The TUBAF Innovation Fund (TIF) is a flexible innovation fund of the 
TU Bergakademie Freiberg. It enables scientists to validate the economic usability of their research results as part of their own research project and to concretise potential applications.

• Total duration: 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2025
• Planned total volume: €1.6 million (funded by the SMWA)

Advantages of the funding

• After submitting the application, it is possible to start the project promptly
• The validation topics are very flexible
• A versatile use of funds is possible (personnel and material costs, external services)
• Economic considerations are integrated at an early stage by the SAXEED start-up network and the TUBAF Central Transfer Centre

What is funded?

• Projects for validation for commercial utilisation
• Promising research results (TRL 4-5) with proof of function and clear application relevance
• Research projects with a history at TUBAF
• Aim within the maximum 12-month funding period: scaling to TRL 6-7
• Strategic orientation: transfer or licensing of the results to existing companies or spin-off of a start-up

Validation projects

• max. 90,000 EUR funding amount (incl. 5% of the budget for programme management)
• Grant of 90%
• Submission deadlines of 31 March and 30 September
• Project start possible on 1 June/1 July or 1 December/1 January. possible
• Application with a focus on innovation, potential use cases, validation objectives and outlook for commercialisation
• Validation projects are selected in a competitive process by an internal evaluation jury

Flex projects

• max. 10,000 EUR funding amount (incl. 5% of the budget for programme management)
• Grant of 90%
• Continuous submission possible
• Project start possible at any time
• Application for supporting services in existing application-oriented research projects
• Flex projects are selected by an internal evaluation jury

The last call for funding for the TUBAF Innovation Fund has expired. Funding is now only available on individual request.

If you are interested in sponsorship, please contact Juliane [dot] Grahl [at] zuv [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de.