WRSA Project Grant 2024/25

William and Rhea Seath Awards in
Engineering Innovation

On this page: WRSA Timeline | Eligibility/Requirements | Evaluation CriteriaHow to Apply | Terms of the Award

Winners of the WRSAs (2012-2024)

 

Profile photo of William and Rhea Seath
William and Rhea Seath

The William and Rhea Seath Awards (WRSAs) have been made possible thanks to the generosity of Faculty of Engineering alumnus, the late Mr. William Seath (B.Eng. 1952). These awards support McGill University Faculty of Engineering tenure-track professors and their graduate students by enabling them to accelerate their technology that is reported as an invention but needs further validation prior to commercialization.

Call for Applications: November 5, 2024

Up to two equal awards of $25,000 for projects up to 12 months is given as part of this annual competition. They are reviewed by the McGill Engine Director and awarded by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering based on the recommendation of a committee composed of faculty, industry and alumni members. Recipients use the awards to support the commercialization of their technologies. Examples of eligible support activities: development, testing, prototype construction, salary stipends for students.

Program Objectives

  1. Validate early stage technologies
  2. Advance the invention's Technology Readiness Level
  3. Accelerate the technology’s commercialization and development plan - achieve product-market fit faster
  4. Further develop the research to strengthen eligibility for additional funding
  5. Research team works closely with the assigned Ronald Chwang Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, gaining from their experience, knowledge, and industry connections

WRSA Timeline 

Date Description
November 5, 2024 Call for applications - Apply here!

January 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET

Application deadline 

January and February Applications are reviewed and evaluated
Mid February Applicants informed of review and evaluation outcomes. Winners announced. 
March 1, 2025 WRSA project begins
March 1, 2026 WRSA project ends (projects can last up to 12 months, projects can be completed earlier)

Application Details

Eligibility/Requirements

  • 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: WRSAs%20Application%20Review) or to one of the Ronald Chwang Entrepreneurs-in-Residence.

  • Lead Applicant: Only candidates who are full-time members of McGill Faculty of Engineering are eligible as lead applicants for the WRSAs. Lead applicants can be graduate students or professors. Students must be registered full-time in a Faculty of Engineering program. Professors must hold an appointment in a department or school formally affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering.  Professors cannot hold another Engine gap funding grant (TechAccelR, Innovation Fellowship) for the same invention at the same time as this project grant.

  • Invention: The technology must be reported as an invention to McGill's Office of Innovation and Partnerships. Your Technology Transfer Manager’s assessment and commercialization plan will need to be included in this grant application. Please reach out to them well in advance of the proposal submission deadline.  

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

  • Project Expenses: Applicants must use the funds to advance the technology in accordance with their project technical milestones. The McGill Engine team can make recommendations for changes to the budget and uses of funds that are required for the acceptance and funding of the project. Once the grant is awarded, if your milestones and project expenses change significantly from what was in your project proposal (e.g. greater than 10% on any allowed budget item), you must discuss with your mentor and provide the revised milestone(s) and budget to Engine's Associate Director for approval.

  • Eligible Expenses:
    • Product and process development costs towards achieving technical milestones (e.g., materials, equipment, personnel).
  • Non-Eligible Expenses:
    • Costs related to non-technical milestones
      • publication costs
      • patent fees
      • incorporation fees
      • travel costs 

Evaluation

  • Applications will be judged and ranked according to the following criteria.

    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?
    Proposed Solution/Approach 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 Commercialization Plan 25%

    What is your project? What is the latest commercialization plan as developed in collaboration with your Technology Transfer Manager? Have the business challenges been identified? Is there a strong potential impact or market need?

    What external/market validation is there that your technology development plan may attract and accelerate follow-on funding from other sources (e.g. other awards/grants, licensing, customers, investors)?

    Project Budget by Milestones and Funding 20% Does the proposal clearly identify the key technology development milestones and deliverables? Are the planned expenditures appropriate and justified?
    Team and Collaborators 10% Who are the current team members? Has any additional talent needed throughout the project been identified?

How to Apply

  • If you have any questions and/or wish to have your application reviewed prior to final submission, please contact katya.marc [at] mcgill.ca (subject: WRSAs%20Application%20Review)

Terms of the Award

  • Timeline: Teams have up to 12 months maximum to complete their project milestones and deliverables. Unused funds will need to be returned.

  • Award: The award will be dispersed into a new account under the PI and entitled W&R Seath Award.Once the grant is awarded, if your milestones and project expenses change significantly from what was in your project proposal (e.g. greater than 10% on any allowed budget item), you must discuss with your mentor and provide the revised milestone(s) and budget to Engine's Associate Director for approval.

  • Reporting: Mid-term and final reports are due to the Engine's associate director and the team's assigned mentor showing the project’s current status, status of IP, commercialization and development plan progress/next steps, and the use of funds.

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

  • 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 McGill Engine in outreach activities pertaining to technological innovation and entrepreneurship.

  • Promotion: Acknowledgement and promotion of the award and the McGill Engine in publications and communications arising from the project through your own networks and events.

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

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