The first-ever McGill Innovation Fund (MIF) competition was held on December 9, 2021, with a total of nine winners in three different categories chosen from a pool of 26 applications. All applications were based on Reports of Invention registered through the Office of Innovation and Partnerships, as per the MIF rules.
Three judging panels of McGill alumni were activated to evaluate and select the winners through a comprehensive application process which included a written submission, preparation of a video and a live pitch.
Judges evaluated teams with a number of important considerations including the strength of the business case, the potential for the project to have a positive benefit on society, and how likely the team would be able to advance their project to the next level. After deliberations and discussions, the following teams were selected as the first recipients of the MIF:
In addition to the funding, each of the above teams will also be eligible to take part in the MIF Support Program, a comprehensive package of advice, mentoring, subsidized internships, and access to service providers that will help advance their projects to the next stage. Confirmed partners for the MIF are: Lavery Lawyers, Norton Rose Fulbright, Fasken, and the BDC. The MIF Support Program will last 12 months.
“I was so impressed by the quality and preparation of all the teams,” said Mark Weber, Director of Innovation and Partnerships, and de facto head of the MIF. “I would also thank all of the judges for their time and energy – they really helped make this a valuable process. I think all the teams, including those who were not selected, benefited from their expertise.”
Details on each of the winning teams can be found on the McGill Innovation Fund website, as well as short bios of the judges. In addition, more updates on each team will be made available on the website, as well as via social media.
During the planning and running of the MIF, interest in the fund among a broad variety of stakeholders – in particular, McGill alumni – was high. Likewise, response in the McGill research community was also positive. With these factors in mind, planning for the next edition of the MIF is already underway. Innovators and entrepreneurs are advised to stay tuned for more updates.
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Article courtesy of The McGill Reporter
Article courtesy of The McGill Reporter