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´¡±è±è±ô¾±³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýLate 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.

Lead Applicant: Any ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ tenure-track professors working on a technologically-based invention with business or social impact potential. Cannot hold another Engine gap funding grant (WRSA, Baylis Health Care Grant, Innovation Fellowship) for the same invention at the same time as this project grant. Team collaborators can be students and/or professors.

±õ²Ô±¹±ð²Ô³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýThe technology must be reported as an invention to ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ's Office of Innovation and Partnerships. Your Technology Transfer Manager’s confirmation on your project proposal along with their assessment and commercialization plan will need to be included in this grant application. Only one grant per invention/technology is allowed. Minimum TRL3.

Project °Õ¾±³¾±ð±ô¾±²Ô±ð:ÌýProjects can last up to 6 months maximum, projects can be completed earlier.

Project Expenses: Applicants must use the funds to advance the technology in accordance with their project technical milestones within the 6-month program duration. The ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ Engine team can make recommendations for changes to the budget and uses of funds that are required for the acceptance and funding of the project. Once 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.

• Eligible Expenses:
  • Product and process development costs towards achieving technical milestones (e.g., personnel, materials, equipment).
• Non-Eligible Expenses:
  • Costs related to non-technical milestones
    • 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. 

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 will need to attach the following documents in the application form.

techaccelr_spring_2026_application_project_proposal.docx

techaccelr_spring_2026_project_budget_by_milestones.xlsx

TechAccelR grants are available biannually (Spring and Fall). 

°Õ¾±³¾±ð±ô¾±²Ô±ð:ÌýTeams have up to 6 months maximum to complete 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. For PIs not in the Faculty of Engineering, you will need to contact your unit’s finance officer to help you request a new fund. Once 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 and final reports 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. You may also be asked to provide a report/printout of your fund transactions related to this project.

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

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 suggested by mentor.

Outreach Activities: Willingness to assist the ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ Engine in outreach activities pertaining to technological innovation and entrepreneurship.

Promotion: Acknowledgement and promotion of the award and the ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ 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 ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ Engine does not take equity in ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ spin-off companies. The participating researchers will make a non-binding charitable pledge to ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ Engine aimed at sustaining the activities of the ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ Engine Centre and helping the next generation of technological innovators and entrepreneurs that the Centre supports.