SZTE TTC
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PoC – Proof of Concept Grant

SZTE TTC Zrt. announces a Proof of Concept (PoC) grant for the university’s researchers and research groups.

The program aims to support the technological and market validation of innovative ideas and research results developed at the University of Szeged, facilitating their practical, commercial, or societal application. The grant provides funding for projects that contribute to the accelerated market introduction of scientific results generated at the university and to the exploration of potential utilization opportunities.

Supported projects

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC001/2025
Applicant Dr Zsolt László Datki
Awarded support amount: 19 950 000
Proof of concept project name: Microdimensional ultrasensitive toxicity and material effects testing system with AI-supported multifactorial analysis

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC002/2025
Applicant Dr Melinda Tar
Awarded support amount: 22 200 000
Proof of concept project name: ResiliSense™: Developing a Plant Intelligence Platform by Integrating Camera-Based Phenotyping and Artificial Intelligence

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC004/2025
Applicant Dr Tamás Marik
Awarded support amount: 22 200 000
Proof of concept project name: Development of a new generation of crop yield-enhancing plant conditioner products

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC005/2025
Applicant Hajdu Cintia
Awarded support amount: 19 950 000
Proof of concept project name: Validation of the concept and market usability of a lead-free ternary copper–halide scintillator thin-film family

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC006/2025
Applicant Dr Orsolya Kedves
Awarded support amount: 19 999 999
Proof of concept project name: Development and investigation of the mechanisms of action of plant-specific rhizosphere-derived microbial consortia

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC007/2025
Applicant Professor Dr. Csaba Berecki
Awarded support amount: 19 965 000
Proof of concept project name: PediCheck - TKM

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC008/2025
Applicant Dr Roland Nagy
Awarded support amount: 18 640 000
Proof of concept project name: Objective auditory assessment stimulated by implantable and non-implantable hearing devices

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC010/2025
Applicant Dr. István Juhos
Awarded support amount: 39 000 000
Proof of concept project name: University of Szeged International Clinical Imaging Education Platform, VM-Edu

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC011/2025
Applicant Dr Katona Gábor
Awarded support amount: 19 999 999
Proof of concept project name: Innovative nasal spray pump attachment development

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC012/2025
Applicant Dr József Maléth
Awarded support amount: 38 000 000
Proof of concept project name: Scaling up, standardisation and validation of antioxidant nanoenzyme cocktails in preclinical models of inflammatory bowel disease

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC013/2025
Applicant Dr Dezső Virok
Awarded support amount: 12 700 000
Proof of concept project name: Development of a strain-specific probiotic from Lactobacillus species selected from the vaginas of healthy women, which particularly protects against *Staphylococcus aureus* and *Escherichia coli* bacteria causing aerobic vaginitis.

SZTE TTC ID: TTCPOC014/2025
Applicant Dr Vidács László
Awarded support amount: 17 926 402
Proof of concept project name: Development of an AI-based patient registration and information system for reproductive medicine centres

Who Can Apply?

Eligible Applicants: Researchers, research groups, departments, and institutes of the University of Szeged (SZTE) are eligible to submit project proposals under this call. Each organizational unit is preferably allowed to participate in only one Proof of Concept (PoC) project at a time.

Project Objective

The aim of the project is to support the implementation of research activities classified as basic research, and to enable funded projects to advance their technology development to a level where the feasibility and potential applicability of a concept or theory can be verified through experimental methods. At this stage, the market potential of the development can also be realistically assessed.

Available Funding?

For each project, funding between HUF 5 million and HUF 50 million can be requested. The total budget amounts to HUF 279,999,999, of which at least 50% is allocated to projects requesting no more than HUF 20 million.

How to apply?

The application documents must be submitted by June 20, 2026. Applications may be submitted electronically to the info@sztettc.hu e-mail address.

Post-Submission Process

Eligibility and Compliance Check

First, applications undego a formal and eligibility review. This stage verifies that all mandatory documents have been submitted and that the application meets the basic eligibility criteria.
If any deficiencies are identified, the applicant will be requested to provide the missing information. Only complete and compliant applications will proceed to further evaluation.

Evaluation

Applications that pass the formal review are evaluated for scientific quality by the Interdisciplinary Research, Development, and Innovation Excellence Center of the University of Szeged. In addition, the SZTE TTC Ltd. validates the projects from a market perspective. This stage provides applicants with the opportunity to present their project in person and refine their plans. Compliant applications are assessed by an expert committee established by the TTC, composed of independent members with industrial, business, and investor backgrounds, as well as university and NIÜ delegates.
The committee scores each application based on multiple criteria, such as:
  • Feasibility of the project
  • Innovation and commercialization potential
  • Feasibility of TRL advancement
  • Justification of the budget
  • Intellectual property protection

Interview

Project representatives are invited by the committee to an oral interview, providing an opportunity to present the project and clarify any questions that may arise.

Decision and Notification

Based on the expert evaluation and the oral interview, the committee makes its decision regarding the funding. Applicants are notified of the outcome in writing in all cases. In the event of rejection or a reduced funding amount, a detailed justification is provided, along with the opportunity to submit an appeal.

Documents (only in Hungarian)

Application Template (Funding Request) - in Hungarian
Download
Call for Proposals - in Hungarian
Download
Application Guide - in Hungarian
Download
Template for Funding Agreement Request - in Hungarian
Download
Template for Funding Agreement Amendment Request - in Hungarian
Download
Prepayment Request Form - in Hungarian
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Financial Report (Summary of Expenses) Template - in Hungarian
Download
Technical/Scientific Report Template - in Hungarian
Download
Demonstration of Compliance with Information and Publicity Obligations - in Hungarian
Download
inal Technical and Financial Report Template - in Hungarian
Download
Attendance Sheet Template - in Hungarian
Download
Certificate of Participation Template - in Hungarian
Download