Prototyping Grant: From Research to Impact

Prototyping grants can be applied for by all scientific staff or research assistants at the University of Bonn (including UKB).

Applications for prototyping projects that have previously been rejected for public funding, e.g., VIP+ or EXIST grants, are explicitly welcome.

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Individuals who have already received a prototyping grant for a specific project are excluded from receiving further funding for the same project.
• Projects that are or have been supported by other funding instruments on the date of application are excluded.
• Companies that have already been founded are excluded from funding.

The Transfer Center team will advise you before and during the application process. Take advantage of our expertise and contact Dr. Alexander Küsshauer (ph: +49 (0)228 / 73-62026; kuesshauer@verwaltung.uni-bonn.de).

The process consists of several steps. The following must be submitted:

• Project outline, maximum 2 pages (please use the template available for download on the homepage). The project outline does not require binding cost estimates; a rough cost estimate is sufficient.
• Submit the outline via the web application portal linked above. Applications may be submitted in English.

If the evaluation is positive:

• Read Deck, maximum 10 slides (please use the template available for download on the homepage). This should include official price quotations already obtained for planned subcontracts. These cost estimates from service providers must be enclosed with the application.

The application process consists of several stages in order to review the focus of the projects, their market relevance, and their start-up prospects at an early stage.

• In the first stage of the process, project outlines must be submitted to the Transfer Center in digital form in German or English. The project outline must not exceed two pages in length. The specified template must be used for the project outline.
• Only after the project outline has been positively evaluated by the Transfer Center enaCom, an invitation to participate in the next application phase will be issued. In this phase, applicants are invited to a half-day in-person workshop at the Transfer Center enaCom. Participation in the workshop is a mandatory part of the application process. The workshop focuses in particular on understanding the underlying problem, defining the customer segment, initial considerations regarding revenue logic, and the administrative framework conditions for funding. This phase serves to further prepare the proposal.
• For the final funding application, three structured interviews with potential customers must be conducted. The aim of the interviews is to validate the problem and customers in a structured manner, as taught in the workshop, particularly with regard to actual problems, existing solutions, relevant usage contexts, and the derivation of specific requirements for the prototype to be developed. The Transfer Center enaCom provides advice on this matter.
• The application must be submitted in the form of a read deck. The read deck may not exceed a maximum of ten slides; the template provided must be used for this purpose. The planned expenses must be quantified in concrete terms and substantiated by indicative price quotations or cost estimates.
• The read deck must be presented by the application team in a personal pitch to a jury. The funding decision will be made on the basis of the application documents submitted and the presentation.

When allocating funds, the following aspects in particular will be evaluated:

1. Innovative content of the project based on research results from the University of Bonn/UKB
2. Evaluation of the applicants' start-up intentions, including their vision for the market launch of the product or service, as well as their motivation and commitment to the start-up project
3. Realistic prospects for a spin-off within one to two years after the end of funding
4. Necessity and appropriateness of the funds
5. Comprehensibility of the work and financing plan

1. Funding amount: up to €20,000 per project.

2. Increase: up to €5,000: If, during the funding period, direct market or customer feedback indicates a justified need to adapt or expand the prototype, the funding can be increased by up to an additional €5,000. This requires an application for an increase. The Transfer Center enaCom will decide on this application. There is no legal entitlement to the increase in funding.

3. Funding period: six months. The clearly limited funding period has been deliberately chosen to enable rapid learning progress and ensure early market interaction. In justified exceptions, the funding period can be extended upon request. An extension requires the approval of the Transfer Center; there is no legal entitlement to this. Unspent funds expire at the end of the funding period.

4. The funds are tied to the funding of science-based and innovative start-up ideas or projects from the University of Bonn (excluding companies that have already been founded and projects that are funded elsewhere (e.g. Go-Bio Initial, EXIST start-up grant). Persons who have already received the prototyping grant for a specific project are excluded from receiving further funding for the same project.

5. Research projects are not eligible for funding.

6. The aim of the funding is to further develop innovative projects from the scientific community towards marketability. The funding is linked to the expectation that, based on the project results, a spin-off will be sought within one to two years after the end of the funding period. The funding is intended to help prepare projects in such a way that they are fundamentally compatible with further start-up funding programs (e.g. EXIST start-up grant or EXIST research transfer). The expenditure of the funds is tied to the funding period.

The funds can be used for:

1. Consumables (material resources)
2. Subcontracts (in compliance with the procurement guidelines of the University of Bonn or UKB)

The funds may NOT be used for:

1. No funding of personnel costs
2. No funding of work equipment (e.g., laptop, smartphone, tablet)
3. No possibility of planning and spending other third-party funds for the term of the prototyping project at the same time (exclusion of unauthorized double funding); the exclusion must be confirmed in writing.

1. Within the first three weeks after approval, you are required to attend a consultation with the start-up advisory team at the Transfer Center enaCom (kick-off prototyping grant). During this meeting, the counselling plan for the funding period will be determined.
2. During the funding period, participation in mandatory enaCom start-up events (e.g., workshops, information sessions, start-up get-togethers) is required. This comprises a total of 25 hours, with at least one person from the team required to participate. In justified cases, external events and workshops may also be credited, but only after prior consultation with and approval by enaCom.
3. The funded teams must submit a final report six weeks after the end of the funding period, which includes the originally submitted work plan, an evaluation of the goals achieved, and an outlook on the start-up foundation.
4. The funded teams undertake to act as role models and to provide testimonials for the enaCom website. They must also be available for events on a case-by-case basis.

Changes to the financing plan before or during the funding period require the prior written digital approval of the Transfer Center enaCom.