iCenter DR-Fund for Makers Education at Tsinghua University
Operational Scheme for DR-Fund for Makers Education
Version No.: 2017.02-A202425 Compiled by: iCenter Technical Innovation Lab of Tsinghua University
- Fund Positioning
DR-Fund aims at providing support to students for their creative and innovative work, to inspire their passion for technical innovation and R&D development and to accelerate the production of more original work.
The fund will be managed with an ‘Application and Approval’ scheme, for example, a student submits his/her application materials as required for their projects. After careful evaluation by an expert review team, they receive corresponding scores for their submissions, thus their qualifications for funding according to the standard and their benefits. In the event that a project is qualified for funding, the relevant applicant will be notified and be granted a certificate. Applicants of projects not qualified for funding will not be notified. Only those materials or components valued less than RMB 1,000 per item can be funded. Applicants shall provide relevant and credible evidence of expenditure as required for their projects to receive the cash support.
The funding support does not represent any future equities, bonds, options or other forms of rights and obligations between applicants of projects and other fund providers, any enterprises and individuals. Applicants of funded projects shall receive a one-time support.
In the event that any more project needs to be funded, or the funding amount to be increased, after one project has been granted the funding support, the recipient shall submit any other relevant materials separately for the additional projects, or for the additional funding support.
- Typical Scenarios and Required Application Materials
- a) Practical Course Projects
- Student Information
- Related Course Information
- Product Design Documentation
- Engineering Drawings
- Tutor’s Letter of Recommendation
- b) Creative Ideas
- Student Information
- Description of the Source of Creative Idea
- Product Design Documentation
- Engineering Drawings
- Reference Projects or Materials
- c) Special Fund for Research Subjects
- Student Information
- Product Design Documentation
- Engineering Drawings
- Subject Director’s Letter of Recommendation
- d) Promotion of Innovative Products
- Student Information
- Product Design Documentation
- Engineering Drawings
- Description of Business Models
- Project Selection Criteria
- a) Expert Group Scoring System
The expert group consists of 7 individuals;
The average calculated from the experts scores shall be the final score of a project.
- b) Qualification Standards
Any projects with a score between 120 and 139, shall be rated a standard project for selection by DR-Fund;
Any projects with a score between 140 and 159, shall be rated as a good project for selection by DR-Fund;
Any projects with a score between 160 and 179, shall be rated as an excellent project for selection by DR-Fund;
Any projects with a score between 180 and 200, shall be rated as a special project for selection by DR-Fund.
- c) Rights and Benefits of a Qualified Project
A qualified project is entitled to funding support, is limited to the scope as stated below and is to be calculated according to the project cost including in this context
1) cost of material;
2) cost of processing services;
3) cost of parts purchased.
Standard Project: 60% of the total project cost, the total amount < 300 yuan;
Good Project: 70% of the total project cost, the total amount < 800 yuan;
Excellent Project: 80% of the total project cost, the total amount < 2000 yuan;
Special Project: 90% of the total project cost, the total amount < 5000 yuan.
- Composition of Expert Team
- a) Campus teachers: 50%
- b) Enterprise Representatives: 30%
- c) Senior Makers: 20%
- Others
DR-Fund is set up with a secretariat responsible for collecting candidate projects for funding, arrange for assessment, fund release and other related issues. The final interpretation right of the Fund’s operations lies with the Secretariat.
The secretariat is headed by a chairman, a position to be held by the head of iCenter, and a secretary-general to be appointed by iCenter who is responsible for the overall management of the fund’s daily running.
The Fundamental Industrial Training Center of Tsinghua University
March 17, 2017
Appendix: Project Evaluation System
Project Evaluation System of DR-Fund
Version: 2017.02-A203454 Authorized Party: iCenter Technical Innovation Lab of Tsinghua University
- Value
1.1 Implementation of Functions 10
1.2 User Experience 10
1.3 Coverage of Various Demands 20
1.4 Technical Leading 30
1.5 Investor Traction 10
Sub-total 80
- Innovativenss
2.1 Exterior Design 15
2.2 Structure and Mechanism Design 20
2.3 Technical Innovation 20
2.4 Usage Pattern Innovation 25
Sub-total 80
- Feasibility
3.1 Easily Accessible Material 10
3.2 Simple Processing 10
3.3 Low Cost 10
3.4 Market Demand Volume 10
Sub-total 40
Total 200
Operational Process of DR-Fund
The fund is operated by the iCenter of Tsinghua University. The operational process includes – Candidate Project Collection, Experts Hiring & Project Review, Financial Assistance Rating, Fund Release and Financial Reimbursement.
- Project Collection
According to the ‘Operation Rules of DR-Fund’, the applicant is required to download and complete the ‘Application Form of DR-Fund’ and submit it to the designated mailbox.
- Application form download web link: Fundamental Industrial Training Center of Tsinghua University
jijinshenqingbiao.doc
email address for application submission: icenter_fund@tsinghua.edu.cn
Inquiry: 62790118, Teacher LIN
- Hiring Expert and Project Review
1. Expert Hiring
The secretariat employs, either on-campus or off campus, teachers or technical staff with relevant work experience and with associate senior professional titles or above to form the expert group that serves a 1-year term and issues certificates. 7 experts from the expert group are invited for each review.
2. Review Method
After collecting the projects, the secretariat arranges for the experts to review them and dispatch to the experts scoring forms together with information about the projects according to the ‘Operation Rules of DR-Fund’.
3. Content for Expert Review
(1) A project is scored based on its value, innovativeness and feasibility;
(2) The level of funding is rated.
4. The secretariat arranges for expert review statistics to be collected on the spot and results announced.
5. The statistics group consists of 3 or more staff members from the secretariat.
- Publishing Results
The result of a project is published and posted for 7 days on the website under the public notice column of the ‘Fundamental Industrial Training Center’. During this period, the project applicant or other readers have the right to report any unfair or untrue issues relating to the application or review of the published project.
- Cost Reimbursement and Audit
At the end of the public period, the secretariat notifies the applicant the level of funding amount for the qualified project. The finance department of the training center is responsible for its financial account and reimbursement.
1) For projects rated at a funding level of one, two or three , the cost is borne by the applicant first before it is reimbursed; for project rated at the fourth level, a mid-term report and review is to be prepared when 50% of the claimable amount is reached and the other 50% self-assist fund amount is to be used only when the the mid-term report has been approved.
2) Purchasing of goods and its reimbursement requires the project applicant to handle with his own business card. Invoices are to be addressed to the ‘Education Foundation of Tsinghua University’. In addition, any invoice is to be signed by the Secretary-General of the Secretariat, project leader and the actual purchaser.
3) Final Review
Once the selected project is completed within the scheduled period, a project review report and a fund audit report must be submitted to the secretariat. Forms for final review, prepared by the secretariat can be downloaded and completed by the project leader before the expiration of the project. Only when the final review is approved, can the project team be entitled to apply for their next round of project fund.
4) Extension of Project
In the event a project is unable to complete within the scheduled period, an application for extension must be submitted, one month in advance, to the secretariat so as to be allowed to access the fund during the extension period. The project can only be extended once for a period of no more than 3 months. If the funding amount is not used up within the project period and extension period, the support fund will be withdrawn.
