Proof of Concept Grant in Life Science

Eligible to apply are scientists that are employed at a Swedish University and have or have had grants from the Wallenberg foundations:

• Wallenberg Academy Fellows
• Wallenberg Scholars
• Wallenberg Clinical Scholars
• PI and Co PIs in KAW projects

Or are part of:

• Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP)
• Wallenberg Centre for Quantum Technology (WACQT)
• Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability (WISE)
• Wallenberg Wood Science Cente (WWSC)
• Wallenberg Centers for Molecular Medicine (WCMM)
• Data Driven Life Science (DDLS), see Q&A for limitations
• SciLifeLab (including SciLifeLab Fellows, SciLifeLab Group Leaders, and infrastructure platform personnel). In addition, PIs of projects that are or have been accepted to the SciLifeLab DDD program. See Q&A

The main applicant has to be employed in Sweden at an academic institution.  The co-PIs can be international, but not recipients of the funding/salary support. In the case of international situations, please always explain the benefit to Sweden and the protection/preservation of the IP in Sweden. KAW and SciLifeLab strive for excellence in research, and are committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Thus, applications are encouraged from all eligible individuals who wish to further translate their research findings into society.

The application must contain a project title, funding applied for and purpose, describe the applicant’s affiliation and eligibility, as well as the project description. The project should also have a sound scientific basis in the applicant’s field of life science research. The project description (see format below) must state:  i) the academic research finding that is being proposed as an innovation, including the aims to be achieved by the Proof of Concept grant, ii) the applicant’s experience and the potential to develop breakthrough innovations in the field, and iii) the project’s position in a global perspective. It should be explained what the end product will look like and what specific problem the solution addresses. It should also be made clear how this Proof of Concept funding will help to bridge the academic discovery towards making an impact on society. The applicants are encouraged to contact the innovation office at their university to get support.

Special emphasis must be placed on describing how the scientist intends to verify the usability and suitability of a new method, product or process developed from research, as well as activities that prepare this for innovation or commercialization. The proposed project should be described in a work package format, including the purpose, clear milestones/deliverables and how it adds innovation/commercial value, e.g. if the technology readiness level (TRL) is increased during the course of the project (TRL-guide from SWELife) or how technical development risks are decreased. The applicant should also reflect on the possible future outcome after the project and ideas on how to take the next steps. 

If the applicant(s) is engaged in a company that is relevant to the field of innovation, this should clearly be stated. The grant cannot be paid to a company, and is not intended for supporting research and innovation activities in an already funded company. The applicant with industrial ties may, however, be eligible to receive support for other innovations in the academia as long as the conflicts are clarified and disclosed.

The applicant’s research merits should be reported in a CV (max 2 pages) containing education, positions, awards, patents and other IPR (if any), entrepreneurial merits (if any), as well as a list of the ten most significant publications published in peer-reviewed journals. 

A project budget (university) according to KAW’s template must also be attached to the application (https://kaw.wallenberg.org/anslagsguide/blankettarkiv).

Only one application per Principal Investigator will be considered. If the project (innovation) was not approved in the previous round, it is possible to reapply only once with the same project.
Application documents are treated confidentially. 

Application is submitted through the KAW-portal (https://kawansokanpoc.wallenberg.org).

In the portal, define which life science area(s) best match your application: therapeutics (e.g. ATMP, small molecule, biologics and drug discovery  methods), medtech (e.g. medical devices, biomaterials), diagnostics (e.g. detection methods, biomarkers, clinical software, algorithms, or decision tools), research tools (e.g. lab methods, kits, instruments, software, databases, AI innovations, diagnostic algorithms, clinical decision software, e-health), e-health, industrial biotechnology (e.g. production methods), or other life science fields (e.g. innovations in environmental science, agriculture, bioenergy, sustainability). 

Project description and plan (max 10 pages, Times 12 and including pictures and references), the number of pages in parenthesis after each section is a recommendation, most important that the total pages do not exceed 10 pages. Use figures to describe and illustrate the innovation and the further development. The topics should be addressed in the following order:

Þ     Title page with applicant’s name and eligibility/relationship to KAW and/or SciLifeLab, and 1-3 sentence description of the innovation (1 page)

Þ Describe the need: Which problem does your solution address? Who needs the solution? Who (potential commercial partner, investor, end user) has shown interest in your solution, and what do they find is still missing for them or other parties to fully engage?  (2 pages)

Þ Describe the benefit: What is the benefit and commercial value of your solution? How would this PoC project validate, further and mature your solution? (1 page)

Þ What is the competition: are you aware of similar research, potential competitors or next-best solutions which could change the market predictions? What is your first estimate of potential and addressable markets worldwide and in Europe, based on desktop research? (1 page)

Þ     What is your approach: Research background and current status of the idea (max 5 publications to be used as references).  (5 pages) Please, make sure to describe the following topics:

• Description of the solution, highlighting the novelty. 
• Detailed description of the proof of concept, e.g. the prototype you would like to build, how to validate it and the work packages needed. For each WP, state the purpose, aim, and how it adds innovation/commercial value. 
• How will your final product be applied in a market setting (e.g. how will it aid in diagnosis of disease, what instruments and data analysis methods need to be considered)? 
• How have you or how will you plan to protect your intellectual property (patents, trade secrets, agreements?), secure ownership and right to exploit. Is licensing of other external IP (or instruments, devices, software) needed to make use of the innovation? 
• Which regulatory requirements, if any, will apply to your solution and how will you address them? 
• Are necessary ethical permits in place for the preclinical/clinical studies proposed? 
• Please provide an overall time plan indicating milestones and WP deliverables incl cost and the team required.
• In case of a reapplication, specify the major differences from the application in the previous round.

The following attachments must be uploaded in the portal:

• Project description and plan (see above)
• One-page project pitch (Need/Benefit/Competition/Approach) incl WPs (in bullets), time and budget plan. Please use the last paragraph to describe the desired outcome after PoC project completion in relation to where you are today (ie how will the PoC project mature your solution) and the future steps towards commercialization (1 page)
• Complete budget (university) based on the template at https://kaw.wallenberg.org/anslagsguide/blankettarkiv (Please note that IP protection or market analysis cannot be covered by the grant)
• CV detailing both academic and entrepreneurial (if any) merits. If there is more than one person applying, include all in the same CV file. Please do not include long CVs and long lists of publications. 
• Certificate from the head of department to verify that they will accept the donation and accepts that a maximum of 20% of the amount can be used for indirect costs and rent
• Verification(s) of interest from external party(ies)

All applications are kept confidential throughout the process. The evaluation of submitted applications takes place in two stages. First, the applications are evaluated by a panel of experts appointed by SciLifeLab and KAW who will score and prioritize the applications. The second stage will later take place in the KAW foundation’s innovation tool, the Wallenberg Launch Pad (WALP). The WALP phase  is centered around personalized innovation coaching, where the researcher further deepens the scope of the project in preparation for the WALP pitch. The final decision on approval of the grant is taken after the applicant’s WALP pitch has been accepted by  KAW representatives. Hence, some of the applicants  will be invited to the WALP coaching process, but will not eventually get the POC financial support.

Project proposals are submitted to KAW and funded by KAW. SciLifeLab-chosen experts provide advice and support in the evaluation process. No government funds are used for the Proof of Concept grants, but the chosen projects are encouraged to make use of SciLifeLab infrastructure and expertise to advance the Proof of Concept project when applicable. 

• Does the proposed innovation solve a persistent and important problem?
• Is the potential solution well defined?
• Is the potential solution novel and unique? 
• Is there interest by external partners?
• Is the intellectual property (IP) protected and/or is there a plan for protection?
• Is the Proof of Concept project and its purpose and milestones well defined­ and relevant­?
• Is the proposed team adequate?
• Is the time plan and budget realistic?