Funding for new initiatives

► Proposals can be submitted until November 15th (Proposals for Initiatives with immediate impact will be evaluated on a rolling basis)

The new program DRIVE has been launched with the goal to support innovation initiatives from researchers and employees at the University of Zurich (UZH). The aim is to create more initiatives that contribute to sharpening the innovation profile of UZH and help build a more impactful innovation ecosystem.

DRIVE supports researchers and employees at UZH to launch new initiatives that strengthens specific innovation areas and promotes the translation of ideas from science to market. Initiatives build on the innovation potential existing in institutes and such that emerge through cross-disciplinary collaboration. The program supports both initiatives with immediate impact and those that contribute to sharpening UZH’s innovation profile long-term.

Activities may include but are not limited to:

Immediate impact

• Promote skills, build knowhow and create contacts to promote translation from research to market (through public-private partnerships or entrepreneurship)
• Facilitate ideation, co-creation and open innovation with/without external actors
• Create communities for peer-learning, ideation, exchange of best-practice and contacts
• Develop mentoring and coaching programs in the context of innovation and entrepreneurship

Long-term impact

• Building sustainable structures such as Innovation Cluster

Researchers and employees whose employment at UZH extends over the duration of the project are eligible to apply for this call. The proposal may suggest cooperation with external partner institutions. In these cases, an appropriate financial participation of the partner institution is declared.

• The proposal resonates with the Innovation Hub‘s mission and the new activities will contribute to one or more of the four pillars „inspire, build, empower, nurture". (see Annual report)
• The activities proposed are new at UZH and innovative in its approach
• The activities fit within the existing ecosystem (relevant initiatives and activities are mentioned) and use potential synergies
• The planned activities address an audience spanning more than one faculty and will have expected interest from representatives from industry, politics and/or the startup ecosystem
• The proposal convincingly describes how the provided activities will create impact

Additional criteria for new Innovation Cluster

• The proposal clearly outlines the sustainable, structural added value that can be achieved by the initiative
• The strategic innovation area proposed relies on excellent research activities with high potential for translation, is future oriented and relevant for the society and/or industry

There are two procedure for the submission and selection of proposals:

1) Apply in the annual call for proposals with long-term impact and a budget exceeding CHF 20’000 . These proposals will be processed according to the following procedure:

• Deadline for application submission is November 15, 2024 at 12:00 p.m
• The decision on the applications will be communicated in January 2025
• Projects must start no later than May 2025

2) Proposals for activities with immediate impact and a budget below CHF 20’000 can be submitted any time and can expect to receive feedback within 6 weeks after submission.

Applicants may ask for CHF 5‘000 – 40‘000 per year with a project duration of up to two years. Larger proposals may apply for one year extension.

• The funding may be used to cover costs of personnel, materials and subcontracting
• The funding is transfered yearly and can only be spent in the designated year
• No funding will be given for coordination only
• The funding does not come with FTEs
• It is expected that the applicant co-finance the initiative with own funds from institutes, sponsors, partner institutions etc.

Applicants may submit their proposals in English or German on the grants platform.

The full proposal include:

• Filled application form
• Upload document: Description of work (project plan and timeline) project plan template (DOCX, 72 KB)
• Upload document: Budget (including other funding sources) budget template (XLSX, 203 KB)
• Upload document: Applicant CV

Applicants can reach out to the Innovation Hub Office for advice on their proposals before they apply. Activities supported within this call will be promoted for visibility on the Hub communication channels (the project lead is responsible for the creation of content).