Quick-Start Guide for Innovators
Welcome to Halo, an R&D marketplace that enables innovators to apply their science expertise to real-world challenges identified by companies across industries — from advancing sustainable agriculture and food systems to developing new materials, processes, and technologies. Whether you're developing novel technologies, materials, diagnostics, or therapeutics, Halo gives you a direct line to industry partners actively seeking external collaborations.
Getting started takes less than 90 seconds.
How to Set Up Your Profile
- Go to halo.science/get-started
This is where you’ll begin setting up your profile. - Input your name and email
Be sure to use your institutional email to verify your affiliation. -
Select your role
Choose “You are a researcher at a university, lab, or institute” if you are an academic researcher. -
Enter your institutional details
Select your research institution and specify what kind of researcher you are (e.g., Principal Investigator, Postdoc, PhD student, etc.). -
Choose relevant disciplines
Select the broad disciplines most relevant to your work (e.g., neuroscience, biomedical engineering, materials science). -
Select your research expertise
Pick specific areas of expertise. This enables Halo to match you with the most relevant partnership opportunities.
Tip: The fewer you choose, the more specific and tailored your recommendations will be.
You can edit your profile and research areas at any time in your Account Settings.
Types of Opportunities on Halo
New partnership opportunities are posted on the first of every month and typically remain open for two months. The types of opportunities include:
-
RFP (Request for Proposal):
A company is looking to fund research that directly solves a technical or scientific challenge. - RFE (Request for Experts):
Companies are seeking academic experts for technical input, consulting, or co-development opportunities. -
RFM (Request for Materials):
A company wants to test or evaluate physical materials—such as polymers, coatings, or compounds—that meet specific criteria. -
RFS (Request for Startups):
Designed for researchers who are also founders. Companies are looking to connect with startups that align with their innovation areas.
After the opportunity deadline, companies typically take 2–4 months to review and select applicants.
How You’ll Receive Opportunities
Halo sends personalized opportunity notifications based on the expertise areas you selected during onboarding. You can update these at any time and also switch to the “Opportunity Digest” in your notification settings to receive occasional summaries rather than real-time alerts.
How to Stand Out to Companies
If you're interested in submitting a proposal, here are a few ways to improve your chances:
-
Complete your profile
-
Upload a professional profile photo
-
Add a short summary of your research focus
-
Include relevant publications, patents, or licenses, especially those tied to the problem the company is trying to solve
-
-
Engage on the Q&A forum
Each opportunity page includes a Q&A section at the bottom. Ask questions, request clarifications, or follow the conversation. Engagement here shows initiative and can improve the quality of your submission. -
Tailor your proposal to the company’s needs
Use a technical industry writing style, not an academic one. Don’t just explain what you study — clearly articulate how your research solves the company’s specific challenge. -
Take the “must-have requirements” section seriously
This is where companies are often the most selective. If you can’t address a requirement directly, use the space to explain why your solution is still relevant or how you could bridge the gap. (Read more about the submission process here)
Searching for Opportunities
Looking for something specific? Use the search bar on the right side of the Marketplace page to filter active opportunities by discipline or keyword.
Need Help?
If you have any questions or need help getting started, email us at hello@halo.science — we’re happy to assist.