The Singapore – MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) has initiated a call for proposal for Games and Web Applications to apply for the Explorer Grant that is operated by the Innovation Centre (Based in National University of Singapore, NUS). The Innovation Centre is funded by National Research Foundation (NRF) and its activities are all open to the students in the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) and MIT (see notes for the IHLs).

The Explorer Grant focuses on aspiring groups of students (or student) that with a faculty mentor and the main purpose is to fund the research and development of student’s originated ideas and works. The funding amount is capped at S$50,000. The faculty mentor shall supervise the use of the funds and should also provide other resources such as lab equipment and space that is under the mentor’s charge. Innovation Centre has a bigger grant program (Innovation Grant) that can support up to $250,000 but it is not stated that it will be a progressive step for the Explorer Grant projects.

The crucial aspect of this Grant is that the IP generated is wholly owned by the IHLs. There is some form of revenue sharing between the student(s) and the various other parties (Home Institution(s), NUS ILO (Industry Liaison Office) and Director, Innovation Centre and the third party license or start-up company).

The Explorer Grant is actually a novel program to bring varsity IPs to commercial reality by funding student teams with original ideas rather than find students/graduates to commercialize existing IPs. This grant scheme is most suitable for current/graduating students that is looking for a separate avenue to fund their non-IDM projects (that Media Development Authority, MDA, does not look at, especially Web Apps) and have no desire to pursue YES! (Youth Entrepreneurial Scheme, a matching grant, need to self invest $)

Notes:

Deadline for grant application: 5pm, 30 Oct 2009.

Announcement of successful applicants: 30 Jan 2010.

IHLs listed

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Nanyang Technological University
3. National University of Singapore
4. Singapore Management University
5. Nanyang Polytechnic
6. Republic Polytechnic
7. Singapore Polytechnic
8. Temasek Polytechnic
9. Others (subject to consideration)