Research and Enterprise invites applications for funding for projects relating to impact, commercialisation and external engagement. 

Additional funding has been received for the Medical Research Council (MRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA), and this call will remain open on a rolling basis, subject to the availability of funds. Applications will be reviewed periodically, and the call may close or be paused at any time based on the volume and quality of submissions.  

This call will support several IAA projects. All projects must be based on previous or current research. 

Applications will be open to members of staff in any School within the University that can satisfy four essential criteria; 

1. Translational potential 

2. Submitted an Invention Disclosure Form (IDF):  

• For Translational Catalyst Fund projects an IDF must be submitted in advance of application 
• For Early Career Translational Fellowships (ECTFs): 
  • An IDF is required based on the project’s nature and fellowship strand. 
  • Translational and Partnership Fellowships may require an IDF before funding is confirmed.
  • The Emerging Talent Fellowship will be assessed on a case-by-case basis for IDF requirements.

3. The project must be able to start reasonably quickly  

4. Completion Dates:  

• Translational Catalyst Fund projects must be completed within 6 months of the start date.  

• Early Career Translational Fellowships must be completed within 6 months of the start date  

• All projects must be completed (cost or spend incurred) by 02 Feb 2026. 

For more information and to access the Invention Disclosure Form please visit https://www.qub.ac.uk/Business/Commercialisation/IP-and-innovation/Got-an-idea/ or contact Maria Colligan (m.colligan@qub.ac.uk) in the Commercial Development Team. 

All MRC IAA applications should be registered on the Research Application System (RAS).  Applicants should work with the relevant Faculty Finance Office to calculate project budgets. Please be in contact with your Faculty Finance Office at least 5 days in advance of submission.

If you have any queries or would like to discuss a project proposal please email iaa@qub.ac.uk and include 'MRC IAA' in the subject line. 

MRC IAA Translational Catalyst Fund  
 

The Translational Catalyst Fund (TCF) aims to overcome a key barrier in advancing research within the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences: securing early-stage funding for novel ideas to achieve proof-of-concept. 

The Fund provides up to £50,000 in seed funding for projects over a 3-6 month period. This funding supports the development of early-stage ideas or the generation of additional data necessary for concept validation, ultimately instilling confidence to attract further investment. 

Projects that progress beyond proof-of-concept and aim for basic validation are especially encouraged, as they enhance attractiveness for future funding opportunities. However, applications focusing solely on extending fundamental research or targeting research paper outputs are unlikely to be successful. 

An Invention Disclosure Form (IDF) should be submitted two weeks prior to the submission of this application.

This call is currently open on a rolling basis, subject to funding availability. All applications must be submitted via the online form. A downloadable version of the application form is available here to assist with preparation. For application inquiries, please contact iaa@qub.ac.uk and include "MRC IAA" in the subject line. 

MRC IAA Early Career Translational Fellowships  

The Early Career Translational Fellowship (ECTF) Fund at Queen's University Belfast, supported by the MRC IAA, is dedicated to fostering knowledge transfer and commercialisation by empowering Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and Postdoctoral Researchers (PDRAs) to drive impact at project inception. Fellows gain business engagement experience, build industry partnerships, and enhance their career development through this initiative 

ECRs and PDRAs can apply as Co-Investigators with support from a permanent academic (PI). Applications should outline the technology or opportunity for advancement, alongside a personal development statement detailing the fellow's vision and goals. 

The ECTF Fund offers three fellowship options, each covering a maximum period of 6 months: 

• Partnership Fellowship: Up to £20,000 for collaborative projects with external partners, who are expected to match funds through cash or in-kind contributions. 

• Translational Fellowship: Up to £40,000 to support early-stage, translational research for independent or academic-focused projects. 

• Emerging Talent Fellowship: Up to £40,000 for promising ECRs, supporting projects with high impact potential, evaluated on an IDF basis if needed. 

This call is currently open on a rolling basis, subject to funding availability. All applications must be submitted via the online form. A downloadable version of the application form is available here to assist with preparation. For application inquiries, please contact iaa@qub.ac.uk and include "MRC IAA" in the subject line. 

For ECTF applicants, the requirement for an IDF varies by fellowship strand and project type. For applicants to the Translational and Partnership Fellowship strands, an IDF may be necessary prior to confirmation of the funding award. For the Emerging Talent Fellowship, the IDF requirement will be evaluated individually to avoid undue restrictions on applicants. For more information, or to check the IDF requirement for an ECTF project you wish to propose, contact Maria Colligan (m.colligan@qub.ac.uk in the Commercial Development Team.