Supporting universities and colleges in the creation of innovative companies – Win4SpinOff

The sponsor is:

• a university department;
• a college department or a research centre linked to a college.

The support consists of granting subsidies that are 100% financed by the administration.

The budget includes:

1. the researcher's full remuneration;
2. a lump-sum amount of €20,000 for the department’s operating costs;
3. a sum of €5,000 for external consultancy fees, which pertain to legal or financial support for the establishment of a business plan;
4. a sum of €2,500 for training fees in subjects relating to company management and creation;
5. a lump-sum amount representing 15 % of items a) and b) for the department’s management costs.

The agreement lasts for two years, with a possible extension of one year after the application is evaluated.

Candidates make contact with the university's interface or promotional department  if the sponsor is a university department, or with SYNHERA if the sponsor is a college department. Projects are submitted via the ONTIME platform in the form of a declaration of intent (DI) by an expert in institutional development. The submission of the project involves three successive stages:

1. the declaration of intent (DI);
2. Win4SpinOff;
3. business development.

Target audience – Eligibility criteria

A proposal is eligible if the following elements are all answered in the affirmative:

• The sponsor originates from a university or college;
• Upon submitting the project, the sponsor must have fulfilled all their administrative obligations to the region;
• The application is submitted in the name of the rector of the university or the director/president of the college and the director of SYNHERA, where applicable;
• The research cannot have already received public funding

Assessment criteria and project selection

Projects are assessed in accordance with the legal basis. Each of the criteria defined in the decree has its own maximum score:

• Article 38: The innovative nature of the project (rating/20)
• Article 45/46: Excellence and experience (rating/10)
• Articles 39 and 45/46: The quality, feasibility and relevance of the project (rating/20)
• Article 40 – 43/1: The promotion of innovation (rating/40)
• Article 41: The contribution to sustainable development (rating/10)

Other conditions

• The researcher must be identified when the project is submitted.
• They must hold a long teaching diploma;
• They have a full-time contract for the Win4SpinOff project;
• They must not have benefited from a FIRST Spin-off Win4SpinOff contract in the past.
• They may not be replaced during the mandate (including any extension).
• The project is overseen by a Monitoring Committee.