MARQUETTE — The NextCycle Michigan Micro Scale 3Rs Solutions Innovation Challenge Track has opened the application period for material reuse, recovery and recycling ideas on March 31. Selected teams for the MICROS Track will be able to advance their ideas with potential funding up to $10,000.

NextCycle Michigan is an initiative from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy that leverages public and private sector assistance along with investment across six Innovation Challenge Tracks to improve Michigan’s recycling and waste recovery system. Boosting recycling and developing Innovative solutions to waste management can reduce greenhouse gases and help Michigan on its path to carbon neutrality by 2050.

The MICROS Track is seeking teams to produce innovative solutions for collecting, processing, minimizing, reusing or recycling materials in Michigan. In addition to small-scale funding support, teams will have opportunities to network with key industry players, access data and resources, receive recognition via media and communication platforms, and the potential to pitch their ideas to investors.

Interested teams should submit applications through an online system that will remain open through multiple review and selection cycles: Cycle 1 application deadline, May 19; Cycle 2 application deadline, July 21; and Cycle 3 application deadline, Sept. 22.

The MICROS Track is open to businesses, entrepreneurs, universities, government or non-profit entities, and can consist of an individual person, a single organization or a collaboration of entities. Out-of-state teams are eligible; however, the project must address materials in Michigan and ultimately be located in Michigan.

Project funding can be used toward project-specific needs such as equipment, materials, lab testing, research and development, marketing, consulting, and other project-related expenses.

An application packet containing information on the MICROS Track, eligibility criteria, application process and cycle deadlines is available on the NextCycle Michigan website at NextCycleMichigan.com/micros.