91社区

• Application: Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed. You can send your draft application for review prior to the deadline to the Engine's associate director, katya.marc [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Draft%20Innovation%20Fellowship%20Application%20Review) or to one of the Ronald Chwang Entrepreneurs-in-Residence.

• Lead Applicant:

  • Current postdoc听at 91社区 Faculty of Engineering or a PhD student who has successfully defended their thesis at 91社区 Faculty of Engineering by the time of the award.

  • Co-inventor or has worked on the invention, along with a full-time professor at 91社区听Faculty of Engineering, on an active report of invention backed by the听91社区鈥檚听Innovation听and Partnerships office, I+P.听The professor cannot hold an Engine gap funding grant (TechAccelR, WRSA) for the same invention at the same time as this project grant.

• Invention:听

  • The technology must be reported as an invention to 91社区's听Office of Innovation and Partnerships.听

  • In the application you will need to include the听summary of the due diligence review undergone by the Technology Transfer Office per section 3.3 of the 91社区 Guidelines on the Application of the Policy on Inventions and Software. Please contact your Technology Transfer Manager well in advance of the deadline.

  • Technology not yet optioned nor licensed nor assigned to third party (except for 91社区 spinoffs). Minimum TRL3.

• Project Timeline:听Projects can last up to 12听months maximum, projects can be completed earlier.

• Project Expenses: At least 80% of the grant must go towards the salary for the听eligible postdoc or PhD student to work full-time on the project.
  A maximum of 20% can be spent on product and process development costs towards achieving technical milestones (e.g., materials, equipment).

  • Eligible Expenses:
    • stipend/salary for the eligible PhD student or听post doc
    • product and process development costs (e.g., materials, equipment, personnel)
  • Non-Eligible Expenses:
    • publication costs
    • patent fees
    • incorporation fees
    • travel costs听

• Applications will be evaluated based on:

Evaluation Section	Percentage Allocated	Description
Problem Statement	20%	What is the problem being solved? Does the proposed solution fill an unmet need? Are your target customers clearly outlined? Have you validated the problem with your target customers?听
Proposed Solution/Approach听	25%	Is this a novel, not obvious, and potentially disruptive technology? Has the competitive landscape been identified? Any customer/end user validation?
Technology Development and听Commercialization Plan听	25%	What is your project? Is there proof of concept already? What is the IP strength and stage of development both of technology and market validation? Is there a strong potential impact or market need?听 What is the assessment of the patentability, third party rights, marketability, and commercial potential of the invention/technology? Have the business challenges been acknowledged?听听 Will this Award greatly help move the technology towards commercialization, e.g. will it attract and accelerate follow-on funding from other sources, significant/relevant technical milestones will be achieved (e.g. go/no-go proof, improved scope and value of the IP, prototype for MVP).听听
Project Budget by Milestones and Funding听	20%	Does the proposal clearly identify the key technology development milestones and deliverables? Are the planned expenditures appropriate and justified?听
Team and Collaborators听	5%	Who are the current team members? Has the additional talent needed throughout the project been clearly identified?听听
Presentation and Q&A	5%	In-person presentation by lead applicant to the Selection Committee with Q&A.听 Communication clear? Enthusiasm and desire for innovation?听听 chwang_seto_innovation_fellowship_2024_presentation_guidelines.docx

Application deadline is November 3, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET听

• Applicants will need to attach the following documents in the application form.

  • chwang_seto_innovation_fellowship_2024_application_project_proposal.docx

  • chwang_seto_innovation_fellowship_2024_project_budget_by_milestones.xlsx

  • chwang_seto_innovation_fellowship_2024_presentation_guidelines.docx

Selected applicants will need to complete an in-person 10-15 minute presentation to the Selection Committee

• Timeline:听The Chwang-Seto Innovation Fellow has up to 12听months to work full-time on completing their project听milestones听and deliverables. Unused funds will need to be returned.

• Award: The award will be dispersed into a new account under the PI.

• Reporting: Mid-term report,听final report and presentation听are due to the Engine's associate director and the team's assigned mentor showing the project鈥檚 current status, status of IP, commercialization and development plan progress/next steps, and the听use of funds. In addition, self-assessment questionnaires and program evaluation feedback will be required.听

• Participation:听Participate in surveys and requests for feedback in connection with the procedures and services provided by the 91社区 Engine, with the aim of collaborating in the continuous development of its global offer, research commercialization support, and student experience.听

• Mentorship & Training: Meet with assigned business mentor on a regular basis throughout the program (minimum once per month). Attend Engine's entrepreneurial skills development workshops or other entrepreneurial training as suggested by mentor.

• Outreach Activities: Willingness to assist the 91社区 Engine in outreach activities pertaining to technological innovation and entrepreneurship.

• Promotion: Acknowledgement and promotion of听the program and the 91社区 Engine听in publications and communications arising from the project through your own networks and events.

• Consent:听Consent to the publication of your picture, name, as well as pictures and names of co-applicants, the title of the project, and amount of funding.

• Giving back:听The 91社区 Engine does not take equity in 91社区 spin-off companies. There is an expectation, but no requirement, that participating researchers will make a non-binding charitable pledge听to 91社区 Engine aimed at sustaining the activities of the 91社区 Engine Centre and helping the next generation of technological innovators and entrepreneurs that the Centre supports.听Funding is听not听conditional on a researcher signing a pledge.