RCIPS Launches Pre-Seed Fund

RCIPS is pleased to announce the launch of the Pre-Seed Fund. Piet Barnard, Director RCIPS, mentioned that " the Pre-Seed Fund aims to provide hard-to-get financial support for early stage development of research projects coming out of UCT to better position them to access the next stages of funding in the innovation chain. Two levels of funding are available: R20,000 for short-term projects (Explorer) and up to R100,000 for 12-month projects (Concept). We expect that this funding will have a really positive impact on UCT's innovation activities ".

The Explorer applications can be submitted at any time of the year, whilst the first deadline for the Concept applications, which are accepted quarterly, is 15 April 2008.

The University Research Committee approved the creation of this new fund, recognising the fact that often moving UCT's technology into the market place is thwarted by the need for relatively modest levels of funding required to progress to the next step in the innovation chain. The Pre-Seed Fund will bridge this funding gap enabling other funding streams such as the Innovation Fund, Biotechnology Regional Innovation Centres ( BRICS ), IDC, venture capital, etc. to be accessed. Alternatively, it will enable more rounded technology packages to be developed that are in a better position to be licensed. Visit RCIPS Funding Innovation / Pre-Seed Fund to find out more about the funding criteria and to download application forms.