Queen’s University Belfast and QUBIS have officially launched Lab45: Accelerating Ideas into Action, a pilot initiative designed to support early-stage research teams in exploring the commercial potential of their innovations.

Lab45 provides a mission-based framework that guides researchers through the essential steps of early commercialisation - from strategic planning to customer discovery, testing assumptions, and preparing for investment or spin-out. The initiative is tailored for researchers who are ready to move beyond the lab and take real steps toward real-world impact.

A Mission-Led Approach

Lab45 is structured around five focused missions, each building essential commercial skills. From developing a commercial strategy to engaging with customers, testing ideas, and refining market fit with expert guidance - the missions are designed to take researchers from idea to action.

Empowering Research Teams

What makes Lab45 unique is its hands-on approach. It combines real-world case studies, expert input, and practical tools to ensure researchers are not just learning about commercialisation - they’re actively applying it to their work.

What’s Next?

While Lab45 is currently operating as a pilot, early momentum is promising. The goal is to explore the potential for wider rollout in the future, based on outcomes and feedback from this initial cohort.

Stay Connected

If you’re a researcher at Queen’s University Belfast and would like to learn more about Lab45 click HERE