New funds to strengthen innovation projects
Ingrid Ajaxon, innovation advisor, presents enhanced funding opportunities for the development and demonstration of proof of concept for innovative ideas from both researchers and students at the university. Photo: Sara Gredemark.
Hello there Ingrid Ajaxon, innovation advisor and responsible for the VFT proof of concept funding programme at Uppsala University, which has received new funds from Vinnova to strengthen researchers' opportunities to successfully commercialise research results.
What are these so-called VFT funds for?
“The VFT funds enable activities that cannot normally be financed with research funds, but which are important for minimising risks at an early stage and strengthening the potential of innovative ideas and research results. This may involve activities such as investigating whether there is a need for the idea, identifying possible competitors or partners, mapping interesting areas of application or analysing regulatory requirements and protecting intellectual property through, for example, patents.”
Since 2018, around SEK 4,5 million per year has been granted to a total of about 150 innovation projects at the university. Can you provide examples of the impacts in projects that have received VFT funding?
“Just over a third of the projects have formed companies to take their ideas to the market. A number of projects have licensed new technologies and intellectual property to external parties, and some have succeeded in transferring and implementing their innovative solutions in existing businesses. The VFT funding creates a strong momentum in the projects at an early stage, which can ultimately lead to these positive outcomes. But I also want to emphasise that with the help of these resources, you can obtain information that provides a reason to shift the focus of the idea or to entirely discontinue the project. This is valuable as well because one should not invest time in developing something that won't succeed in the end.”
This year, Uppsala University received an allocation of VFT funds that was among the highest of all Swedish universities that applied. What accounts for this achievement?
"We were able to systematically report on the use and outcome of VFT funding in recent years. The growing interest in commercialisation, a greater influx of new ideas and the university's significant potential to address societal challenges were clearly a winning combination. Vinnova also assessed such things as the innovation offices' working methods and collaboration with surrounding actors, as well as the advisors' competence and experience. We are very pleased with the outcome of our application as it signifies strengthened opportunities for idea development and innovation for the university's researchers and students.”
A new aspect for 2024 is that Vinnova has placed a specific emphasis on so-called deeptech, referring to groundbreaking technology that requires intensive research and development, with a lengthy and costly journey from idea to market. What does this concretely mean for researchers' opportunities to apply for VFT funding?
The innovation offices are set to strengthen and deepen their support specifically for deeptech, meaning that this type of innovation project can be allocated larger amounts, as they often require more extensive verification activities to progress. But as in previous years, VFT funding is available for all types of ideas and research results that are deemed to have key issues that need to be investigated to bring the project closer to commercialisation or other forms of utilisation.”
How can researchers access VFT funding to develop their ideas?
“Contact UU Innovation! You apply for VFT funding incrementally for specific activities, always in collaboration with an innovation advisor. As innovation advisors, our initial step is to grasp your idea and understand what is necessary to take the next steps. If seeking VFT funding becomes relevant, we will assist you and also manage communication with the external consultants hired for the assignment. Naturally, you will also receive help in using the information provided by the consultants to advance in your project.”
Sara Gredemark
Funding to test your idea
UU Innovation operates Vinnova's VFT proof of concept funding programme at Uppsala University. Through the programme, funding can be offered in stages of up to SEK 300,000 per project. Innovation projects in deeptech can apply for larger funding.
Since 2018, a total of SEK 22 million from the VFT programme has funded nearly 350 verification activities in about 150 innovation projects at Uppsala University.
VFT funds cannot be used for research and are not transferred to the researcher. Decisions on funding within the programme are made every two weeks.
The first step when you have a research result that you think could be useful outside academia is to book a meeting with UU Innovation. Together you will find out how your idea needs to be developed to go from an exciting research result to a practical solution, and how VFT funding can be used to promote development.