InFECT-TT

Pathogens like bacteria and viruses are, and will always be, part of our lives. Globalization and climate change can facilitate the rapid spread of pathogens and increase the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, including a pandemic. To strengthen our preparedness for such outbreaks, it is essential to continue investing in scientific innovation, develop affordable solutions, and ensure that promising research can be translated into practice. It is known that the path from concept to market is very difficult, especially in early phase development and in the area of infectious diseases. TTT InFECT-TT stimulates knowledge sharing and helps researchers to get the best out of themselves and their concepts, increasing the attractiveness for further investments.

Combating Infectious Diseases Together

Innovations in the field of infectious diseases are a “must have” to prevent and limit the extend of outbreaks and protect societies worldwide. Affordable prophylactic therapies and antimicrobial drugs need to be developed. However, the route from concept to market is very complex, time consuming and securing funding is hard. Therefore, the Knowledge Transfer Offices of Amsterdam UMC, Leiden UMC, Radboudumc, UMC Groningen, UMC Utrecht have formed a consortium and work closely together in the InFECT-NL foundation.

InFECT-TT is part of InFECT-NL and forms Pillar 1 of the TTT InFECT-TT. Libertatis Ergo Holding (LEH) forms Pillar 2 , the Infectious Disease Innovation Fund (IDIF), of this grant. Pillar 1 supports the development from concept to spin-off. Subsequently, Pillar 2 supports the spin-off with its 1st fundraising round. Both pillars work closely together to increase the success rate: concepts turning into reality. Depending on their spin-off status, researchers can contact one of the pillars.

In addition, InFECT-NL and InFECT-TT promote knowledge sharing by organizing events and stimulating researchers to participate in events related to infectious diseases.

More information about InFECT-NL

Scope

In scope are the concepts that

1. address one or more infectious diseases with a potentially significant negative impact on society.

and

2. fall into one of the categories below:

• Therapeutics for the treatment of infectious diseases
• Vaccines or other medical products with a focus on prevention of infections
• Innovative administration forms for vaccines or therapeutics (e.g., microneedles, devices for intranasal administration).
• New platform technologies reducing response time in case of an outbreak.
• Products and technologies increasing the effectiveness of therapeutics and/or vaccines (e.g., adjuvants, nanoparticles).

and

3. You passed the phase of fundamental research (i.e. you are about to validate or have already validated your concept).

Note: Development of diagnostics are out of scope.

If your concept fulfills the criteria above you can apply for vouchers or support at InFECT-TT (Pillar 1) or IDIF (Pillar 2), see below.

Vouchers

InFECT-TT (Pillar 1) vouchers

Note: For Pillar 1 you can only apply for a voucher if you are not yet registered at the Chamber of Commerce.

All vouchers have a maximum value of €25.000.

At InFECT-TT you can apply for 2 types of vouchers:

• Validation vouchers

These vouchers can be used to validate your concept. Validation is performed by or evaluated by a group or person (expert) outside your own research group. Preferably, validation is performed together with another research institute.

• Spin-off vouchers

These vouchers can be used to increase the investor readiness of your concept. You can request a voucher to finance external support to form a team, improve the patent situation, perform a market research, write a development plan, improve the financial readiness, further improve your technology or improve customer readiness.

How to apply

1. Approach the KTO of one of the consortium partners (UMC’s). If you are not yet linked to a KTO of one those UMC’s, contact the UMC where you could collaborate with.
2. The KTO will check if you can apply for a voucher
3. Prepare a pitch slide with support from the KTO
4. The pitch slide will be reviewed. If approved, the KTO will reserve a slot for you to pitch at the InFECT-TT executive board (likely online).
5. Within a week you will be notified if you are awarded for the voucher.
6. When you are awarded, you get a voucher plan template where you specify how you are planning to use the voucher: the activities, budget and timeline.
7. When the plan is approved by the Program Director InFECT-TT, you will receive an award letter to be signed by your institution (the UMC).
8. Once signed, the money will be transferred to the UMC and the activities can start.
9. When the project is running, the KTO needs to be informed as soon as activities are deviating from the plan. At the end of the project it will be checked if it went according to plan and if all budget has been used appropriately. Any budget left needs to be transferred back to InFECT-TT.

It is possible to apply for more than one voucher.

Investment support

IDIF (Pillar 2) investment support

If you are (almost) investor-ready, you can contact IDIF to apply for support with your first investment round.