Name for Proposals: Spring 2026 Catalyst Grant Program for Hospitality and Gaming Innovation

The UNLV Office of Economic Development (OED) using its Black Fire Innovation Lab (“BFI”) and in collaboration with the UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, International Gaming Institute and Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering is happy to announce a name for Product and Service Development (“PSD”) grant proposals beneath the Faculty Opportunity Award: Catalyst Grant Program Spring 2026. The funding awards might be made to speed up improvements by collaborations between UNLV and Industry aimed toward addressing key Hospitality, Gaming, and Innovation initiatives. Full Proposal Submission Deadline:  Nov. 3, 2025 (12:00 Noon PT)

Program Purpose: The purpose of this program could be to seed promising analysis and improvement in areas of hospitality, gaming, and leisure innovation. It goals to foster collaboration between UNLV college, college students, {industry} companions and to advertise interdisciplinary utilized analysis inside these sectors, aligning with the missions of the OED, Harrah College of Hospitality, International Gaming Institute, and Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering.

Award Type: Faculty Award for: Product & Service Development (PSD): Intended to help new collaborations between UNLV college and an {industry} companion (an “Industry Sponsor”) in hospitality, gaming, or leisure. fields.

The program prioritizes funding for initiatives that align with its mission to boost Hospitality, Gaming, Entertainment utilized analysis and observe.

Funding Priorities: Projects ought to purpose to deal with key initiatives in hospitality, gaming, and leisure innovation and should have an {industry} collaborator offering a dollar-for-dollar match and a good portion of the venture should be carried out at BFI. Drawing inspiration from BFI and the strengths of the Harrah College of Hospitality, priorities might embrace: 

• Hospitality/Gaming Technology Use/Enhancement: Projects aimed toward utilizing, growing, and/or enhancing expertise purposes inside the hospitality, gaming, or leisure industries.

• Hospitality/Gaming Economic Development: Projects aimed toward fostering present academic-industry collaborations, constructing new collaborations, and/or entrepreneurial efforts by college (e.g., patentable merchandise/concepts) inside these sectors.

• Innovation in Specific Hospitality Areas: Projects specializing in innovation in areas like Gaming, Event Design and Management, Gaming / Hospitality Management, Hospitality Beverage Management, Human Resource Management, or Innovative applied sciences in Hospitality, Gaming and Entertainment.

Full particulars and learn how to apply can be found on the Catalyst Program net web page.