UC Ignition Fund Entry

Applications now Open
 

Email your entry to commercial@canterbury.ac.nz.

Entries close Friday 25th September 2026

Any questions, please contact Rebecca.Warr@canterbury.ac.nz.

Entry and Entrants’ Guide

Summary

UC’s Ignition Funding offers awards of $20,000 to each winner. There are three awards in total, with potential additional funding available via Kiwinet PreSeed Accelerator Funding for suitable and eligible projects.

Key Entry Dates:

UC Ignition Objectives:

The intention of the UC Ignition is:

·         Accelerate the translation of UC research into real-world impact by building strong, viable commercialisation pathways;

·         Strengthen innovation culture and capability across our research community.

Eligibility

Applicant/Applications

·         An individual/team can submit more than one application so long as applications are based on different innovations.

·         An individual must be a UC Researcher

·         A team can be lead by a UC Postgraduate Student with support from their supervisor.

·         The application must be based on a UC research project that has reached proof-of-concept stage and has the potential to drive economic impact. Proof-of-concept is a demonstration (eg: indicative data, experiment or results) that an idea is feasible. This is not a funding scheme to advance idea-stage.

·         Technologies that provide costs savings to a sector are in scope, but the application must be able to articulate the value of these cost savings and how these will be realised/technology implemented.

Funding

There is a total of three awards worth $20,000 each.

Winners should be ready to begin projects upon receipt of funding based on budget and timeline proposed in application and be committed to supporting the ongoing commercial development of their idea. 

Funding will be made available from December 2026 with the intent to utilise within 6 months of the agreed start date.

The funding must be used to support activities that advance the commercial development of the technology.  Examples of eligible expenses/activities:

·         Travel costs for performing commercial activities

·         Prototype development to the point where it is investor-ready

·         Outsourced development of an app

·         Casual employment of staff to assist with technical development

·         Market research, IP strategy development, commercialisation partner engagement (both local and offshore) and other activities associated with progressing a technology development towards investor readiness

·         Capital expenditure is not an eligible expense.

As this funding has been made available by the UC Foundation, there will be a small reporting requirement at the conclusion of the funding period.

Intellectual Property

The National IP Management Policy should not impact a researcher’s decision to participate. Should a project/researcher participate and be awarded prize money, this will not be considered as a disclosure which initiates the 90-day window or automatic acceptance that the University and researcher are collaborating on commercialisation. The researcher will maintain the option to explore all potential commercialisation pathways available to them.

Application Process

1.  Applications open on 31st July 2026

2. Applications close at 5 PM 25th September 2026. All applications must be submitted via email to commercial@canterbury.ac.nz

3. An R&I convened judging panel will meet to shortlist the proposals. The judging panel will consist of R&I staff with expertise in innovation and commercialisation.

4. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present a 5 minute presentation to a judging panel consisting of local innovation experts in mid-October 2026.  R&I will advise on the format of the presentation and will be available to assist with preparation.

5. Shortlisted application will be invited to present at a UC Innovation Showcase late-October 2026 to an audience of UC researchers, students and externals.

6. Winners will be announced at the Showcase to be held late October.

7. Applicants will be provided with feedback from the judging panel and R&I in terms of the potential next steps for the proposal if a commercial path is considered viable. 

We encourage all applicants to engage with R&I Commercialisation Team for support in preparing their proposal.

For assistance with the development of VM, please contact one of the Kaiārahi Rangahau Māori.