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Having secured an impressive total of around 15 million euros in third-party funding and special funding from the Free State of Bavaria in 2024, researchers at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences are sending a strong signal of their innovative strength and academic excellence. Applied research also involves translating the insights and ideas gained into marketable products and processes. This is where the validation funding comes in, which was secured for the first time this year.
The aim of the funding is to systematically assess the market potential of promising scientific results and to make them commercially viable. The so-called Technology Readiness Level (TRL) plays a key role in this process. The aim is to advance the research results to the pilot trial stage (TRL5).
Funding for validation is provided through the HSMW Innovation Fund, which was set up specifically to support research projects with high commercialisation potential. The programme runs for four years (2025ā2028) and is funded by the Saxon State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport (SMWA) with a total of 1.35 million euros. The current call for proposals is the first of a maximum of two calls per year. The final call is expected to take place in 2027. The selection of validation projects is carried out by a transfer committee chaired by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research.
Two funding streams
The āLong-term Validation Projectsā (LVP) funding scheme is aimed at research projects with high innovation and market potential. Projects with a duration of up to 12 months can receive funding of up to 100,000 euros. Eligible costs include those for staff, materials, external services, equipment and the registration of the projectās own intellectual property rights. A market analysis must be included as a mandatory component of the project. The deadline for submitting project applications for this first call is 31 March 2025; projects may then commence between June 2025 and January 2026.
The āShort-Term Validation Projectsā (KVP) funding scheme supports smaller-scale validation measures aimed at rapid market readiness. Projects can receive funding of up to ā¬10,000 with flexible durations. Project applications may be submitted at any time. Eligible costs include materials, external services and the registration of the applicantās own intellectual property rights.
The Vice-Chancellor for Research, Professor Uwe Mahn, who is also the project leader for VIVA-SAX, is delighted that the project has been approved: āWith this validation funding, we have been given a tool for the targeted further development of promising research findings, which enables us to prepare these findings for commercial application and thus contribute to securing Saxonyās position as a business location.ā
Funded projects receive specialist support from the Saxeed start-up network and the HSMWās technology transfer office, including market and feasibility analyses. They also have access to business networks and funding programmes such as EXIST.
The contact person for applications and further information is Maria Rein in the Research Department
A summary of the funding programme and the application documents can be found at the following link: www.hs.mw/viva-sax
Text: Maria Rein, Annett Kober
; Photo collage: Annett Kober
