The Maritime Seed Award (MarSA) is a joint initiative between the Malta Marittima Agency (MMA) and the University of Malta supported by the TAKEOFF Business Incubator, Knowledge Transfer Office and the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation (CEBI) at the University of Malta.

The fifth call of this programme aims to help move promising ideas from the Maritime Field forward toward commercialization. To date, fifteen projects have received funding through prior programmes. Award funding totalling to €40,000 will help to bring the innovative early-stage idea/technology from lab to life and provides support to researchers and entrepreneurs when they need it most to increase the likelihood of success.

The Maritime Seed Award will fund two types of initiatives: University of Malta academic staff may apply for ‘proof of concept’ funds which will enable a step-change in taking an innovation developed through research at the University closer to being commercialised; whereas entrepreneurs from within or outside the University may apply for ‘seed’ funds which will enable a step-change in taking their independent technology or knowledge-based start-up closer to the first customer or investment.

Potential applicants for the Seed Fund must attend the scheduled workshop session hosted by TAKEOFF, which will provide skills and tools for creating a competitive proposal. The final application form will only be accepted if applicants or their representatives register and attend the TAKEOFF workshop. This will only be waived in extenuating circumstances. All potential applicants for the Proof of Concept Fund must attend the workshop being organised by the Knowledge Transfer Office. If unable to attend, the potential applicant must set up another meeting directly with the Knowledge Transfer Office. Both workshops will be held at Dar Ġużeppi Żahra, University of Malta (point 28 on the campus map). The PoC workshop will be held in the Board Room on Level 1 whilst the SF workshop will be held in the Events room on Level 2. To register for the event, please click here.