Application process
All the details you need to apply for a Gina Cody Innovation Fund.
Eligibility
- All students currently enrolled in the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science are eligible to apply.
- Teams that proceed to phase 2 must have at least one member who is a current Gina Cody School student.
- If external co-applicants are included in the application, they are required to support their activities through their own funding.
- Multi-disciplinary teams with complementary skills and backgrounds are strongly encouraged.
- Diverse teams that include members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.
- Faculty members, staff members and external parties may serve as advisors to teams, but are not entitled to use monies from the Gina Cody School Student Innovation Fund.
- Teams that are recipients of other sources of funding for their innovation (e.g., research grants or contracts) are not eligible.
Evaluation criteria
The submitted dossiers will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Innovation potential
- Feasibility
- Market and competition knowledge
- Business and financial model
- Team fit and qualifications
- Growth potential
Teams will be called in for an interview/presentation with the selection committee to discuss their innovation before a final decision is made.
Selection commitee
The Associate Dean, Research and Innovation, and Associate Dean, Academic Programs, will appoint a judging panel composed of seasoned multidisciplinary, academic and industry experts to select the winning projects.
Program phases
Phase 1 - Seed program
Duration: 3 months
The goals of phase 1 are to enable teams to:
- Focus on technology development and research related to their innovative idea
- Identify a potential market for the developed innovation
- Help teams to provide proof of the usefulness of the developed innovation
- Provide mentorship and advice from seasoned experts on technology, intellectual property, marketing, finance and business development
Teams participating in the Seed program are expected to be at the early stages of their innovation.
Selected phase 1 projects will be provided with funding up to $10,000 for 3 months.
Phase 2 - Maturation program
Duration: 12 months
Teams that complete phase 1 will be invited to pitch their projects to a Judging Panel composed of experts.
The goals of phase 2 are to:
- Develop a working prototype of the innovation
- Identify a product market fit
- Work with mentors in the industries in which the teams hope to compete
- Secure initial clients for the innovation
Winning projects will be provided with funding up to $50,000 for 1 year to further mature their innovation.
Application submission
Teams must complete the Gina Cody School Innovation Fund Project Plan, which includes the following information:
- Names and contact information of all team members
- Project name
- Problem statement
- Value proposition
- Customers, beneficiaries or stakeholders
- Market and competition knowledge
- Business and financial model
- Description of the team
