University of Sydney Sydnovate POC fund overview

The Sydnovate Fund provides critical financial support for research projects with commercial potential. These funds will be used to: Strengthen University Patents, especially by reducing inventions to practice during the 12 months period between Provisional filing and PCT filing. Strengthening the University’s copyright portfolio. Develop ’unripe’ projects into licensable opportunities by reaching critical milestones and […]

University of Kansas launches POC fund, will award $200K this year

The University of Kansas has created a new way support KU research projects that are close to commercialization, university officials said in a news release. The new Proof of Concept (POC) Fund will provide money to help research projects for one year to make the technologies more attractive for private investment. The fund will support […]

Pennsylvania governor puts dollars behind innovation initiatives, new funding programs

To position Pennsylvania as a national leader for technology development, Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration announced today the awarding of new investments to support business, community and university-based innovation. “The governor is committed to providing our start-up companies and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to grow here and stay here,” Department of Community and Economic […]

Testament to the challenges in implementing state-supported venture funds

A hard-to-pass proposal to use tax dollars to boost private investment in Wisconsin start-up companies could find its way into the next state budget bill, giving it a pathway through the legislative traps that ensnared it last session, a key state senator said Tuesday. Also Tuesday, the fix-it executive for Gov. Scott Walker’s troubled jobs […]

Cambridge University’s Enterprise Fund makes first seed investments

Cambridge University’s Enterprise Fund has made its first investments, in Cambridge CMOS Sensors, Inotec AMD, and DefiniGEN. The fund was launched in May and closed in September and combines a seed scheme with EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme). CMOS Sensors, based on research from the university’s engineering department, is involved in nanosensors which require very little […]

Overview of MIT-Germany Seed fund, a global campus approach

MISTI (MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives) offers seed funds to MIT faculty and researchers to support  early-stage international projects and collaboration. MISTI Global Seed Funds includes a general fund for projects in any country and several country funds with their own requirements. Overview: http://web.mit.edu/misti/mit-germany/faculty/MIT-Germany%20Seed%20Fund%20flyer.pdf

University of Hertfordshire launches fund to support student ideas

The Enterprise Fund has been launched to support students with innovative and viable business ideas. Financial awards and mentoring support will be provided to students judged to have enterprising ideas, a clearly identified market gap and scalability. Financial awards will be granted following the completion of an application form, demonstrating proof of concept and proof of […]

Virginia Commonwealth announces call for POC proposals, funded by federal DOC i6 Challenge

What is the Virginia Innovation Partnership (VIP)? VIP is a statewide network designed to accelerate innovation and economic growth. One of only seven multi-institution initiatives to win federal funding as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s i6 Challenge in 2012, VIP is bringing together universities, community colleges, corporations, investment capital and other resources to […]

Scottish packaging company readies for global expansion, seeded with monies from SMART:SCOTLAND proof of concept program

Thanks to ongoing support from Scottish Enterprise, Insignia Technologies Ltd is preparing to take its groundbreaking packaging technology to a global, £multi-billion market. The company created an intelligent ink that changes colour when exposed to external influences such as time, oxygen and humidity levels. Developed by leading chemist Professor Andrew Mills, the technology can be […]