TILT is VIS’ new academic entrepreneurship program designed to guide researchers in transforming groundbreaking research into successful startups or commercial ventures. With a flexible and tailored approach, TILT provides researchers aspiring to become entrepreneurs the resources, tools and guidance to explore and develop their potential startup. For those just getting started, TILT Komet offers a low-threshold entry point — open to both researchers and students — with guided modules and hands-on workshops to explore early-stage ideas. 

Key features of TILT

  • Full Ownership

    Researchers can own their company 100% from the start. 

  • Startup Capital

    Access to early-stage funding through VIS’academic spinout fund for equity investment.

  • Tailored modules & travel grants

    A program built around customized competence development to meet the specific needs of your team and startup and opportunities for international engagement and learning

 TILT & TILT Komet program 2025-2026 

VIS offers two complementary programs to help researchers and students explore and realize the potential of their research: 

TILT Komet: A flexible, low-threshold program for researchers and students who want to explore the startup potential of their ideas. 

TILT: A structured entrepreneurship program for teams working on ideas, technologies, or intellectual property developed through academic research, ready to build the foundations of a startup or grow a newly formed company. 

Whether you're just starting to explore or ready to take the next step, we support you from idea to execution — helping you move from lab to market, or from problem to startup. 

Both programs are free of charge for affiliated researchers and students. 

Highlights 

TILT program (September 2025 – June 2026) 

TILT is a tailored entrepreneurship program for teams with research-based ideas, technology, or IP — whether you're ready to take concrete steps toward creating a startup or have already established one based on your research. 

We work closely with you to develop your innovation into a viable startup, providing structure, strategy, and access to the right people at the right time. 

The TILT program includes: 

  • Monthly masterclasses & hands-on workshops 

  • 1:1 mentoring and milestone planning 

  • Travel grants and access to VIS’ academic spin-out investment fund 

  • A strong community of peers and collaborators 

  • Opportunities to pitch to external experts and potential investors for feedback 

TILT Program period: September 2025 – June 2026 
Applications open: June 15, 2025 
Deadline: August 15, 2025 
Application required 

 

Why Join TILT? 

  • Tailored guidance: Dedicated mentoring and strategic follow-up adapted to your project 

  • Practical learning: Focused content on funding, team-building, communication, access to tools, and more 

  • Expert network: Learn from industry professionals, founders, and innovation leaders 

  • Collaborative community: Work alongside other research-driven teams tackling real challenges 

  • Visibility and opportunity: Teams will engage early with experts and investors to gain visibility and engagement for their startup 

  • Extra incentives: Outstanding teams may be invited to exclusive study trips or awarded grants 

 

Who Can Join TILT 

TILT is open to teams with research-based ideas, technologies, or IP where: 

  • At least one team member is a researcher affiliated with one of VIS’ owner institutions: 
    UiB, Helse Bergen, HVL, IMR, or NHH 

  • The idea or project is based on academic research 

  • Teams may include students and external collaborators 

  • The team is either pre-startup or has a startup that is recently incorporated 

 

TILT Komet – Early Exploration Program 

Not sure where to start? 
TILT Komet is your low-threshold entry point — created for researchers and students who want to explore the startup potential of their ideas in a flexible, inspiring environment. 

TILT Komet is also strongly recommended for anyone applying to the full TILT program — it helps you build a solid foundation before diving deeper. 

What you get: 

  • Access to an online platform with structured modules (entrepreneurship, validation, IP, funding, business model, team, go-to-market, pitching) 

  • A supportive digital and physical peer community of fellow researchers and students 

  • In-person workshops led by external experts and entrepreneurs with hands-on activities and real-world cases 

  • A launchpad into TILT, Gründer Academy, or VIS’ incubator programs 

No application needed — just sign up 
Once you sign up, you’ll receive access to the platform and invitations to all workshops. 

Contact us if you are interested in signing up during the pilot period. The official launch of the platform will be under Innovasjonsuken OPP, September 15th-20th. 

 

Who Can Join TILT Komet 

TILT Komet is open to: 

  • Researchers, PhDs, and postdocs from VIS’ owner institutions 

  • Students from research institutions in Vestland 

  • Teams exploring research-based ideas at an early stage 

  • No application is required — participation is based on sign-up 

 

Upcoming Info Sessions 

Curious about whether TILT or TILT Komet is the right fit for you? 
Join one of our informal info sessions to learn more, ask questions, and meet the team behind the programs. 

Wednesday, June 11th 
13:00–14:00 
VIS, Marineholmen – Thormøhlensgate 51 

Friday, June 13th 
13:00–14:00 
Eitri, Haukelandsbakken 31 (coinciding with Friday waffles!) 

Coffee, curiosity, and Q&A included — no registration needed. 

 

Questions? 

Get in touch with team TILT: tilt@visinnovasjon.no