Plant Science and Crop Protection Innovation

World-leading Plant Science and Crop Protection research is carried out here at the University of Glasgow and focuses on identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying physiological environmental cues. Our researchers apply a synthetic biology and systems approaches to tackle global challenges, working in collaboration with industry partners to develop innovative technologies to address key issues facing the health and food sectors. The college of MVLS pioneers research in crop stress resistance, photobiology, and ion transport and electrophysiology. 

The Translational Research Initiative Management Team (TRI MT) help researchers achieve maximum impact from their projects. The following roadmap provides information on experimental considerations, IP identification and protection (where applicable), business development aspects, regulatory guidance and funding opportunities available, both internally within The University of Glasgow and also some external opportunities. 

Each stage corresponds with different "Technology Readiness Levels" (TRLs). This is a method for understanding the maturity of an innovation during its acquisition or experimental and testing phases. Each research project is evaluated against the parameters for each technology level and is then assigned a TRL rating based on the project's progress. There are nine technology readiness levels; TRL 1 is the lowest and TRL 9 is the highest.

For more information on the experimental, business development and funding resources of projects at each maturity stage, and for guidance on how to access them, please see the tiles below.

Key Contacts and Facilities

List of contacts and facilities to support the development of medical devices at UofG.

Regulatory Requirements

Key Contacts

List of Facilities

Stage 0: Discovery Research

The earliest stage of a research project. Fundamental discovery research takes place, and preliminary data is collected to establish the feasibility of an idea.

Can take 12 - 18 months.

Experimental

Business Development

Discovery Research Grant Funding

Stage 1: Ideas and Identification

Can take 18-24 months.

Experimental

Business Development

Discovery Research Grant Funding

Stage 2: Early Concept Validation

Can typically take 18-24 months.

Experimental

Business Development

Translational Research Funding

Stage 3: Concept Progression

Once a technology has passed technical proof of concept (TPOC)* and there is an established understanding about where it might fit as a commercial product, its next steps include demonstrating commercial proof of concept (CPOC), demonstrating whether the innovation has the potential to be scaled up to a commercial product.  At this stage in the development pipeline, activities need to be aligned towards CPOC and towards the development of a prototype product. 

Can take 18-24 months.

* Where an idea has been shown to be technically feasible. 

Experimental

Business Development

Translational Research Funding

Stage 4: Scale-Up of Concept

The journey from technical proof of concept (TPOC) to commercial proof of concept (CPOC), commercial proof of concept, where a technology has the potential to be scaled up into a commercial product, requires the identification of industrial partnerships and de-risking funding opportunitiesfrom government sources . The question of whether, or when to register a spinout company is also a factor at this stage. However, spinning out before a technology is mature can create its own problems by potentially lengthening the time between commercialisation and first revenue. 

Can be 12-18 months.

Experimental

Business Development

Translational Research Funding

Stage 5: End Goal/Exit

Exit from the university research environment is generally accepted to have occurred when a company has spun-out or a technology has been licensed to commercial companies. Spinning out has the potential to maximise financial returns and prestige to the university, but it also carries increased risk. At a practical level, members of the research team, including PIs, need to decide whether to exit from the university for full time employment with the new spinout company or retain their academic posts and position in the new company on a part-time basis.  

Can take 18-24 months.

Experimental

Business Development

Funding Opportunities

Translational Research Projects

Many projects have been successfully translated with the help and support of the TRI; some of which are described in our case studies.

Previously funded translational projects can be found below each of our funding opportunities.

For further advice, please see our Applying for Translational Research Funding Video.