Gap Funding Programs
Transforming new ideas and research outputs into disruptive solutions in the market and society is a challenging task. Thanks to generous alumni donors, the McGill Engine is able to offer Gap Funding Programs that enable the advancement of technologies from the labs to the marketplace and entrepreneurial skills development for STEMM-based research teams through project funding and personalized business mentorship and training.
TechAccelR, William and Rhea Seath Awards in Engineering Innovation (WRSA), Baylis Health Care Grant and the Innovation Fellowship grants are directed toward increasing and accelerating the technology transfer potential (licensing to an existing company or to a McGill spinoff) and thus commercial viability of an invention/technology that has been disclosed to McGill's Office of Innovation + Partnerships, and has been assessed by your Technology Transfer Manager, preferably at least 2 weeks in advance of proposal submission deadlines.
Personalized business mentorship by our Ronald Chwang Entrepreneurs-in-Residence is included in all of these programs. Connections to potential industry partners, customers, suppliers, collaborators, and investors are integral to these programs in order to iterate on real-world key requirements, prototype building, and industry and regulatory standards.
Impact since 2013
* Updated May 2025
Program Comparison (A research team cannot be simultaneously in more than one program for the same invention/technology.)
| Comparison | TechAccelR |
William and Rhea Seath Awards in |
Baylis Health Care Grant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Applicant | McGill University tenure-track professors | McGill University Faculty of Engineering tenure-track professors | McGill University Faculty of Engineering tenure-track professors and/or those that hold a tenure-track appointment in a department or school formally affiliated with McGill's Faculty of Engineering | McGill University Faculty of Engineering tenure-track professors |
| Upcoming Application Deadlines | September 14, 2025 | January 11, 2026 | Rolling basis by eligible lead applicant | October 26, 2025 |
| Award Length | Up to 6 months | Up to 12 months | Up to 6 months / Up to 12 months | Up to 12 months |
| Funding | Up to $15,000 |
Up to $25,000 |
Up to $15K for up to 6 months projects Up to $25K for up to 12 months projects |
Up to $60,000 |
| Project Start Date |
October 1, 2025 |
March 1, 2026 | Rolling basis | January 5, 2026 |
| Business Mentorship | Matched with a Ronald Chwang EiR | Matched with a Ronald Chwang EiR | Matched with a Ronald Chwang EiR | Matched with a Ronald Chwang EiR |
| Description | Supporting McGill University tenure-track professors by enabling them to accelerate their technology (TRL3) that is reported as an invention but needs further validation prior to commercialization. |
Supporting McGill University Faculty of Engineering tenure-track professors by enabling them to accelerate their technology (TRL3-4) that is reported as an invention but needs further validation prior to commercialization. |
Supporting the commercialization of early-stage health care related inventions from McGill University Faculty of Engineering and/or formally affiliated, tenure-track professors by enabling them to accelerate their technology (TRL3-4) that is reported as an invention but needs further validation prior to commercialization. | Supporting the development of a technology (TRL4-6) in order to bring it closer to the marketplace and allow the Chwang Seto Innovation Fellow to gain further knowledge and experience in business and technology commercialization through entrepreneurial training and mentorship. |
| Technology Transfer Requirements |
The technology must be reported as an invention to McGill's Office of Innovation and Partnerships. Included in the application:
|
The technology must be reported as an invention to McGill's Office of Innovation and Partnerships. Included in the application:
|
The technology must be reported as an invention to McGill's Office of Innovation and Partnerships. Included in the application:
|
The technology must be reported as an invention to McGill's Office of Innovation and Partnerships. Included in the application:
|
| Awards Granted | Up to 10 per round, 2 rounds per year. | Up to 2 annually. | Rolling Basis | Up to 2 per round, 2 rounds per year. |
TechAccelR Grants
The TechAccelR Grants are intended to help McGill professors accelerate their research-based ideas that are reported as inventions but need further validation prior to commercialization.
William and Rhea Seath Awards in Engineering Innovation
These grants for McGill Faculty of Engineering professors enable the inventor team to advance their technology that has potential for commercialization.
Baylis Health Care Grant
These grants support the commercialization of early-stage health care related inventions from McGill University Faculty of Engineering and/or formally affiliated, tenure-track professors as lead applicants. This program enables the interdisciplinary research team to further validate their technology with real-world needs.
Innovation Fellowships
The McGill Engine Innovation Fellowships Program supports the recipient and the team on the development of a technology in order to bring it closer to the marketplace and allow the Chwang-Seto Innovation Fellow to gain further knowledge and experience in business and technology commercialization.
Invention to Impact Program
I-to-I provides tools and training to support researchers to translate their fundamental research to the marketplace and have their solutions benefit society. The program imparts an evidence-based methodology that students and professors can use for the rest of their careers, and it also enables the transformation of inventions to impact.
