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.

• Product and process development costs towards achieving technical milestones (e.g., materials, equipment, personnel).

• Costs related to non-technical milestones
  • publication costs
  • patent fees
  • incorporation fees
  • travel costs 

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

Call for applications for the 2024-25 cohort will open on November 11, 2024. The application deadline: January 12, 2025, at 11:59 PM (ET). 

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

• WRSA 2024-25 Application Project Proposal 

• WRSA 2024-25 Project Budget by Milestones

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)

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.