TUD|excite is organizing the TIP funding competition, in which scientists at TU Dresden can apply - short and simple - for funds from the validation funding.

We are looking for projects that aim to directly exploit and commercialize existing research results.

The selected projects can receive funding of up to 90 thousand euros over a maximum project duration of 12 months.

Scientists from TU Dresden can participate in the TIP funding competition, either as individuals or as a team. Although cooperation partners outside TU Dresden are explicitly welcome, they cannot apply for funding.

The application and proposal process consists of three elements: the short application, a half-day workshop and a presentation to the jury.

The evaluation of the projects is based on the following points:

• new or novel technology, processes, products, etc.
• Proof of principle
• IP situation
• Customers, users, markets
• Advantages, unique selling points, customer benefits

The first three winners of the TIP funding competition can then start the funded project immediately.

To participate in the TIP funding competition, a short application must be submitted by June 23, 2024.

The application in pdf format should be sent to the following e-mail address:

Download pdf short application

The application as a video is to be submitted by sending a download link (datashare) to e-mail:

Download pdf instructions video

An interactive workshop for applicants will take place on 27.06.2024 from 15.00 - 18.00. Here you will receive tips and advice from the innovation managers on exploitation strategies and transfer aspects of your project proposal. You can also prepare and practice your presentation in front of the jury with an experienced pitch trainer.

A digital information event will take place on June 4, 2024 at 3 p . m., where questions about the competition and applications will be answered. The link for personal participation in the information event will be sent by e-mail after registration.

The presentation to a jury of experts will take place on 04.07.2024. The applicants will present their planned project in a five-minute presentation. The jury will evaluate the presentations and decide on the placings. The jury will - presumably - consist of the following persons Dr. Oshin Behl (Innovation Manager, ZEISS Innovation Hub), Dr. Margarita Wucherer-Plietker (VON ARDENNE GmbH), Dr. Björn Wolf (Managing Director, HZDR Innovation GmbH, Prof. Niels Modler (TU Dresden).

The jury decides on the placement and direct project funding according to the following criteria:

• Description of the technology, process, etc. to be validated
• Proof of principle
• IP situation
• Customers, users, markets
• Advantages, unique selling points, customer benefits

In a short competitive procedure, you can receive attractive funding for a validation/transfer project with which you can further develop your research results, find application partners and thus acquire further contract or cooperative research projects. You can also train in a workshop to present your research topics and results to a specialist audience from science and industry.

Project funding should be used for research and transfer projects whose results have a clear transfer and application perspective outside the research and university sector. What these are or can be should be described in the application for funding.

Funding can be provided for

• Personnel costs
• external services
• consulting costs
• material costs
• Equipment costs
• Property right costs

IP (Intellectual Property) refers to intellectual property. This can either be research results that are actively protected, e.g. by patents, or research results that have not yet been widely and comprehensively published. Protection or non-public status is usually a prerequisite for subsequent commercial use.

The type of protected or non-public research results can be diverse and include, for example, methods, processes, technologies, chemical, physical or biological materials; models, software, algorithms, data sets, blueprints, active ingredients or formulations.

The scope of the IP is not predetermined; even a narrow IP basis can be promising. In this case, you should explain in the application whether and how the project aims to obtain further IP or why the narrow IP basis is essential for a later commercial application.

If only unprotected or published IP (e.g. open source software) is available, the application should describe in detail what a commercial business model using the research results could look like and how the TUD can generate financial returns from it.

With regard to the IP, it is also a prerequisite that TU Dresden either has the sole rights to the IP or, in the case of shared rights, that the other rights holder(s) have given their consent to the commercial exploitation planned after the funded project.

Participation in the half-day workshop is mandatory. If a team of e.g. four people applies, it is sufficient if two of them take part in the workshop. These two do not necessarily have to be the people from the application team who will then present the planned project to the jury.

Die Teilnahme am halbtägigen Workshop ist obligatorisch. Wenn sich ein Team von z.B. vier Personen bewirbt, ist es ausreichend, wenn zwei davon am Workshop teilnehmen. Diese zwei müssen nicht zwangsläufig die Personen aus dem Bewerbungsteam sein, die dann das geplante Projekt vor der Jury präsentieren.

Yes, projects that do not reach one of the first three places in the competition can still be funded by the TUD Innovation Pool. However, their funding and a possible start depend on the funds available in the TIP. In addition, the comments from the jury must be incorporated into a revised, detailed project outline, which will be re-evaluated using the usual criteria for transfer and validation projects (see info sheet TUD Innovation Pool / Validation Funding).