Opportunity status:
Open
Funders:
,
Funding type:
Grant
Total fund:
£2,100,000
Award range:
£10,000 - £200,000
Publication date:
22 July 2025
Opening date:
22 July 2025 9:00am UK time
Closing date:
4 December 2025 4:00pm UK time
Apply for this invitation-only funding opportunity to support UK business and bioscience academic partnerships in accessing and benefitting from STFC skills, capabilities and facilities to find solutions to industrially relevant bioscience challenges.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding. The full proposal stage requires both an academic and UK business partner to support the application.
The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £200,000, including academic costs (at 80%) and facility costs (at 100%).
Projects can last up to 18 months in duration.
Who can apply
You can only apply for this funding opportunity if we have invited you to do so following a successful expression of interest application.
To lead a project, you must be based at an eligible organisation. .
Who is eligible to apply
To be eligible for funding at the full proposal stage, we require a suitable academic-business partnership.
To be eligible as the UK business partner, you must:
* be a UK based business registered at Companies House
* have a manufacturing base for the relevant product in the UK or provide the relevant service in the UK
* intend to exploit the results in the UK
Multiple businesses can collaborate in the partnership, but a lead business must be named.
To be eligible as the academic partner, you must be from one of the following organisations:
* UK higher education institutions
* research council institutes
* UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) approved independent research organisations
* public sector research establishments
* NHS bodies with research capacity
We will be able to provide advice and guidance into finding an academic partner if you do not already have one.
Who is not eligible to apply
STFC facility staff are not eligible as academic partners.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.
We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:
* career breaks
* support for people with caring responsibilities
* flexible working
* alternative working patterns
for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.
What we're looking for
Aim
The BBSRC-STFC facility access funding for bioscience partnerships funding opportunity is a joint funded programme by BBSRC and STFC. It aims to support the UK bioscience researchers and businesses in accessing and benefitting from access to STFC skills, expertise, capabilities and world class facilities.
Overall, the ambition is to support businesses and academic researchers to undertake collaborative research and development (R&D). R&D should be focused on solving industrially-relevant research and innovation challenges through engaging with the unique national capabilities and facilities at STFC.
These collaborations will be supported in accessing and working with STFC’s large scale facilities, advanced analytical technologies, high-performance and quantum computing, as well as data expertise.
Advanced analytical technologies
The programme provides support and access to advanced analytical technologies, expertise, and capabilities, located at STFC’s large scale science facilities around the UK including Harwell, Daresbury, and Whitby specifically including:
* neutrons: study structure and dynamics of materials at the atomic scale, including organic systems, the interaction of antimicrobials with pathogen membranes, or toxins from pathogens with models of mammalian and plant membranes
* X-rays: acquire high-resolution data to accelerate drug discovery, design and development, including gathering three-dimensional structure data of macromolecular drug targets and their ligands for drug target identification, and investigate the size, stability and conformation of macromolecules in solution
* lasers: extensive laser-based techniques to understand everything from single-molecule transport in biological systems to environmental changes and chemical pathways in cells, tissues and biomaterials, or watch how chemical and biochemical changes in materials happen in real-time
* high performance computing: access to computing resources, from classic computing for molecular simulations (for example, structural drug representations and molecular docking), to data analysis of complex datasets looking for significant correlations, to drug interaction and stability both in the formulation and in solution
* scientific computing: access to digital research infrastructure and advanced computing expertise in software development for processing experimental biological data, high-performance computing infrastructure, data storage systems and artificial intelligence for science
* deep underground science facility: in an ultra-low radiation environment, largely free from interference from natural radiation, use gamma spectroscopy to study and measure trace levels of radioactivity in samples with various biological tracing and authenticity applications, or study the effect of radiation in biological matter
* quantum computing: access to quantum compute platforms for developing and testing algorithms, expert support in crafting quantum solutions for bioscience applications, and potential engagement with live testbeds to explore and validate quantum applications
Scope
This programme will fund academic-industry collaborative R&D partnerships undertaking industrially-relevant research and innovation in bioscience and biotechnology (within BBSRC’s remit) that has clear benefits to the businesses involved.
Through direct access to STFC facilities and expertise, the programme is intended to foster impactful collaborations and to support world-leading discovery, research and innovation.
The programme is setup specifically to assist academic-industry collaborative R&D partnerships in accelerating the development of new products or services that require further research and innovation at proof-of-concept stage.
As a result of feedback from previous rounds, previous research and innovation carried out at the facilities are included as illustrative examples. These are based on work that has been previously undertaken at a selection of the facilities which is of relevance to bioscience and biotechnology supported across the breadth of BBSRC remit.
These examples are only intended to inspire and inform collaborations and discussions, helping to guide the development of proposals on a wide variety of ideas that explore biology, or apply the biosciences to solve significant challenges.
An integrated understanding of health
Examples include:
* using small angle X-ray scattering to characterise the solution structure of biopharmaceuticals under close to native state conditions to contribute to the understanding of enzyme behaviour
* using advanced computer platforms to investigate genomic signatures of food borne pathogens, such as E. coli or campylobacter, to understand pathogenicity in relation to food safety
* using small-angle neutron scattering to obtain in-depth information on the structure of drug delivery systems. For example, nucleic acid-based nanomedicines with the aim of rationally designing formulations for improved and targeted delivery
* using two-dimensional infrared spectrometry to investigate the dynamics of complex biological systems such as proteins to support drug design
* using available quantum computing platforms (hardware and emulators) including hybrid quantum-classical approaches to perform genomic data analysis and molecular design process to enhance drug discovery
Advanced manufacturing and clean growth
Examples include:
* using small angle X-ray scattering to characterise the solution structure of biopharmaceuticals under close to native state conditions to contribute to the understanding of enzyme behaviour
* using simulations and high-performance computing to understand the balance of proteins and vitamins in the skin microbiome to develop new skin hygiene products
* using a low background radiation underground laboratory environment to study the effects of radiation on biological matter
Sustainable agriculture and food
Examples include:
* using high-performance computing and machine learning to analyse large datasets about the soil microbiome to explain causal relationships that determine crop yield and soil health
* using neutron tomography to visualise plant roots and water distribution in three dimensions, to better understand interactions between plant roots and the soil around them
* using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy to investigate the cell wall structure between different potato breeds to determine how to reduce oil content in crisp production
* using shielded low background gamma-ray spectrometers to analyse naturally occurring radioactive isotopes to prove the authenticity of Welsh lamb
What we will not fund
We will not fund projects relating to:
* market analysis
* fundamental research which is not industrially relevant
* standard testing and measurement services readily available commercially or via academic partners
Duration
The duration of this award is up to 18 months.
Projects can be undertaken anytime over an 18-month period starting 1 April 2026 and ending 30 September 2027.
STFC facilities must be accessed anytime during the period of 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, subject to scheduling of STFC facilities.
Funding available
The FEC of your project can be up to £200,000.
BBSRC and STFC will fund 80% of the FEC of the academic component and 100% of the facility costs.
Companies are expected to provide a contribution, that may be in-kind or direct, based on a percentage of the STFC facility cost. This is dependent on company size. If multiple businesses are acting as project partners, the company contributions will be determined by the largest company in the consortium.
We use the Companies House Act 2006 definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as follows:
Micro companies
Staff headcount less than 10, turnover less than or equal to £632,000, or balance sheet total of less than or equal to £316,000.
Company contribution to total project cost (based on STFC facility costs): 30%
Small companies
Staff headcount less than 50, turnover less than or equal to £10.2 million, or balance sheet total of less than or equal to £5.1 million.
Company contribution to total project cost (based on STFC facility costs): 30%
Medium companies
Staff headcount less than 250, turnover less than or equal to £36 million, or balance sheet total of less than or equal to £18 million.
Company contribution to total project cost (based on STFC facility costs): 40%
Large companies
Staff headcount equal to or more than 250, turnover more than £36 million, or balance sheet total of more than £18 million.
Company contribution to total project cost (based on STFC facility costs): 50%
Subsidy control
This funding opportunity provides funding in line with the UK’s obligations and commitments to subsidy control.
Under the standard terms and conditions for this opportunity, you are wholly responsible for declaring and managing all potential subsidy control matters as part of the assessment process.
Further information about the Subsidy Control Act 2022 requirements can be found within the .
EU state aid rules now only apply in limited circumstances.
Read the to check if these rules apply to your organisation.
Further information
If you are unsure about your obligations under the UK subsidy control regime or the state aid rules, you should take independent legal advice. We are unable to advise on individual eligibility or legal obligations.
You must at all times make sure that the funding awarded to you is compliant with all current subsidy control legislation applicable in the UK.
This aims to regulate any advantage granted by a public sector body which threatens to, or actually distorts competition in the UK or any other country or countries.
If there are any changes to these requirements that mean we need to change the terms of this funding opportunity, we will tell you as soon as possible.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed to ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary.
Our set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.
As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.
See, including where applicants can find additional support.
How to apply
Stage one: expression of interest
The initial expression of interest stage required companies to submit a concise (approximately 500 words) ‘challenge statement’ describing their problem.
Successful applicants at this stage will have been invited to submit a full stage application
Stage two: full proposal
If successful at expression of interest stage, you will work together with STFC scientists and business development managers to develop a fully costed project proposal.
We are running this funding opportunity on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service.
Please note that the application must be completed by the academic partner, and it is important that the application is started by the project lead. The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.
Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.
To apply
You can only apply for this funding opportunity if we have invited you to do so following a successful expression of interest application. The start application link will be provided via email from
1. Follow the link in the email to the Funding Service and confirm you are the project lead.
2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email
Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this funding opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.
3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.
Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.
When including images, you must:
* provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)
* insert each new image on a new line
* use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application may be rejected if you include:
* sentences or paragraphs of text
* tables
* excessive quantities of images
A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.
For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:
* * *
References
References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.
Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:
* references are easily identifiable by the assessors
* references are formatted as appropriate to your research
* persistent identifiers are used where possible
General use of hyperlinks
Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.
For more information see our policy on the .
Deadline
BBSRC and STFC must receive your application by 4th December 2025 at 4:00pm UK time.
You will not be able to apply after this time.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.
Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.
Personal data
Processing personal data
BBSRC and STFC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our .
Sensitive information
If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email
Include in the subject line: [OPP1037 BBSRC STFC Facility Access Funding for Bioscience Partnerships; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].
Typical examples of confidential information include:
* individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
* declaration of interest
* additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
* conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
* the application is an invited resubmission
For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read .
Publication of outcomes
BBSRC and STFC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity.
If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the.
Summary
Word limit: 550
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:
* opinion-formers
* policymakers
* the public
* the wider research community
Guidance for writing a summary
Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:
* context
* the challenge the project addresses
* aims and objectives
* potential applications and benefits
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
* project lead (PL)
* project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
* specialist
* professional enabling staff
* research and innovation associate
* technician
* researcher co-lead (RcL)
Only list one individual as project lead. Only members of the research organisation team should be listed in this section.
Key members of staff from the business partner should be listed in the ‘Project partner’ and ‘Letter of support’ sections of the application form.
UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.