The Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects (MEEP), the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA), and the University of Malta have launched the TAKEOFF Seed Fund Award (TOSFA) in a bid to support entrepreneurs and researchers in taking their ventures from concept to commercialisation.

The programme is run together with the support of the University’s Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO), TAKEOFF Business Incubator, and Centre for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation (CEBI). Also this year, the TOSFA scheme features the involvement of MDIA in the support of research projects in the area of Artificial Intelligence.

A total of €150,000 in funding will be allocated through a competitive call open to researchers and entrepreneurs across all areas of innovation. Researchers at the University of Malta are eligible to apply for Proof of Concept (POC) funds which are aimed at advancing their research toward commercialisation.

Additionally, Seed Funding (SF) is accessible to entrepreneurs to help propel their ventures toward securing their first customer or investment.

Applicants are invited to register for the relevant mandatory online orientation session which will provide further information about TOSFA and offer advice on how to prepare and complete the written applications.

The Proof of Concept workshop will be held on Monday 13 May at 10:00 while the Seed Fund workshop will be held on Monday 13 May at 14:00. Should applicants be unable to attend, alternative meetings must be held directly with the Knowledge Transfer Office for POC or with TAKEOFF for SF.

The final application form will only be accepted if applicants or their representatives attend the respective TOSFA workshop.

The deadline for submission of written applications is Thursday 30 May 2024 at 12:00.

Further details on the scheme are available online or by sending email.