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About the MIF

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The MIF is a strategic support mechanism that is focused on providing the ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ community the ability to accelerate the development of their invention or company. The overall goal of the MIF is to facilitate entrepreneurial activity that will advance a technology or product toward real world impact, be it commercial, social, or environmental.  

To achieve this goal, the MIF provides recipients with financial support in the form of prizes, and entrepreneurial support via the 12-month Support Program. Put together, the MIF hopes to foster an entrepreneurial spirit in ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ researchers while helping them develop projects with business potential. 

Applications from all faculties and departments are eligible, but all applications must have either an associated Report of Invention that has been approved by the Office of Innovation and Partnerships or a License Agreement and/or Equity Arrangement that has been signed with ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ based on technology that was developed at ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ. 

Funding Stages

DISCOVER STAGE: $25,000 DEVELOP STAGE: $50,000 DEPLOY STAGE: $100,000
  • For research projects which have already demonstrated a proof of concept in a controlled or laboratory setting.
  • Whether the solution comes from the sciences, arts, engineering, medicine, music or agriculture, we invite you to apply.
  • For research projects which have gone beyond the proof of concept, and that demonstrate a clear ability to implement, distribute, deliver and scale their solution.
  • Each project must show a proven commercial potential for the advanced research to become either a spin-off or a licensed solution within 12-24 months.
  • For projects which have already started to implement their commercialization plan and can demonstrate that they have the potential to go much further.
  • The project has been deployed and requires support funding to reach new heights.
  • Open to all ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ startups based on ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ IP.

Supplemental AMR Award

The ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Centre is providing additional matching funds to teams who already secured funding in the regular MIF streams. Successful teams will be chosen for their potential to prevent, diagnose and treat life-threatening bacterial infections. The total amount of funding available for the AMR Centre Stream award is $75,000, which will be distributed at the discretion of the judging panel to match awards received in other MIF categories, to a maximum of $75,000 (for example, a Discover award of $25,000 could receive an additional $25,000). Note, these funds are in addition to funds awarded in any of the other stages. Note: you must clearly and explicitly account for the use of these additional funds in your application.

Eligibility

DISCOVER STAGE DEVELOP STAGE DEPLOY STAGE
Open to all areas of study, departments and faculties, but must have a Report of Invention (ROI) that has been approved by the Office of Innovation & Partnerships.

Open to companies in good standing that are based on ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ IP with a signed license agreement/equity arrangement with ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ in the last 5 years (i.e. 2018), OR to companies in the process of signing a license agreement with ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ. Should the applicant is selected to receive funding, the license agreement must be signed before funding is released.

  • For research projects with a clear plan to commercialize a patentable solution OR copyright
  • Applicants cannot be incorporated
  • 3-4
  • For advanced projects that are approaching commercialization
  • Applicants can be incorporated
  • TRL 5-6
  • For projects already being commercialized as a spin-off
  • Applicants must be incorporated
  • TRL 7+

Evaluation Criteria

FUNDING STAGE Project will be used to Must haves
DISCOVER STAGE
  • Advance a patentable solution OR a copyright
  • To prepare your project to:
    • Be commercialized
    • Be implemented in the world
    • Create a positive impact
  • The application must demonstrate:
    • The positive impact the project will generate (commercial, medical, social, environmental)
    • A clear timeline on how this funding will enable you to transform the project from research to a deliverable solution
    • That your team is capable and willing to take the project outside the university
    • That the funds would truly contribute to advancing the research to become a ‘real-world’ solution
  • An approved Report of Invention with ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ I+P
  • A detailed budget for how you will use the funding
  • Component or software ready to validate in a laboratory setting
  • A clear timeline to implementation
DEVELOP STAGE
  • Advance a filed patent application OR a commercially viable copyright
  • To prepare your project to: become a spin-off OR be licensed
  • The application must demonstrate:
    • Clear proof of concept that the project is viable and scalable
    • That the project is advanced enough to be commercialized or licensed
    • The commercial value the project will generate
  • A clear timeline on how this funding will enable you will deliver the solution (licensing? Spin-off?)
  • That your team is capable and willing to take the project outside the university and beyond
  • That the funds would truly contribute to transforming the research into a commercially viable project within 12-months
  • An approved Report of Invention with ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ I+P;
  • Protected intellectual property (patent application or copyright)
  • A detailed budget for how you will use the funding
  • A demonstrated ability to deliver your project as a spin-off or license
  • A clearly defined target: market, audience, problem
  • Business strategy / strategic plan to get to market
DEPLOY STAGE
  • Deliver a licensed technology for commercial purposes
  • Grow a ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ startup
  • Raise more capital
  • The application must demonstrate:
    • That the startup is an appropriate vehicle to bring the technology to market
    • How this funding will enable the startup to:
      • Begin commercialization
      • Increase market share
      • Go international
      • Create bigger impact
      • Or all of the above
    • That your team is capable and willing to take the project to the next level
    • That the funds would truly fill an essential funding gap needed for the spin-off to grow
  • A license agreement or equity arrangement with ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ I+P based on a ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ Report of Invention; agreement must have been signed within the last 5 years OR in the process of signing a license agreement with ƽÌØÎå²»ÖÐ. Should the applicant be a successful recipient, the license agreement must be signed before any funding is released.
  • A detailed budget for how you will use the funding
  • Clear market potential to generate commercial returns
  • Confirmed sales or a letter of intent from an interested client/partner/licensee
  • Core team in place
  • A 12-month action plan
AMR Award

Teams in this category will make a second pitch to judges one week following their pitch to any other MIF award. The AMR pitch will be evaluated based on two main factors:

  • Potential to prevent, diagnose and/or treat life-threatening bacterial infections
  • Ability of the team to realize that impact
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