Application Guideline - Research Collaborators

Medical Devices

Medical Devices
Physiological and pathological imaging and detection

-Optical imaging and spectroscopy

-Ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging

-In vitro diagnostic (and reagents)

Implantable/Interventional and treatment devices

-Cardiology
-Ophthalmology

Biomedicine

Biomedicine
Antiviral and cancer drugs

-Small-molecule targeted drugs

-High-end preparation

Intelligent Manufacturing

Intelligent Manufacturing
Industrial software

-Design, Research and development

-Process management

-IIoT

Intelligent Equipment

-3D printing

-Industrial robotics
-Scientific equipment
-Key component and control system

Digital Manufacturing

-Virtual design, manufacturing, and process control

Optoelectronics

Optoelectronics
Laser sources

-On-chip integrated laser sources

-Other novel laser sources (not high power)

Optical sensors

-On-chip integrated optical sensors

-Fiber optic sensors
-Spectroscopy-based sensors
-Other novel optical sensors

Flexible electronics

-Flexible display

-Flexible sensing

Materials

Materials
Structural Material
-Composite and processing technologies

Functional Material

-Structural materials with function integration

Energy materials

-Energy conversion materials

-Energy storage materials

Organic electronics

-Semi-conductors/Conductors

-Display materials
-Biomaterials

Environmental Engineering

Environmental Engineering
Water treatment technology

-Intelligent system, materials and microorganism

Detection and monitoring technology

-Trace pollutant detection

-Harmful microbes detection

Why collaborate with BICI?

As a global leading innovation hub, BICI has

• access to a large pool of funds for research teams and startups
• well-established collaboration with many universities and research institutes globally
• strong connections with many industrial partners especially in the Chinese market

BICI can

• fund for your research
• provide you with extensive market analysis
• commercialize your technology by forming a startup company or joint venture
• help you find research/business partners in both academia and industry
• provide resources for technology validation, product prototyping, pilot test, and getting user feedback
• help you find supply chain and customers
• provide support in securing further investments for your company

Ways for collaboration

BICI can collaborate with you in different ways depending on the readiness level of your technology.

• If you need more resources to bring your technology to market --> BICI can fund your research
• If your technology is ready for market --> BICI can help you form a startup company to commercialize your technology

• If you are already a startup company --> BICI can form a joint venture in China with you to expand your market coverage

Project selection criteria

Research area

• In compliance with focus areas of BICI

Strength of innovation

• Strong technical advantage over current industry standards and competitors (supported by solid preliminary data or prototype)

• High technology barrier

• Patentable

Commercial potential

• Feasibility to translate invention into a product or service
• Addressing an unmet market need
• Clear market, large customer base
• No foreseeable obstacle in scale-up production

Project team

• Strong expertise and track record in proposed field of research
• Clear project goal with realistic approaches for translation

Phase 1

Pre-evaluation (2-4 weeks)

Applicant

• Initial meeting with BICI to introduce the technology and discuss project scope

BICI

• Conduct preliminary technology assessment and market analysis

• Present findings to applicant in a secondary meeting

• Sign NDA

Phase 2

Due Diligence (2-3 months)

Applicant

• 2-3 rounds of meetings with BICI to refine proposal and address concerns

BICI

• Conduct extensive technology assessment and market analysis

• Work with applicant to draft a collaboration plan and project proposal

Phase 3

Contract/IP Agreement (in parallel with due diligence)

BICI

• Discuss with applicant or affiliated organization on collaboration and IP terms

Phase 4

BICI Board Meeting

Applicant

• Provide supplementary information if necessary

BICI

• Present the project to BICI committee and investment board

Phase 5

Signing Contract / Project Kick Start

Applicant

• Receive funding and collaborative resources

BICI

• Direct funding to applicant

• Involve resources

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What's the typical BICI models of commercializing a completed project?

The startup company of a completed project can be formed in at least one of the following three ways after mutual agreement between PI(s) and BICI:
• BICI + PI(s) form a start-up together, which licenses the technology from University;
• BICI licenses the technology from University and forms a startup on its own, if PI(s) are not interested (ideally, related researchers such as PhDs or post-docs from research group join as co-founder and consultant of the company);
• PI(s) forms a startup outside China, and BICI forms a startup in China, by licensing from University respectively.

What's the typical project size and duration?

The typical funding for each project ranges from 100k to 2M USD. The duration of the project usually ranges between 1-2 year, depending on the maturity of the technology.

Does the proposed project require a specific market application?

We require a clear and targeted market application for the proposed technology. If the specific application is not readily known, BICI will conduct market due diligence to identify the market need.

Where can pilot testing and scaling-up take place over the course of the project?

The pilot test and scaling-up can be carried out anywhere, whichever represents the most efficient route that benefits the technology transfer process. The BICI headquarters located in Beijing, China, has a site currently under construction for product prototyping and scaling-up, which can facilitate the final stage development and deployment of technologies funded by BICI.

How long does the application process take?

The application process usually takes about 3-6 months. The aim of BICI projects is to commercialize your technology. Therefore, besides evaluating technical strengths and feasibility of proposed work, BICI conducts extensive market research to identify user cases, key product features, challenges towards scaling as well as possible solutions, and connects with industrial leaders for potential partnership. During the review process, BICI team will communicate with you to refine the project proposal. The goal of the review process is to ensure optimal valuation of the technology/invention by strategic market positioning once the project has come to completion.

Where can pilot testing and scaling-up take place over the course of the project?

Is collaboration encouraged?

Collaboration is highly encouraged, but not mandatory. Single PI proposals are welcomed. BICI may discuss with PI about collaboration with other institutes or industry partners. In collaborative projects, BICI will connect expertise from various fields, from suppliers, manufacturers, to customers and end users, and can coordinate tasks among partners.

Will BICI have continuous investments on spin-off companies formed out of the funded projects?

For continuous growth of the spin-offs, BICI will support the next round of funding. BICI have subsidiary funds and connected resources (such as VC networks) which can potentially invest in the spin-offs from the funded projects.

What is BICI's risk preference?

Compared to conventional VCs, BICI invests technology at an earlier stage, and is willing to take more risk and allow longer time-to-market.