Validation fund of the University of Münster

Background

The Validation Fund of the University of Münster promotes the further development of inventions or tech-based ideas resulting from basic research conducted at the University of Münster and which are eligible for patent protection.

Inventions and technological discoveries often come ahead of their time. This means that many companies are frequently reluctant to risk investing in a new product or process before obtaining a proof of concept (basic feasibility). As a result, this prevents businesses and society from taking advantage of the economic potential of many such research findings.

To address this situation, the University of Münster has launched an internal programme to promote validation and is chiefly devoted to increasing the feasibility and applicability of inventions created at the University of Münster. This improves the chances of commercialising them through licensing, sale or spin-off. Projects with high market potential are supported in order to advance inventions as quickly as possible.

The aim of the Validation Fund is to avert the ‘Death Valley of Innovation’ by pursuing marketability when developing inventions or technology-based ideas from basic research. The funds can be used for personnel costs and material resources.

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The disbursement of funding is linked to achieving certain milestones during the implementation of predefined work modules. These milestones include initiating industrial cooperation or establishing contact with potential users of the technology and, in particular, submitting an application for follow-up funding. The funded researchers are supported by the patent officers of the Innovation Office (AFO) at the University of Münster (Dept. 6.5).

To join the programme, researchers must present a promising, patentable result from their basic research. In addition, the researchers involved must demonstrate their motivation to commit themselves to subsequent commercialisation by establishing a corporate partnership or spin-off.

In the case of start-up projects based on the intellectual property (IP) developed at the University of Münster, users are supported by the REACH EUREGIO Start-up Centre at the University of Münster. As a central platform for knowledge- and technology-based start-ups, REACH accompanies those interested in founding a company at the University of Münster on their way from the idea to a successful spin-off. The REACH Start-up programme consists of individual coaching, start-up-related workshops, inspiring events and networking activities. REACH also provides application support for such funding programmes as EXIST Transfer of Research and GO-Bio. For IP-based start-up projects at the University of Münster, the guidelines for entrepreneurs [de] are available along with information on the process of transferring IP to the start-up.

Application process, requirements and selection criteria

If you intend to apply for funding, we recommend that you contact Janita Tönnissen from the Innovation Office at the University of Münster (Dept. 6.5) well in advance.

All researchers at the University of Münster are eligible to apply. An invention disclosure must have already been received for the invention in question and assessed by the patent marketing agency PROvendis GmbH as patentable and promising in terms of commercial exploitability or social utilisation. The invention need not have already been registered with the Patent Office.

The researcher is required to observed and experimentally describe the functional principle of the invention, for which funding is being requested. The maturity level of the technology should therefore be at least TRL 2, i.e. ‘technology readiness level 2 (technology concept formulated). This means that the maturity level of the invention’s technology is still unattractive for direct exploitation by a company.

The essential requirements for funding include:

  • potentially patentable invention in accordance with § 1 (1) Patent Act [PatG]: Novelty, based on an inventive step, industrial applicability
  • high potential for innovation and social or economic utilisation
  • ‘freedom to operate’ with respect to third-party rights or contractual obligations
  • convincing concept for further developing the invention towards marketability
  • willingness to submit funding applications to further develop the invention during the funding period, if necessary
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Deadlines

Applicants must submit the final version of their applications to the coordinating institution by the specified deadline via in-house mail: Janita Tönnissen, Innovation Office (AFO), Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 48149 Münster.