Returning on Investment Grants (ROI)
In summary, Science Foundation Arizona's (SFAz) investment grants to date have accomplished the following.
Note: For more specific details of Investment Grants by Program results, visit the investment grants page >> and refer to the individual investment grant program.
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-Committed and invested $33.6 M in 58 Innovation Investments in areas of strategic advantage to Arizona: Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Sustainable Systems (SUS) and Biomedical Research (BIO).-- NOTE: *See Investment Grant Programs located in the above left cover of this page for explanations of the acronyms used below. ROI details by Investment Grant Programs are also located on those respective pages. 
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-Leveraged an additional $43.8 million in outside Federal, Private/Non-profit, and Industry investments and funding. Federal leveraging dollars came from the Department of Energy, NASA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation.-- 
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-Seeded and accelerated the development of 8 start-up companies based on new technologies being developed at the state’s public research institutions.--- Technologies under Development• Integrated Circuits for Microprocessors
• Low-cost Silicon for Photovoltaics
• Optical Modulators for Broadband Communications
• Low-cost Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
• Biosensors for Detection of Pathogenic Organisms
• Magnetic Field Sensors for Brain Imaging
• Actuators for Disposable Medical Infusion Pumps
• Algae-produced Antioxidants for Food and Feed
• Cancer Drugs |
-In 2008, SFAz became the largest Graduate Research Fellowship Program of its kind in the United States. SFAz awarded 80 Graduate Research Fellowships to the state’s research institutions to recruit high-quality, first year graduate students in the fields of Bioscience, Sustainable Systems, and Information and Communications Technology. For year two, beginning in the Fall of 2008, 100 additional Graduate Research Fellows have been selected. |
-Began strengthening K-12 math & science teaching and learning through programs that provide research internships and educational opportunities for mathematics and science teachers and broaden the participation of K-12 students in scientific discovery activities, particularly targeting students from rural or under-served school districts.-- |
-A New K-12 Educational Initiative Under SFAz Recently, Governor Janet Napolitano slated SFAz to head the state’s new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) K-12 initiative to begin operating in August 2008. The goal is to help build scientific excellence in the state – specifically to aid educators in gaining higher results in student achievement in the focus areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics thereby ensuring Arizona’s ability to educate, attract, and foster a globally competitive, 21st century knowledge-based work force. |
For 2008, the plan for investment grants is as follows:
| 2008 SFAz Investment Program Plan | FY 2008 State | Private Sector | Total |
| Graduate Research Fellows (GRF) | $5M | $7.3M | |
| Competitive Advantage Awards (CAA) | $5M | $5M | |
| Strategic Research Groups (SRG) | $10.3M | $16.3M | |
| K-12 Student Discovery | $1M | $2.6M | |
| K-12 Teacher Discovery | $1M | $2.5M | |
| Small Business Catalytic (SBC) | $2M | $2M | |
| Review & Management | $0.7M | $0.0M | $700K |
| Total | $25M | $25M | $50M |
