Academic start-ups are an essential part of an effective knowledge and technology transfer between science and business and are based on research results from universities or research institutions. The step from basic research to applied research and thus to utilization is not yet sufficiently in the foreground in this environment, since a further development of technology or innovation towards application is often still required.

In order to apply for a fellowship at the FFG, the following formal requirements must be met:

• The technologies or research results taken up are owned by an organization that is entitled to apply.
• A declaration of support from the host is available.
• The fellow (s) have an employment relationship at the start of the project at the university or research institution.
• There is an individual IP exploitation agreement based on the respective spin-off strategy of the university or research institution.

The Fellows (= potential founders) must concentrate 100% on the project activity during the term and may not carry out any teaching or other research tasks.

In addition, the fellows receive further training measures, coaching and mentoring via the network of knowledge transfer centers.