TAKEOFF Seed Fund Awards 2026
The Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects (MEEP), the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA), the Malta University Holding Company(MUHC) and the University of Malta have launched the TAKEOFF Seed Fund Award (TOSFA) in a bid to support entrepreneurs and researchers in taking their ventures from concept to commercialisation.
The programme is run together with the support of the University’s Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO), TAKEOFF Business Incubator, and Centre for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation (CEBI). Also this year, the TOSFA scheme features the involvement of MDIA in in supporting research projects focused on AI.
A total of €155,000 in funding will be allocated through a competitive call open to researchers and entrepreneurs across all areas of innovation. Researchers at the University of Malta are eligible to apply for Proof of Concept (POC) funds which are aimed at advancing their research toward commercialisation. Additionally, Seed Funding (SF) is accessible to entrepreneurs to help propel their ventures toward securing their first customer or investment.
Applicants are invited to register for the relevant mandatory online session which will provide further information about TOSFA and offer advice on how to prepare and complete the written applications. The Proof of Concept workshop will be held on Friday 22 May at 11:00 while the Seed Fund workshop will be held on Friday 22 May at 14:00. Should applicants be unable to attend, alternative meetings must be held directly with the Knowledge Transfer Office for POC or with TAKEOFF for SF.
The final application form will only be accepted if applicants or their representatives attend the respective TOSFA workshop. The deadline for submission of written applications is Friday 12th June 2026 at noon. For further details on the scheme, visit our website or contact us via email.
Timeline & Deadlines
- Call for Applications
- Monday 11th May 2026
- Proof of Concept: Orientation / Proposal Workshop for Applications
- Friday 22nd May at 11:00
- Seed Fund: Orientation / Proposal Workshop for Applications
- Friday 22nd May at 14:00
- Written Application Submission Deadline
- Friday 12th June 2026 at 12:00 noon
- Initial Adjudication
- Thursday 25th June 2026
- Announcement of Shortlisted Applications
- Tuesday 30th June 2026
- Coaching for Shortlisted Applicants
- Wednesday 1st July 2026 - Wednesday 8th July 2026
- Live Pitches to Judges
- Thursday 9th July 2026 and Friday 10th July 2026
- Signing of Grant Agreement & Disbursement of Funds
- July 2026
- MEEP Information Session on Financial Management
- Mid-July 2026
- Progress Report
-
Monday 11th January 2027
Monday 3rd May 2027
Monday 6th September 2027
- Deadline for Spending Funds
- Monday 30th August 2027
Material downloads
- Guidelines
- Application Form
- Cashflow Forecast
- Enterprise Readiness Level Guide
- Judging Scorecard - Written Application
- Judging Scorecard - Pitch
- PoC Beneficiary Agreement
- SF Grant Agreement
- Payment Plan
- State Aid Declaration Form
- Progress Report Template
- Purchases Ledger
Contact Details
Seed Funds
- TAKEOFF Manager - Joseph Bartolo
- joseph.a.bartolo@um.edu.mt
Proof of Concept Funds
- Knowledge Transfer Office
- knowledgetransfer@um.edu.mt
Management Committee
- tosfa@um.edu.mt
Knowledge Transfer Office
Dar Ġużeppi Żahra
University of Malta
Msida MSD 2080
Malta
Events Location
Dar Ġużeppi Żahra
University of Malta
Msida MSD 2080
Malta
(Point 28 on the campus map)