The Innovation Fund Denmark (IFD) programme Innoxplorer aims to strengthen entrepreneurship based on knowledge- and research results from public research and educational institutions along with hospitals. The goal of the program is to bring early-stage projects with commercial potential closer to the market - with the aim of establishing a company at a later stage. Grants are up to DKK 1.5 million.
The grant can for example cover the following activities:
The Innovation Fund has introduced a tematisation of the available funds. This means that roughly 40% of the funds are divided between three predetermined areas, while the rest of the funds can be given to projects that fall outside the scope of these three areas. When applying you have to desribe if the projects falls within one of the three areas. If the projects falls within the scope of the area, and the funds within the specific area has been used up, your application will automatically be treated as an application for non-theme specific funds. The three areas are: "Green research, technology development and innovation", "Life science. health and welfare technology", "Strategic and challenge-driven innovation within new technologies". You can read more about the thematisation of the funds in the Innoexplorer guidelines.
Your application should focus on the three main elements below. 1,200 characters are available for each sub-category in the application.
You can download a word template to begin your application here.
For inspiration to your pitch deck, have a look at the template developed by our business developers.
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Describe the idea
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Describe how the project is based on sufficiently mature knowledge- and research-results with a commercial potential
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Describe state-of-the-art of current solutions for the need or challenge you are adressing.
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Describe which relevant methods, approcahes and technologies you use
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Describe the landscape of competitors
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Justify the need for your solution, applications, as well as market potential
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Justify the potential for a sustainable company based on the proposed solution
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Justify how the idea has potential to create value for Denmark, in the form of a start-up, that creates economic growth and jobs, and/ or provides solutions to essential societal challenges
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Justify that the projects falls within one of thematic areas and how it has the potential to contribute to this area, including the potential impact on society. If the project falls ouside the scope of the three areas it should be argued why this is the case.
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Desribe the Innoexplorer project, and what activities will take place during the project
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Justify that the project can be completed (technological, regulatory, ethical)
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Desribe and justify how you have the skills to complete the project
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Justify that an Innoexplorer investment can bring your idea closer to a point where a company can be founded
IFD have asked the institutions to filter Innoexplorer applications, in order to ensure that only applications that live up to the requirements from IFD are submitted. Furthermore, IFD have asked the institutions to limit the number of applications to a reasonable number. At Aarhus University the filtering and approval of potential applications are performed by the Technology Transfer Office (TTO)
To apply for Innoexplorer you need to contact AU TTO (email Holmager@au.dk) and register for application approximately 3 weeks (see exact dates below) ahead of the official IFD application submission deadline. It is to your advantage, but not a requirement, that you reach out to us even before this to align your application idea with us.
The internal approval of your application is based on a pitch (10 min. pitch + 10 min. for questions + 10 min. for feedback) you will deliver to the AU Innoexplorer panel as well as your actual application text and budget. You do not need to send us anything in advance of your pitch, but you need to register prior to the date specified below.
A few days after your pitch, you will receive a tentative decision from the AU Innoexplorer panel. If you receive a positive decision you will be assigned a business developer who will help you fine-tune your slide deck and application. If these are granted a final approval you will be equipped with the necessary signature on your Declaration of Support from the authorized signatory at the AU TTO. Note that you first need to retrieve a signature from your Head of Department on both the Declaration of Support and your budget.
In case your internal pitch takes place online, we urge you to follow this guide. You can find application deadlines for the next round below.
1st of September: Registration for application to TTO (E-mail to Holmager@au.dk)
5th of September: Pitch for AU Innoexplorer Panel
7th of September: Tentative decision regarding eligibility for submission of application to Innovation Fund Denmark. You will also receive feedback on your project and pitch.
8th of September – 23rd September: Written application is created - incorporating the feedback received by the panel. In addition, any neccesary changes to your pitch are made. You are assigned a business developer, who can support you in the drafting process.
23rd of September: Final decision by assigned business developer. If you get accepted, please read the tab below: If you get accepted by the AU Innoexplorer Panel.
28th of September: Deadline for upload to e-grant (performed by the applicant)
Week 45-46: Expected pitch for Innovation Fund Denmark
The date for the next call is expected to be announced during the autumn.
If you have any questions you are welcome to reach out to our business developer Morten Holmager at Holmager@au.dk
For information on the Innoexplorer grant can also be found on website of The Innovation Fund Denmark
If you receive positive feedback by the AU Innoexplorer Panel, you need to do the following.
For any questions regarding the application process please contact Rasmus Viggers (Ravi@au.dk).