Eligibility for Technology Transfer awards
Who can apply
Institutions
Not-for-profit research institutions, including those funded by the Medical Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, in the UK, that are able to sign up to the Wellcome Trust's Grant Conditions. Overseas institutions should check their eligibility first with Technology Transfer.
The Wellcome Trust is able to use its charitable monies to fund commercial companies through programme-related investment (PRI). For further details please refer to our policy on PRI [Word 23KB]. Companies will normally be expected to sign up to specific terms relating to each individual scheme (see: Translation Fund and Seeding Drug Discovery).
Overseas organisations
Not-for-profit research institutions or companies located outside of the UK may under certain circumstances be eligible and should contact Technology Transfer staff to confirm. UK organisations may contract or collaborate with overseas organisations.
Principal applicants and coapplicants
Applicants should normally hold a position of responsibility within the eligible organisation and be able to sign up to or comply with the conditions or terms of an award.
In addition, postdoctoral research assistants - whether seeking their own salary as part of the grant proposal, funded by the Wellcome Trust on another grant, or funded by another agency - are eligible for coapplicant status if they make a significant contribution to a research proposal and have agreement from their funding agency.
Cancer research
Proposals in the field of cancer aimed at bridging the gap between fundamental research and commercial product development will be considered for Translation Award funding.
Disciplines outside biomedicine
Researchers from disciplines outside biomedicine can apply providing the application of research is designed to facilitate or meet a need in healthcare. For example, the application of physics, chemistry, computing, engineering and materials science to the development of medical products is entirely appropriate.
Healthcare need in an area that is not commercially attractive
The Wellcome Trust is committed to the translation of research into practical healthcare benefits across the full spectrum of disease. Disease areas neglected by industry because of the lack of a return on investment pose a particular problem, but imaginative ways forward can sometimes be developed (e.g. public-private partnerships such as the Medicines for Malaria Venture).
Intellectual property rights (IPR)/publications
If there are any restrictions on IPR or publications arising from your research, you must provide a written statement that details them. Restrictions on intellectual property may affect your eligibility to apply to the Trust. Please refer to the Trust's Grant Conditions.
For further information please refer to the Wellcome Trust's policy on IP and patenting and Technology Transfer's information for applicants.
Contact
Technology Transfer
Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE, UK
T +44 (0)20 7611 8202
F +44 (0)20 7611 8857
E
techtransfer@wellcome.ac.uk