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On this page: Funding Stages Cleantech Award (biannual)Eligibility Evaluation Criteria

About the MIF

The MIF is a strategic support mechanism that is focused on providing to the McGill community the ability to accelerate the development of their invention or company. The overall goal of the MIF is to facilitate entrepreneurial activity that will advance a technology or product toward real world impact, be it commercial, social, or environmental. Applications from all faculties and departments are eligible, but all applications must have either an associated Report of Invention that has been approved by the Office of Innovation and Partnerships or a License Agreement that has been signed with McGill University based on technology that was developed at McGill.

Funding Stages

DISCOVER STAGE: $25,000	DEVELOP STAGE: $50,000	DEPLOY STAGE: $100,000
For research projects which have already demonstrated a proof of concept in a controlled or laboratory setting. Whether the solution comes from the sciences, arts, engineering, medicine, music or agriculture, we invite you to apply.	For research projects which have gone beyond the proof of concept, and that demonstrate a clear ability to implement, distribute, deliver and scale their solution. Each project must show a proven commercial potential for the advanced research to become either a spin-off or a licensed solution within 12-24 months.	For projects which have already started to implement their commercialization plan and can demonstrate that they have the potential to go much further. The project has been deployed and requires support funding to reach new heights. Open to all McGill spinoffs.

Cleantech Award (biannual)

Teams who have been selected in any of the three stages, and who have a project that has a cleantech or sustainability aspect, will be considered for the Cleantech Supplemental Prize. This $40,000 award will be added as a supplement to other funds received from the MIF. You must indicate in your application whether you wish to be considered for this award. Teams that have been selected to receive funds in any of the three funding stages will be invited to present their project to a separate Selection Committee.

Eligibility

DISCOVER STAGE	DEVELOP STAGE	DEPLOY STAGE
Open to all areas of study, departments and faculties, but must have a Report of Invention (ROI) that has been approved by the Office of Innovation & Partnerships.		Must have a signed licence agreement with McGill University based on a McGill report of invention
For research projects with a clear plan to commercialize a patentable solution OR copyright Applicants cannot be incorporated TRL 3-4	For advanced projects that are approaching commercialization Applicants can be incorporated TRL 5-6	For projects already being commercialized as a spin-off Applicants must have signed a license agreement with McGill University within the last 5 years TRL 7+

Evaluation Criteria

FUNDING STAGE	Project will be used to	Must haves
DISCOVER STAGE	Advance a patentable solution OR a copyright To prepare your project to: Be commercialized Be implemented in the world Create a positive impact The application must demonstrate: The positive impact the project will generate (commercial, medical, social, environmental) A clear timeline on how this funding will enable you to transform the project from research to a deliverable solution That your team is capable and willing to take the project outside the university That the funds would truly contribute to advancing the research to become a ‘real-world’ solution	An approved Report of Invention with McGill I+P A detailed budget for how you will use the funding Component or software ready to validate in a laboratory setting A clear timeline to implementation
DEVELOP STAGE	Advance a filed patent application OR a commercially viable copyright To prepare your project to: become a spin-off OR be licensed The application must demonstrate: Clear proof of concept that the project is viable and scalable That the project is advanced enough to be commercialized or licensed The commercial value the project will generate A clear timeline on how this funding will enable you will deliver the solution (licensing? Spin-off?) That your team is capable and willing to take the project outside the university and beyond That the funds would truly contribute to transforming the research into a commercially viable project within 12-months	An approved Report of Invention with McGill I+P; Protected intellectual property (patent application or copyright) A detailed budget for how you will use the funding A demonstrated ability to deliver your project as a spin-off or license A clearly defined target: market, audience, problem Business strategy / strategic plan to get to market
DEPLOY STAGE	Deliver a licensed technology for commercial purposes Grow a McGill spin-off Raise more capital The application must demonstrate: That the spinoff is an appropriate vehicle to bring the technology to market How this funding will enable the spinoff to: Begin commercialization Increase market share Go international Create bigger impact Or all of the above That your team is capable and willing to take the project to the next level That the funds would truly fill an essential funding gap needed for the spin-off to grow	A license agreement with McGill I+P based on a McGill Report of Invention; agreement must have been signed within the last 5 years A detailed budget for how you will use the funding Clear market potential to generate commercial returns Confirmed sales or a letter of intent from an interested client/partner/licensee Core team in place A 12-month action plan
CLEANTECH SUPPLEMENT	Teams in this category will make a second pitch to judges which will be evaluated based on two main factors: Potential for positive environmental impact Ability of the team to realize that impact

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