Translational funding
Translational funding gives you the support and resources to help early research grow into something that makes a difference beyond the lab.
Taking your idea to the next level
Between an initial breakthrough and a market-ready product, ideas can be promising yet still too early for investors or commercial partners. Technical uncertainties, untested assumptions and unclear market routes often stand in the way. Translational funding supports this critical stage of progress.
What is translational funding?
Translational funding is a broad term for any funding used to develop university research towards a commercial application. It enables activities such as generating new data, building prototypes, testing feasibility, refining use cases and exploring routes to market. By reducing technical and commercial risk, it helps demonstrate value, attract partners and prepare an idea for future investment or licensing.
What translational funding is available?
There are a number of different proof-of-concept funds around, which support very early stage development work to demonstrate the feasibility and viability of a new idea or technology. These non-repayable grants are used to generate early evidence, build confidence in the concept, and attract future investment.
There is also the University Challenge Seed Fund (UCSF) – the only OUI-managed proof-of-concept fund – which helps researchers take the first practical steps in proving that their discoveries have real commercial promise.
We work with you to identify and secure suitable translational funding, including grants from research councils and charitable bodies.
Contact us
Talk to us to discuss the funding options available to you.