Funding is granted in three categories:
- Performing experiments that develop research findings to enable submission of an invention disclosure
- Performing experiments that improve the patentability of disclosed inventions
- Strengthening the commercial potential and providing additional data for filed patent applications
Funding can be used to supplement externally funded projects e.g. from TEKES TUTL program or as host contribution (e.g. 20% seed money) when applying for other sources of Proof of Concept funding from outside the UH. Research results obtained with HiPOC funding are owned by UH (i.e. HiPOC projects are defined as contract research) completely or in proportion to the funding HiPOC provides to a larger project based on an agreement.
HiPOC funding can be used for salaries (except applicant), equipment, reagents, services and costs related to the commercialization process. Services provided by UH or HIS (e.g. lawyers and patent attorneys) are not covered. HiPOC funding is not for conferences, travel costs, or overhead expenses. One project can only have one HiPOC grant, and researchers may only have one ongoing HiPOC grant.