At Queen’s, we are committed to helping researchers realise the commercial and societal impact of their work. Dedicated funding opportunities are available to support the journey from discovery to application, providing the resources needed to test feasibility, develop prototypes, validate markets, and build collaborations with industry. These schemes are designed to bridge the gap between research and real-world use, enabling innovation to flourish and deliver lasting benefit.

Proof of Principle (PoP) Funding

The Proof of Principle (PoP) scheme helps researchers take the first steps towards turning innovative ideas into real-world solutions. It provides seed funding to test feasibility, generate early data, and explore the commercial potential of research outcomes.

• Purpose: Support early-stage projects that need initial evidence to attract follow-on funding or industry interest.

• Typical activities: Prototype development, market validation, proof-of-concept studies.
  Learn more about PoP funding →

PoP Plus

Building on the foundations of PoP, PoP Plus offers extended funding to accelerate promising projects towards commercialisation. It supports activities that move research closer to market readiness and strengthen opportunities for licensing, spinout creation, or industry partnerships.

• Purpose: Bridge the gap between proof-of-concept and commercial application.

• Typical activities: Advanced prototype development, business planning, regulatory assessments, investor engagement.
  Learn more about PoP Plus funding →