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Proof of Concept Fund
CommercialiSE links university knowledge with business expertise in the South East to deliver an integrated framework of funding
and support.
Academics, university staff, students, alumni, SME’s and entrepreneurs can turn innovative ideas into commercial reality through:
• Proof of Concept Funding for early stage business ideas with commercial potential
• A Seed Fund for proven products/services with evidence of market demand
• Business Training to gain commercialisation skills
• Mentoring for independent business advice
• An Executives Register for access to experienced and skilled business experts
CommercialiSE Fellows:
academics, students,
alumni,
entrepreneurs and
SMEs exploiting
the HEI knowledge
base
Market intelligence
and access
Commercialisation
training
Proof of Concept
Fund A unified funding escalator:
Seed
Fund
supporting and accelerating a continuous pipeline of ideas
Licences,
Spinouts,
JVs
Commercially
successful
products and
services
Wealth of UK
society (GVA)
HEI Technology /
knowledge
Mentors, executives
and business support
Who is it for?
Academics, university staff, students, alumni, SME’s and entrepreneurs based in the South East region with an innovative idea that they
want to turn into commercial reality.
CommercialiSE Proof of Concept Funding
Through the CommercialiSE framework, the proof of concept fund provides funds from £5,000 to £50,000 to innovators who have a
novel idea that they want to exploit commercially. The fund operates as a contingently repayable award.
The CommercialiSE proof of concept fund will typically recover its investment via repayments based on revenues generated through
the successful commercialisation or exploitation of the innovation. Projects or IPR that fail to be commercially exploited will not be
required to repay the award.
The proof of concept fund can cover costs for activities which will prove your technology and assess the commercial potential.
The project should take the concept to the point where it is capable of attracting customers, external funding or a commercial partner.
Successful applicants to the proof of concept fund will be eligible to participate in the CommercialiSE framework which provides a
comprehensive programme of support and development.
The CommercialiSE Proof of Concept Fund and Seed Fund are administered and managed by Finance South East.
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Proof of Concept Fund
Investment criteria
• Commercial potential of the idea
• Drive and commitment of the individuals involved
• Novelty and innovation
• Intellectual property status / barriers to entry
• Stage of development of the technology
• Stage of the market - market development of existing products is not eligible
• A realistic project plan which shows that the proof of concept stage can be completed within 18 months
• The innovation must be capable of commercialisation within 24 months from the start of the funding
In the first instance, please contact your Business Development or Technology Transfer Office for further information. Contact details for
your HEI and further information may be found at www.commercialise.org.uk.
If you wish to discuss your application with Finance South East please contact Martin Carruthers on 01344 758 548 or via email
[email protected].
CommercialiSE is primarily funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and is a collaborative partnership between
eleven universities: Brighton, Buckinghamshire Chilterns, Chichester, Cranfield, Greenwich, Kent, Kingston, Oxford Brookes,
Portsmouth, Reading and Sussex.
For more information visit the website: www.commercialise.org.uk
www.commercialise.org.uk