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Latitude Postgraduate Support Scheme

Latitude Postgraduate Scholarships fund PhD/Post-docs or form Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) with research groups on relevant research agreed between the venture, the university and the scholars.

Typically, the venture will ask for around 50%* of the IP generated by the funded research and appoint an SPV to exclusively commercialise the IP for a return.

This scholarship agreement is for universities or research institutes and takes the form of an industry-university collaborative research centre (CRC) or a company-funded scholarship.

Scholarship application are only open to scholars (supervisors of prospective PhD students) and are used to support the tuition fees, living expenses and research costs of PhD students/postdocs.

The key to the funding of the scholarship is the research direction and the research plan agreed upon by the venture, the university and the scholars (research group).

Once the fundable research has been identified, the scholarships are developed according to the plan. The recruitment of PhD students or postdocs can then be carried out according to the criteria agreed upon by all parties.

Scholarships are evaluated by a panel of scholars selected from the Bio Pro Association(BPA) members.

The daily management of the Scholarships will be carried out by the venture or a commercialisation company appointed by the venture.


*Occasionally, the venture side will assign a planned research to external, contribute the initial ideal, the direction of the research, the fundamental research outcome and initial IPs, and assign a co-supervisor, In this circumstance, the venture side asks for 51~100% of the IP generated from the research-funded, and further assign an SPV to commercialisation the IPs for a return.

Latitude Postgraduate Support Scheme Guidelines

 

Objective:

The Latitude Postgraduate support scheme aims to provide funding for PhD and post-doctoral research endeavours in the form of scholarship, as well as establish Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) through collaborative efforts between ventures, universities, and scholars. The program's primary goals are to advance applied and translational research within the realms of Chemistry, Life Sciences and MedTech, with significant scientific value and a clear emphasis on achieving commercialization outcomes and expediting the monetization of academic intellectual property.

Supported Research Activities:

  1. This scheme provides funding, resources, and facility support for applied and translational research in various areas pertaining to chemistry, Life Sciences and MedTech, encompassing disciplines such as Chemistry engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Manufacturing Sciences, and related STEM fields. The anticipated outcomes of these research projects should be geared towards benefiting humanity and bolstering industrial sectors. Projects are expected to address real-world challenges and are ready to collaborate with an industrial partner, demonstrating a viable path towards patentable innovations and a commitment to future commercialization of the knowledge generated.
  2. This scheme in a later phase, also allocates a proportion of profit to support fundamental science research in the field of Chemistry and life science, with significant scientific value and great meaning to benefit human society.

 

Eligibility Criteria for Research Projects:

  1. The research direction should be chemistry, Life Sciences and MedTech, encompassing disciplines such as Chemistry engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Manufacturing Sciences, and related STEM fields.
  2. The research is expected to be completed within a maximum of 5 years, for fundamental research it's expected to be completed within a maximum of 7 years.
  3. The research direction should be viable for translation into physical applications.
  4. The research must be sustainable for its application in the real world and be prepared to deal with consequences and problems that may arise in its application.
  5. A research plan should be prepared and the details must be conservatively projected and carefully thought out.
  6. The research should consider the aspect of easy monitoring with verifiable milestones and risk control or backup plan for any research failure.
  7. The interests of the Ph.D. candidate should be well considered, with preference given to research where the student could act as the first author.

 

Eligibility Criteria for PhD candidates:

Prospective PhD candidates must possess (or official proof of imminent degree) a minimum of a B.Sc. degree with a substantial research component (equivalent to an honours degree) from a reputable university. This degree should grant eligibility for enrolment as a postgraduate research student at the participating university. Ideally, candidates will have also completed & experienced the full process of scientific research and/or acquired industry experience through employment or internships. The program endeavours to support high-achieving individuals who have excelled in prior academic pursuits, demonstrating exceptional dedication and an entrepreneurial mindset.

A selection panel comprised of relevant stakeholders will work together to define the exact recruitment process and criteria for candidates, and subsequently choose candidates accordingly.

Eligibility Criteria for Post-Doctoral Candidates:

Prospective post-doctoral candidates must have successfully completed their PhD, and continuous study in a related field, with reputable research achieved, is strongly preferred. The program is designed to bolster exceptional researchers aspiring to pursue a career in research with a strong focus on solving real-world problems. Candidates should have a track record of publishing research in internationally recognized journals and should get ready to establish connections and collaborate within the industry.

A selection panel comprised of relevant experts and stakeholders will work together to define the exact recruitment process and criteria for candidates, and subsequently choose candidates accordingly.

Application

Latitude Postgraduate support scheme applications are only open to scholars (supervisors of prospective PhD students/Post docs) and the scholarship is used to support the tuition fees, living expenses and research costs of PhD students/postdocs. The key to winning the funding is the research direction and the research plan agreed upon by the Latitude venture, the university and the scholars (research group).

  1. The proposing scholar asks his/her university and examines the information gathered about whether third parties are allowed to support Ph.D. students or postdocs in the form of industry-sponsored scholarships or the establishment of CRCs; And whether the university accepts that the third party acquires at least half of the ownership of the IP produced by the research as well as a preferential and exclusive right to commercialise the said IP.
  2. Scholar after registering their basic information with Bio Pro Association(BPA), where an account is acquired, send a brief proposal and research plan to Latitude Venture (no NDA can be signed at this point). Latitude Venture will arrange for a staff to contact Scholar to initiate the mentioned proposal.
  3. After both parties have agreed on the preliminary research plan, the scholar and his/her university send a detailed research plan (NDAs are possible), and the Latitude venture invites the BPA to form a panel of experts in the relevant fields to evaluate the research plan.
  4. If the research plan is approved, Once the fundable research has been identified, the school, the Scholar, and the Latitude venture or a commercially viable associated entity appointed by the Latitude venture begin discussions and negotiations for an industrial-funded scholarship or CRC agreement* for universities or research institutes establishing an industry-university collaborative research centre (CRC). *A conditional CRC agreement should be effect upon a successful application in grants for CRC establishment(linkage grant)
  5. Once the Scholarship or CRC Agreement has been successfully negotiated and signed, the Latitude venture will make the agreed payments and the agreement will be monitored and managed periodically by the commercialisation entity appointed by the agreement.
  6. According to the scholarship agreement. The recruitment of PhD students or postdocs can then be carried out according to the criteria agreed upon by all parties.
  7. At the end of the study (or expiry of the agreement, whichever is shorter), the Latitude venture will invite the BPA to form an acceptance committee of experts in the relevant field. Upon the approval of the acceptance committee, the Commercialisation Entity will commence commercialisation in accordance with the Commercialisation Agreement signed in advance. If the evaluation is unsuccessful, the funding will be terminated in accordance with the agreement and the liquidatable assets specified in the agreement will be liquidated (mainly the right to dispose of the patents and IP generated by the research, as well as the rights and interests of third parties designated by the Latitude venture to carry out additional research or to continue the research).

Apply for Postgraduate Support Scheme

Applied by supervisors (scholars) only, It is recommended the applicant first becomes a member of the Bio Pro Association.

Temporally closed, will open soon

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