UCT Pre-Seed Fund

The UCT Pre-Seed Fund is provided by the University Research Committee and administered by RC&I. The Pre-Seed Fund has two levels of funding: the Explorer and the Concept Funds. These are available to UCT staff and students (supervised by a staff member)

Explorer grant funding of up to R20,000 is available for short-term projects typically up to 4 months in duration.
Fundable activities for the Explorer fund include:

• Building and refining prototypes.
• Preliminary primary market research.
• Accessing market reports (Secondary market research).
• Conducting detailed intellectual property assessments.
• Obtaining input and services from consultants, experts, or specialists.
• Production of market samples.
• Gathering information that will assist the development and writing of business plans.

Concept grant funding of up to R100,000 per project is available (larger amounts may be considered depending on special circumstances and motivation) for projects of up to 12 months in duration. Eligible activities include:

• Refining and implementing designs, building, and iterating prototypes.
• Verifying applications of the service or technological innovation.
• Conducting short-run field studies.
• Preparing technology demonstrations.
• Demonstrating proof-on-concept.
• Production of market validation samples.
• Certification and/or developing samples needed for regulatory approval.
• Piloting and scale-up.
• Technology development (development of a comprehensive technology package demonstrating aspects such as reproducibility, use of commercially available feedstock, raw materials, or parts).