Graduate Innovation Office Competition 2013
Application Guidance
Competition Overview
The Graduate Innovation Office Competition seeks University of Salford graduates with
ideas for innovation and needs for support to build new businesses, products, or
technologies. The competition is being led by the School of Arts and Media and being
launched as part of the 2013 Create at Salford Festival (www.salford.ac.uk/create).
Successful applicants will receive a package of cash and non-cash support within an 8month incubation programme, focusing on innovation in the digital and creative industries.
The Graduate Innovative Office Competition is funded by the Office for Intellectual Property
through their 2013 Fast Forward Competition. The project launches the School of Arts and
Media’s Graduate Innovation Office (GIO), an off-campus design and development office
supporting graduate innovation and IP-related projects with a clear digital and/or creative
focus. The GIO will help selected early career professionals build their skill base and
develop their ideas for product development, business start-up and entry to market.
The Graduate Innovation Office Competition works to:
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bridge the gap between great ideas and industry innovation
help promising entrepreneurs to understand the industry challenges and context
develop the business and collaborative skills and
make the professional connections to move their ideas toward market reality.
Successful applicants will develop their ideas with the guidance of specialist mentors from
both industry and academia. Successful graduates will work primarily at a satellite design
and development office at MediaCityUK, Greater Manchester’s foremost hub for the digital
and creative industries. In addition, training and networking events will be hosted on the
University of Salford campus and across Northwest England.
Deadlines for applicants will be Friday 12 July at 5:00 pm and successful applicants will be
announced at a School of Arts and Media Awards ceremony on 18 July 2013. The project
will run from September 2013 through March 2014 and will culminate with a series of pitches
and presentations to industry.
What are the awards?
Successful applicants will take part in an 8-month programme (September 2013- March
2014) and the award will include the following:
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Dedicated incubation space at The Landing, MediaCityUK
A 6-month programme of training, CPD, and workshops to support professional and
entrepreneurial skills
Work in a cross-disciplinary team to develop ideas for innovation
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Dedicated one-on-one guidance from specialist professional and academic mentors
Paid admission to regional business and networking events during the life of the
award
£1000 budget for project materials and prototyping costs
End-of project ‘launch’ support towards business start-up, pitch development, IP
registration/licensing, and/or equity funding.
The individual packages of cash and non-cash support hold a value of £6000 each and all
successful GIO participants join a longer-term network for professional support and
industry/IP development through the University of Salford.
Who are the awards for?
Applicants must be within two years of successful graduation from a University of Salford
course at the time of application. This applies to any undergraduate or postgraduate (taught
or research) course across the university, but as a School of Arts and Media project, the idea
for innovation must sit with clearly within the digital and/or creative industries (i.e. involve
making, manipulating or move digital or creative content). We especially welcome graduates
from design, business, or engineering-related disciplines. However, the ‘idea for innovation’
and the applicant’s capacity to deliver will be the chief areas of importance, so applicants
from other disciplines are welcome to apply.
Applicants must propose a clearly defined idea for product, service, technology or business
innovation. There must be evidence of initial development of the idea (i.e. market, applicant,
or viability research), as well as an assessment of skills/knowledge-based needs to take the
idea forward. The process of developing an idea and taking it to market is an involved and
complex process, so applicants must also be willing to commit (on average) one day a week
for the duration of the project. All information must be submitted in a Graduate Innovation
Office Competition application form by the given deadline. Applicants must also offer the
name and contact details of a University of Salford referee during the sifting and selection
process.
Application Criteria
Successful applicants will:
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Have a defined idea for innovation that responds to a clear problem or need
Show evidence of prior development or refinement of the proposed idea
Define the proposed idea’s application within the digital or creative industries (i.e.
involve making, manipulating or move digital or creative content)
Be able to commit to regular participation in the eight-month programme for
innovation incubation.
In the event that your application is unsuccessful, you will be informed in writing after the
official launch event with basic feedback.
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The Application Process:
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Friday 14 June 2013: applications open
Friday 5 July 2013: applicants close at 5:00 pm
Thursday 18 July: successful applicants announced
2-5 September 2013: project induction
September 2013- January 2014: incubation and development
February-March 2014: pitches, presentation and progression
About the University of Salford
Salford is an ambitious university at the heart of a fast-developing community. Our expertise
is helping to transform individuals and communities through excellent teaching, research,
innovation and engagement.
Our campus is at the heart of a £650m regeneration scheme and with MediaCityUK, Salford
and adjoining Manchester are exciting places to be. We’re at the forefront of this
transformation, leading the way in areas such as health, energy, media and the built
environment. Our 20,000 students contribute enormously to the local economy and the
courses they study on are designed with employment in mind, helping them and the
economy obtain real-world skills.
Salford has long been famed for its work with business. We’re carrying on this tradition by
helping our graduates become entrepreneurs and supplying our expertise to small business
and multinational enterprises.
This tradition is taking a new step forward with our presence at MediaCityUK. Working
closely with the BBC and other digital and creative industries our researchers, students and
graduates are helping to shape the future of the media sector in the UK.
About the School of Arts and Media
The School of Arts & Media is a brand new school bringing together programmes and staff
from the former Schools of Art & Design and Media, Music & Performance, creating
unparalleled opportunities for specialist and interdisciplinary study. We are now one of the
UK’s largest and most successful higher education providers in the subject areas of creative
arts, design, music, performance and media, including broadcasting and journalism.
Our curriculum emphasizes professional development and encourages students to take their
learning beyond the classroom with a host of placements, live projects, exhibitions, events
and networking opportunities as an integral part of many of the modules. Our courses are
developed in partnership with prominent industry figures and focus upon developing the
skills for employability. Our graduates from across the creative spectrum demonstrate
professionalism, specialist knowledge with the capacity to work across disciplines, business
awareness and the ability to think creatively.
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About the Fast Forward Competition 2013
The Fast Forward Competition has been developed by the Intellectual Property Office to
encourage Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Public Sector Research Establishments
(PSREs) to work collaboratively with business and local communities to maximise the
benefits of innovation. The main aim of the competition is to support innovative Knowledge
Exchange practice- activities that set, test, develop or embed best practice in the secotor.
The University of Salford was one of the 2013 winners of this prestigious competition and
funds from this prize support the Graduate Innovation Office Competition and subsequent
programme.
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