Chwang Seto Innovation Fellowships Program

• Application: Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed. You can send your draft application for review prior to the deadline to the Engine's associate director, katya.marc [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Draft%20Innovation%20Fellowship%20Application%20Review) or to one of the Ronald Chwang Entrepreneurs-in-Residence.Ìý Your Technology Transfer Manager (TTM) co-writes the project proposals with the lead applicant so PIs need to discuss with their TTM well in advance of proposal submission deadlines.ÌýSuccessful applications demonstrate in a concise manner how the funds have a meaningful impact on commercialization advancement of their technology.Ìý

  An application to be considered complete, it must include:

  • Submitted online application form, including the confirmation of the proposal review and contribution by the TTM, and lead applicant's assessment on the Innovation Readiness Level indicators;
  • Completed proposal;
  • Completed budget form;
  • Completed presentation slide deck

• Lead Applicant: Any 91ºÚÁÏÍø tenure-track professor who is co-inventor on an active report of invention(s) that is being further developed under the proposed project, and that is backed by the 91ºÚÁÏÍø’s Innovation and Partnerships office, I+P. You cannot hold an Engine gap funding grant (TechAccelR, Baylis Health Care Grant,ÌýWRSA) for the same invention at the same time as this project grant.

• °ä´Ç-´¡±è±è±ô¾±³¦²¹²Ô³Ù:ÌýCurrent postdoc or future postdoc at 91ºÚÁÏÍø or a current 91ºÚÁÏÍø PhD student who has successfully defended their thesis at 91ºÚÁÏÍø by the time of the award.Ìý Preference will be given to the student that is a co-inventor and has the drive to commercialize the invention in order to create value.

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  • The technology must be reported as an invention to 91ºÚÁÏÍø's Innovation and Partnerships office, I&P.Ìý

  • In the project proposal, your TTM must co-write it with you since the commercialization potential and plan must be clearly explained.

  • Technology not yet optioned nor licensed nor assigned to third party (except for 91ºÚÁÏÍø spinoffs). Minimum TRL4.

• Project °Õ¾±³¾±ð±ô¾±²Ô±ð:ÌýProjects can last up to 12 months maximum.Ìý The start date is May 1, 2026.

• Project Expenses: At least 80% of the grant must go towards the salary for the eligible postdoc or PhD student to work full-time on the project.
  A maximum of 20% can be spent on product and process development costs towards achieving technical milestones (e.g., materials, other personnel salaries).

  • Eligible Expenses:
    • stipend/salary + benefits for the eligible PhD student or postdoc
    • product and process development costs (e.g. personnel, materials, small equipment)
  • Non-Eligible Expenses:
    • publication costs
    • patent fees
    • incorporation fees
    • travel costs 

• Applications will be judged and ranked according to the following criteria: problem and commercial applications, proposed solution, prospective competitive advantages, technical feasibility, commercialization potential.Ìý

  Each section of the application is scored as follows: 

  5 – Excellent The applicant has included all of the required information and has made a very convincing argument/answer to question.
  4 – Above Average The applicant has included all of the required information and has made a reasonable argument/answer to question.
  3 – Good The applicant has included most of the required information and has made a fair argument/answer to question.
  2 – Fair The applicant has provided most of the required information but has not made a fair argument/answer to question.
  1 – Poor The applicant has not provided enough of the required information to make a fair argument/answer to question.

• Applicants need to attach the following documents in the .

  • chwang_seto_innovation_fellowship_spring_2026_application_project_proposal.docx

  • chwang_seto_innovation_fellowship_spring_2026_project_budget_by_milestones.xlsx

  • Presentation slide deck following the Presentation Guidelines

Selected applicants will need to make a 10 minute presentation to the Review Committee.

• Chwang Seto Innovation Fellowship grants are available biannually (Fall and Spring applications).Ìý

• °Õ¾±³¾±ð±ô¾±²Ô±ð:ÌýThe Chwang Seto Innovation Fellow has up to 12 months to work full-time on completing their project milestones and deliverables. Unused funds will need to be returned.

• Award: The award will be dispersed into a new account under the PI.ÌýFor PIs not in the Faculty of Engineering, you will need to contact your unit’s finance officer to help you request a new fund.ÌýOnce the grant is awarded, if your milestones and project expenses change significantly from what was in your project proposal (e.g. greater than 10% on any allowed budget item), you must discuss with your mentor and provide the revised milestone(s) and budget to Engine's Associate Director for approval.

• Reporting: Mid-term report,Ìýfinal report and presentation are due to the Engine's associate director and the team's assigned mentor showing the project’s current status, status of IP, commercialization and development plan progress/next steps, and the use of funds. In addition, self-assessment questionnaires and program evaluation feedback will be required.Ìý

• ±Ê²¹°ù³Ù¾±³¦¾±±è²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýParticipate in surveys and requests for feedback in connection with the procedures and services provided by the 91ºÚÁÏÍø Engine, with the aim of collaborating in the continuous development of its global offer, research commercialization support, and student experience.Ìý

• Mentorship & Training: Meet with assigned business mentor on a regular basis throughout the program (minimum once per month). Attend Engine's entrepreneurial skills development workshops or other entrepreneurial training as appropriate and as suggested by mentor.

• Outreach Activities: Willingness to assist the 91ºÚÁÏÍø Engine in outreach activities pertaining to technological innovation and entrepreneurship.

• Promotion: Acknowledgement and promotion of the program and the 91ºÚÁÏÍø Engine in publications and communications arising from the project through your own networks and events.

• Consent: Consent to the publication of your picture, name, as well as pictures and names of co-applicants, the title of the project, and amount of funding.

• Giving back: The 91ºÚÁÏÍø Engine does not take equity in 91ºÚÁÏÍø spinoff companies. There is an expectation, but no requirement, that participating researchers will make a non-binding charitable pledge to 91ºÚÁÏÍø Engine aimed at sustaining the activities of the 91ºÚÁÏÍø Engine Centre and helping the next generation of technological innovators and entrepreneurs that the Centre supports.ÌýFunding is not conditional on a researcher signing a pledge.