Translation Fund

Purpose

Translation Awards should bridge the funding gap in the commercialisation of new technologies in the biomedical area.

They are designed to be flexible, enabling freedom to innovate and push the boundaries of current knowledge. Our aim is to support exceptional individuals with the brightest minds through larger and bolder awards to accelerate product development. The Fund will consider applications that are either single projects or portfolio programmes.

The fund will have strategic highlight areas, however projects covering any aspect of technology development from a range of disciplines - including physical, computational and life sciences - will be considered. Projects must address an unmet need in healthcare or in applied medical research, offer a potential new solution, and have a realistic expectation that the innovation will be developed further by the market.

The Trust will normally actively participate in the stewardship of the project and lead on intellectual property management and exploitation.

Current highlight

Strategic highlight: 'Restoring the Body'

The global population is rapidly expanding and people expect to lead longer and healthier lives, but their ageing bodies are continuing to suffer from wear and tear. At the same time, in part because of increased life expectancies, the demand for donor organs exceeds supply. With few alternatives to transplant available, this shortage presents a clear unmet medical need worldwide.

In recent years, huge advances have been made in translating stem cell research and regenerative medicine, and developing novel medical devices that can replace the function of an organ. These areas of medicine are excellent examples of themes we will consider as part of 'Restoring the Body', our first strategic highlight.

We are particularly keen to receive ground-breaking proposals in novel biomedicine that seek to restore function to the body and enable people to lead full and independent lives.

Eligibility

Proposals are welcome from academic and commercial organisations based in the UK and overseas.

Institutions

Eligible institutions are not-for-profit research institutions, including those funded by the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, in the UK, that are able to sign up to Wellcome Trust Grant Conditions. Overseas institutions should confirm their eligibility with Technology Transfer.

Companies

Commercial companies are eligible to apply either as principal applicants or as collaborators. The Wellcome Trust is able to use charitable monies to fund commercial companies to meet its charitable objectives through programme-related investment (PRI). For further details, please see our policy on PRI [Word 23KB]. Companies will normally be expected to sign up to specific terms relating to the scheme.

All applications will require clear arrangements for leadership and management of the project, whether this involves a single institution or a consortium.

Application process

Prospective applicants should complete a concept note and send it to Technology Transfer at techtransfer@wellcome.ac.uk where it will be considered internally. If a decision is made to invite a preliminary application the applicant(s) will be sent a link to the form on e-grants.

Preliminary applications will be reviewed and shortlisted by the Translation Fund Committee.

Following triage shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a full application and will be subject to international peer review and due diligence by members of our Technology Transfer Advisory Group (TTAG). Applicants will be expected to make a presentation on their proposal to the TFC. Unless otherwise advised, this will be at the next scheduled meeting of the TFC.

Proposals are taken forward by invitation only. Uninvited applications will not be considered.

Application advice

Technology Transfer staff are happy to advise you during the preparation of a proposal.

The important criterion is to develop the innovation to the point at which it can be adopted by another party

Providing it is adequately justified, modest equipment purchase and maintenance costs may be included in an application. Building or refurbishment expenditure will not normally be considered.

Applications may not include requests for academic institutional overheads.

See allowed costs and disallowed costs for further information on what is and is not included.

The most common application queries are addressed by our FAQs.

Deadlines

There is an open call for concept notes. Prospective applicants should contact Technology Transfer to discuss their proposal.

If you receive an invite to submit a preliminary application, the deadlines for 2012/13 are as follows:

All applications must be received by 17.00 GMT on the deadline date.

Full applications will be invited following the relevant triage meeting.

Shortlisted applicants will be expected to make a presentation on their proposal to the Translation Fund Committee. Unless otherwise advised, this will be at the next scheduled meeting of the Committee.

Contacts

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

Forms and guidance

• Concept note [Word 72KB]
• Specimen preliminary and full application form [PDF 543KB]
• Full application undertakings letter for TTOs (or similar) [Word 21KB]
• Translation Fund Committee
• Grant conditions
• Information on full economic costing in UK universities
• Allowed costs
• Disallowed costs
• Standard funding agreement for not-for-profit organisations [Word 227KB]
• Convertible loan agreement for companies (founders) [Word 271KB]
• Convertible loan agreement for companies (non-founders) [Word 270KB]
• Template Letter of Intent for companies [Word 39KB]
• Frequently asked questions
• Termination Policy