Funding Opportunities

Early Demonstration Seed Fund – OPEN

Description:

The Demonstration Seed Fund provides an opportunity for researchers to advance the application of an astroparticle physics derived technology to the solution of a practical problem outside of research. Applications are made to one topic under the “Technology Demonstration” or the “Technology-Transfer Due-Diligence” tier of the EDF Program. A successful applicant for one of the tiers is elgible to apply to the other tier upon successful conclusion of a funded project. Application tiers include: 

TIER A: TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION: 

• Proof of Concept (Technology Readiness Level of 2 or 3) in which a practical technology idea has been conceived and designed, and is put to a level of testing that validates the core principles of operation. Up to $20,000. 

• Early Demonstration (Technology Readiness Level of 4 or 5) in which the core principles of operation have been validated in a controlled test, but the technology has not been prototyped in full (all components integrated) and the desired operational function has not yet been demonstrated to be repeatable. Up to $25,000. 

• Late Demonstration (Technology Readiness Level of 6 or 7) in which a fully integrated prototype (not necessarily full design specification) is demonstrated in a model operating environment (i.e., bench testing). Up to $30,000. 

TIER B: TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER DUE-DILIGENCE: 

• Prior Art Search or Technical Feasibility Assessment (any TRL) supporting an applicant’s previously disclosed Forward Intellectual Property under the applicant’s control and that has been either been legally waived by the host institution where the invention was made, or whose option for co-ownership by the host institution has expired. Funds may be used to reimburse expenses of a registered Canadian university intellectual property office to conduct searches of relevant prior art, or technical feasibility assessments of inventor-only owned and non-optioned forward intellectual property. Up to $5,000. 

• Venture Model Validation (any TRL) supporting an applicant’s efforts to engage one or more entrepreneurs in mapping a path toward a scalable and sustainable venture opportunity. Reimbursements for travel costs, data licenses, and non-disclosure agreement processing. Up to $1,000 for structured venture-modelling costs (Lean Model Canvass); renewable with up to an additional $2,500 to support early adopter engagement and product-market-fit testing.