Rhode Island Innovation Voucher Program
Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
Up to $75,000
Researched for this program: 5 rejection traps · 5 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
RI funds your university R&D partnership
Rhode Island's Innovation Voucher program awards up to $75,000 to Rhode Island small businesses (500 or fewer employees) to partner with local universities, colleges, hospitals, or research institutions on R&D projects. Two tracks: a Knowledge Provider Voucher for research partnerships, and a Manufacturing Voucher for in-house R&D by RI manufacturers. Applications accepted annually in spring. Program has invested $8.1M since inception, catalyzing $56.2M in follow-on investment.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $75,000
- Realistic amount
- Most awards are in the $25,000–$75,000 range. Program has funded 153 projects across 117 companies totaling $8.1M — average award approximately $53,000.
- Deadline
- Current round open October 6 – November 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST.
- Status
- active
- States
- RI
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Registered to do business in Rhode Island
- 500 or fewer employees
- At least 51% of employees based in Rhode Island
- Knowledge Provider Voucher: must partner with an eligible RI knowledge provider (college, university, hospital, or research institute)
- Manufacturing Voucher: must have a manufacturing NAICS code and conduct in-house R&D
Hard requirements
- Location restriction: Rhode Island
- Max 500 employees
How it compares with other state grants
Of the 156 state grants we track, the Rhode Island Innovation Voucher Program has the 67th-largest published amount ($75K, the same as the median across the 133 that publish one). Applying takes about 10 hours by our estimate, close to the 12.5-hour median. It needs no cash match, though 42% of state grants do.
- Top amount
- $75K · 67th largest of 133
- Median, state grants
- $75K
- Hours to apply
- About 10 · peers' median 12.5
- Cash match
- Not required · 42% of peers require it
- SAM.gov
- Not required · 3% of peers require it
Source: the GrantCompass catalog of 770 US programs. Browse grants in the catalog.
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Research partnership fees paid to eligible RI knowledge providers
- Scientific, engineering, and design expertise access
- Laboratory testing, prototyping, and experimental development costs
- IP exploration and technology feasibility studies
- In-house manufacturing R&D costs (Manufacturing Voucher track)
Ineligible expenses
- Marketing, advertising, or sales expenses
- Capital equipment unrelated to the R&D project
- Lease or real estate costs
- Routine quality control or product testing not related to innovation
- R&D conducted entirely outside Rhode Island
How to apply
-
1
Identify a qualified knowledge provider partner (if applicable)
For the Knowledge Provider Voucher, contact a qualifying RI research institution (Brown University, URI, RISD, RI Hospital, etc.) and discuss a potential R&D collaboration before applying. Partner must be willing to co-develop a scope of work.
-
2
Download and complete the Innovation Voucher Budget Template
Download the official budget template from commerceri.com. Itemize proposed R&D expenses and the knowledge provider's contribution. Manufacturing Voucher applicants document in-house R&D costs.
-
3
Submit application via Smartsheet portal
Submit the completed application and budget through the Innovation Voucher Application Portal (Smartsheet link on the RI Commerce website) before the annual deadline (typically late April).
-
4
Award and project execution
RI Commerce reviews and notifies awardees. Execute a grant agreement with RI Commerce and begin the R&D project with your knowledge provider. Document milestones and submit required progress reports.
Contact a knowledge provider (Brown, URI, RI Hospital) before applying — reviewers look for pre-established partnerships, not cold proposals.
Deadline & timing
2026 application window was March 31–April 28, 2026 at 5 PM EST. Program runs one cycle per year. Next cycle anticipated spring 2027.
Applications are open — don’t lose the window
GrantCompass tracks Rhode Island Innovation Voucher Program’s application windows in the live catalog. Leave an email and we’ll warn you before this window closes — and tell you when the next round opens.
Free. One email when the window moves, deadline warnings on your watchlist, and the monthly closing-soon digest. Unsubscribe anytime.
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Last updated October 30, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.