Translational Calls
Translational funding is used to ‘bridge the gap’ in development between early stage technology resulting from university research and its commercialisation.
Edinburgh Innovations also maintain a full list of internal and translational funding calls
Edinburgh Innovations Translational Funding
Innovate UK bid development toolkit
Edinburgh Innovations iTPA translational funding pathway (ECRs):Seed FundingMore funding is being made available to seed early stage translational or commercialisation projects within the remit of human health & wellbeing. Accessible to all staff researchers, though post docs & ECRs particularly encouraged to apply! Deadline for EoI submissions Closed iTPA Innovation CompetitionA personal award of £1,000 to develop and validate the translational side of your research. The award is exclusively available to the members of this community, which is open to all University staff working within the Wellcome science remit. We particularly encourage applications from independent early career researchers and postdocs (but please discuss this with your PI). Contact itpa@ei.ed.ac.uk if you want to apply! |
Edinburgh Innovations funding for translation and/or industrial engagement (ECRs and above):BBSRC IAA Additional Funding Scheme (AFS) 2024**NEW** Apply for up to £10k to propel your translational academic projects within the BBSRC remit towards large UKRI translational funds such as the BBSRC’s Follow on Funding (FoF) scheme. Applications do not need to be linked to previous BBSRC funding, and must be led by PIs. Please note that receiving an IAA-AFS award will make researchers and projects that have not yet received BBSRC funding eligible to apply for BBSRC FoF. Please follow link for more details and application instructions. Deadline 28 June 2024 BBSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)Up to £30k available to support proof-of-principle studies, industry engagement and commercialisation activities. Applications do not have to be linked to previous BBSRC funding but must fit the BBSRC remit. Open to all, including ECRs and encouraging collaboration across disciplines/schools. Deadline Currently closed EPSRC IAA Partnership Development CallAn open call has been launched by EI’s Major Projects Group, funded by the EPSRC IAA, to support the University’s ambition to increase its number of strategic industry partners. Funds are available to colleagues with Business Development (BD) responsibilities, to develop and progress relationships with industry partners that have long-term, multidisciplinary, strategic potential. The funds will provide resources for engagement initiatives aimed at accelerating the development of a relationship along its engagement journey. Deadline Currently closed EPSRC Impact Acceleration AccountThe EPSRC IAA funds can be used to support industry engagement and commercialisation activities and aim to increase, advance and accelerate the achievement of impact from EPSRC-funded research. Supported activities can include collaborative projects, commercialisation projects, travel and events, and secondments. Final opportunity for full-length 12-month duration projects before 2025! Note there is now an exception to the cash co-funding requirement. The deadline for registering an idea has been extended. Academics can join the Q&A sessions by registering their idea anytime before the commencement of the events to be held on Wednesday 1 November at 16.30 and Tuesday 7 November at 12.00 if they have any questions. Deadline Currently closed EPSRC IAA Innovation competitionECRs can apply for up to £2,500 to develop and validate an impact opportunity from your research within the EPSRC’s remit. Applicants must discuss their application with their PI. Register your interest. Rolling deadlines. EPSRC IAA travel and eventsFunding for travel, industry meeting/event attendance and hosting industry events towards developing EPSRC-funded research. No deadline. UKRI Harmonised Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)Apply for £20k-£60k over 12 months for impact or translational projects that include at least two researchers representing separate council remits (BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, MRC/Wellcome Trust). Deadline Currently closed MRC Impact Acceleration AccountApply for £10k-£30k to support preliminary work towards the translation of fundamental science to benefit human health. Currently closed. MRC IAA Engagement FundApply for up to £2k to support engagement with external organisations to build collaboration that will enable the translation of research into new therapies, diagnostics, medical devices and technologies to benefit human health. No deadline. Scottish EPSRC IAA cross-institutional fundingTo support impact collaboration from EPSRC-themed research between two or more of the participating institutions (Heriot-Watt University, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of St Andrews, University of Strathclyde). Deadline Currently closed to new applications |
Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP)The KTP partnership brings new skills and the latest academic thinking into the business partner to deliver a specific, strategic innovation project. Rolling deadlines |
Innovate UK-Smart grantsThese support disruptive research and development innovations in any area of technology with a potential to make a significant impact on the UK economy. Funding covers up to 70 per cent of costs. Deadline 24 April 2024 |
Pre-announcement: EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships round sixFunding to support ambitious research programmes that are business led, co-created and co-delivered by business and academic partners. Note there are two funding routes: 1) for relatively early-stage collaborations (2-3 year project, <£1m); 2) well-established collaborations (3-5 year project, >£1m). Deadline 21 May 2024 |
UK – Germany Bilateral: Collaborative R&D Round 3Collaborate with UK and German businesses to develop and deliver new innovations and applications of technologies, including Engineering Biology and Green Tech. Deadline 03 June 2024 |
BBSRC Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) ExploreFunds, and supports research teams to determine whether there is a market for products or services that utilise their bioscience-based ideas, research, science, and technologies. Deadline Currently closed |
DARPA Contract OpportunityThe BioLogical Undersea Energy (BLUE) program seeks to develop power supplies that capture and convert microscopic forms of marine biomass (e.g., dissolved organic matter (DOM), phytoplankton, zooplankton) and other substances (e.g., microplastics, nutrients) into electrical power. Deadline 30 April 2024 |
UK – Switzerland Bilateral: Collaborative R&D Round 2Innovate UK and Innosuisse will invest up to £4m and CHF £3m respectively into innovation projects. Proposals are encouraged from Life Sciences; AI; Semiconductor Applications; `Quantum. Webinar 10-11.30am, 29 January. Deadline 01 May 2024 |
Innovate UK / BBSRC Diet and health innovation: early stage feasibility projectsApply for a share of up to £2.5 million for early-stage feasibility projects working with one or more of the Diet and Health Open Innovation Research Club (OIRC) hubs. Your project must have the potential to impact the nutritional quality of food and drink products consumed by the UK population. Deadline 08 May 2024 |
UK – Germany Bilateral: Collaborative R&D Round 3Collaborate with UK and German businesses to develop and deliver new innovations and applications of technologies, including Engineering Biology and Green Tech. Deadline 03 June 2024 |
Eureka funding calls Network projects applicationsAccess national funding for international collaborative R&D projects. Deadline 31 December 2025 |
IBioIC feasibility fundingTargeted grants of up to £10k will be launched to support industry-led collaborations with Scottish academics to build connections between chemical manufacturing and IB communities. Join Net Zero Chemical Manufacturing webinar 10am-12.30pm, 14 September 2023 (Registration link) to find out more. Deadline TBC |
BBSRC Carbon Recycling Network business interaction vouchersTo support collaboration between academic partners and industrial partners within the Carbon Recycling Network framework. All participants named on the application must be members of The Carbon Recycling Network and based in the UK. No closing date |
BBSRC/Algae-UK Business interaction vouchersThese support projects between academic and industrial partners that lead to a long-term relationship, improved interaction and new research technology transfer projects. Vouchers are worth up to £10,000 each for up to six months. |
BBSRC Proof of Concept FundBBSRC and Algae-UK Support collaborations between academic partners and industrial partners to address the technical challenges in delivering industrial biotechnology applications of algae in food and novel food ingredients. Worth up to £50,000 at 100% fEC over 1 year. |
Cancer Research UK: AstraZeneca antibody alliance laboratory.This enables researchers who have novel biological insights into targets and are keen to ensure their discoveries have real impact for people affected by cancer to use and work with the laboratory. Deadline: None |
Innovation to commercialisation of university research programme (ICURe programme)This enables university research teams with commercially-promising ideas to get out of the lab and validate their ideas in the marketplace. Funding is worth up to £30,000 over four months. Award £30,000. Deadline : Currently closed, expected to reopen 2022 |
CORTEVA Open Innovation submit idea/proposalCORTEVA has an open call for ideas/projects as a way to open up discussions/ collaborations on their current focus areas Open all year |
BBSRC / Royal Society Edinburgh Enterprise FellowshipsThese enable researchers based in the UK to develop a new business, building on previously funded BBSRC research, and become successful entrepreneurs. Fellowships are worth up to £100,000 and last for one year. Maximum award: £100,000 Closing date: Recurring, April and October |
UoE/MRC Confidence in Concept CallThe aim of the funding is to support the transition from fundamental to translational research to a point where a project is competitive for more substantive funding i.e. MRC DPFS or equivalent level funding or industrial partnership. Funding should accelerate this transition by establishing the viability of an approach, generating a data package that de-risks the project for future funders, collaborators or investors. Deadline: TBA Please contact Emma Elliott, Business Development Manager (emma.elliott@ei.ed.ac.uk) before applying |
STFC: 21st century challenges exploration awardsThese enable the STFC research community to engage with and provide solutions to complex, multidisciplinary 21st century challenges in areas such as energy, environment, healthcare, security, food security, agritech, resilience and urbanisation. Grants are worth up to £20,000 each. Applications judged on quarterly basis |
BBSRC LINKLINK supports collaborative research projects between at least one company and one academic partner. At least 50% of the full project cost comes from industry. Applications should be for pre-competitive research that would not be undertaken in this form without LINK support. Funding is only available for organisations eligible for BBSRC support. Deadline: TBC |
Merck Biopharma Speed GrantPre-clinical researchers in the fields of oncology, immuno-oncology, autoimmune disorders and drug discovery technologies are invited to apply for up to £30,000 to accelerate innovation. No deadline |