and commercialization support, we are helping de-risk these technologies and position them for future investment, company formation, and long-term economic growth tied to North Carolina.”
NCInnovation’s grants are funded through earnings generated by the state’s $500 million endowment, allowing the organization to support commercialization activity while preserving the principal long-term.
NCInnovation, Inc. is a Research Triangle Park, NC-based 501(c)(3) public-private partnership designed to accelerate commercialized innovation from North Carolina’s research universities. Backed by more than $25 million in private philanthropic commitments, NCInnovation uses the interest and income from a $500 million State-funded endowment to provide non-dilutive grant funding, mentors, and support services so that North Carolina university proofs-of-concept return value to the regional communities that created them. Learn more at NCInnovation.org.