Royal Society Translation Award

This scheme is now closed and will not be opening to applications.

The scheme was for scientists who wanted to investigate the potential to commercialise an aspect of their research. 

The aims of the Translation Awards were to:

• provide support for promoting innovation and translation of research within universities
• support outstanding researchers to test the technical and economic feasibility of commercialising an aspect of their research and help academics to demonstrate that their concept for commercial success
• enable projects that demonstrated successful past research to enter the development stage
• create a cohort of innovative research providing them with bespoke training and support to increase their chances of successfully commercialising their research

Awards were made in the following areas:

• Royal Society ERA Foundation Translation award in electro-technology
• Royal Society Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson Foundation Translation awards in biomedical science
• Royal Society EPSRC Translation award for research in the built environment, energy and clean technology, or nanoscience/nanotechnology

The Royal Society Innovation Award and the Royal Society Translation Award were designed to promote innovation and fill the funding gap between scientific research and the exploitation of an idea through venture capital investment. They replaced the Brian Mercer Award for Innovation and the Brian Mercer Feasibility Award.

Who was eligible to apply?

Applicants were eligible to apply if:

• they held a PhD 
• they held a substantive post in either a university or a not-for-profit research organisation in the UK at least during the duration of the award

What was the scheme’s value and tenure?

The scheme provided up to £50,000 (including VAT) for a maximum duration of 24 months.