Brook & Beyond Challenge
The Brook & Beyond Challenge is Stony Brook University’s flagship pitch competition designed to help faculty researchers commercialize high-impact innovations. Participants compete in one of two tracks (Ideation or Proof of Concept) to seek milestone-based funding of up to $10,000 or $50,000 respectively, along with mentorship and connections to investors and licensing partners. Teams sharpen their business models and pitches through training, and the finalists present live at a showcase where judges allocate funding based on merit and readiness. The funding is non-dilutive, and applicants must apply as teams with at least one member affiliated with Stony Brook to drive real-world impact from research innovations.
Wolfie Tank
WolfieTank is a Stony Brook pitch competition modeled after Shark Tank, allowing members of the university community (students, faculty, staff) to present entrepreneurial ideas to a panel of judges and receive feedback. Contestants submit proposals and selected teams deliver live pitches at an event held in November. The event is co-sponsored by Stony Brook’s College of Business, Engineering & Applied Sciences, Division of IT, and economic development units. Winners can receive seed funding to help advance their ideas. Over its decade of operation, WolfieTank has grown into a key part of Stony Brook’s innovation ecosystem, inspiring spin-off events and supporting entrepreneurial culture on campus.
Stony Brook Research and Innovation Office
The Office for Research and Innovation at Stony Brook oversees and supports the university’s research enterprise and technology commercialization efforts. It provides services and infrastructure across the full research lifecycle, including proposal development, grants administration, compliance, intellectual property protection, and support for translating inventions into impact. The office helps catalyze economic growth in the region by connecting research with industry, licensing, and startup formation. Stony Brook’s research program is sizable, with hundreds of millions in expenditures, thousands of faculty, and a strong tradition of innovation and public benefit.
Long Island Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Long Island Manufacturing Extension Partnership (LIMEP ) is the regional MEP center for Long Island, operating under New York’s Empire State Development and connected to the NIST MEP network. Its mission is to support small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the region by providing growth, innovation, operational, and workforce resources to help increase efficiency, retain and create jobs, and boost competitiveness. LIMEP offers services such as technical assistance, process improvement, prototyping, training, and supply chain support. Since its 2024 rebranding, it’s been expanding its offerings under new leadership to better assist manufacturers in adopting advanced technologies, optimizing processes, and navigating funding opportunities.
Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence
The Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence (SPIR) is a New York State–supported program housed at Stony Brook that helps industry partners translate and commercialize technological innovations. It provides access to a network of engineers and applied scientists, laboratory and manufacturing facilities, and university research resources. SPIR has been active since 1994, contributing over $20 million in state funding, completing thousands of projects with hundreds of companies, and helping create or retain tens of thousands of jobs. The program supports firms through applied R&D, prototyping, technology validation, and collaborative development to strengthen regional industrial competitiveness.
