BEAM Circular is building a vibrant regional ecosystem for the circular bioeconomy in California’s agricultural heartland, the North San Joaquin Valley (NSJV). BEAM is facilitating collaboration and catalyzing action through the BioEconomy, Agriculture, and Manufacturing (BEAM) Initiative, a portfolio of public and private projects designed to scale the most promising innovations in bioindustrial manufacturing and to advance solutions that support economic and environmental outcomes for local communities.

BEAM Circular’s Research and Commercialization Grant Matching Fund (RC-Match) offers a 50% match of up to $75,000 to bioeconomy businesses that have already secured SBIR/STTR Phase I, Phase II, or Fast-Track awards. By supporting activities such as technology validation, scaling operations, and commercialization planning, RC-Match will accelerate innovation and help companies secure the next phase of funding and bring their sustainable products to market.

Business Criteria:

• Must be a for-profit entity and must be primarily U.S. owned. This is defined as having at least 51% of its ownership by U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents.
• Must be registered to do business in California.
• Must have fewer than 500 employees.

RC-Match will be administered in two groups:
Group (1) This group focuses on Phase I matching grants, where businesses intend to apply for Phase II grants, with the Phase II project being conducted using NSJV facilities, feedstock, and partnerships.

Group (2) This group focuses on Phase II and Fast-Track applicants, with an emphasis on establishing workforce, facilities, partnerships, and utilizing feedstock from the NSJV.

Project Criteria: Applicants must meet at least one of the following:

1. Local Project Execution: The business has a project that will be implemented within the NSJV and demonstrate a positive economic and environmental impact on the region.
2. Regional Feedstock Use: The project is executed outside the NSJV but uses feedstock sourced from the NSJV.
3. Collaborative Projects: Businesses can partner with NSJV-based organizations (e.g., universities, research institutions) to enhance project feasibility and demonstrate local impact.

Applicants are highly encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest, which should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The RC-Match Team will review the submission and provide feedback, helping applicants identify potential resources and collaborators in the North San Joaquin Valley (NSJV). The goal is to discuss the applicant’s needs and explore how we can assist them in successfully submitting a full RC-Match application. Alternatively, applicants may choose to directly submit a full proposal for RC-Match. Full proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee, and additional information may be requested as needed during the review process.