- UKRI Responsive Mode
Many UKRI Calls are always open – to start your search just take a look at the various Research Council websites.
See: www.ukri.org/funding/how-to-apply/
- STFC Bridging for Innovators (B4I) fund
The Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) have recently launched the Bridging For Innovators (B4I) Scheme.
B4I is funded through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and is designed to help companies overcome difficult manufacturing or process performance issues by utilising STFC’s cutting edge large scale science facilities, located around the UK at Harwell and Daresbury. The fund is available from now until April 2021 with an award size of up to £50,000 for 3-12 month duration. Only UK based companies are eligible to apply and (dependent on the company size) they will be expected to give an in-kind or direct contribution to STFC costs. The first step in the application process requires companies to submit a short ‘Challenge statement’ describing the problem (it’s nature, techniques tried and the value of solving it). If approved the companies then work with designated STFC scientists to work up a fully costed proposal which then undergoes review by the B4I Panel. Successful projects will selected on the greatest impact to productivity, the value to the company and the availability of suitable techniques/expertise within STFC to address the challenge.
https://stfc.ukri.org/funding/research-grants/funding-opportunities/closing-calls/bridging-for-innovators-funding-programme/
- Cranfield University MSc Project available (£17K/1 year)
Apply by: 9th May 2019
The project aims to understand the benefits and potential impacts that dosing of enzymes or supporting enzymatic action with nutrients additions can have on long-term operation of AD. This studentship offers an exciting opportunity to be part of the team assessing the technology and resolving some of the key unknowns in this field.
See: https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/research/phd/understanding-the-benefits-of-enzymes-and-micronutrients-in-anaerobic-digestion-msc-by-research
- National Biofilm Innovation Centre (NBIC) 2nd Proof of concept Call
A call for collaborative projects between Industrial and Research. The scope is Prevention, Detection, Management, and Engineering of Biofilms.
Deadline: 24th May 2019
See: https://biofilms.ac.uk/nbic-second-poc-to-launch/
- Agri-tech catalyst round 8
Innovate UK, GB and other funders – budget total £3 million.
Deadline: 5th June 2019 (Forecast)
The next call is expected to open in April and close in June 2019. The following information is subject to change.
Innovate UK and the Department for International Development invite applications for their agri-tech catalyst round 8. This aims to increase the pace of development and scale of uptake of agricultural and food systems innovation by farmers and food systems actors, such as manufacturers, processors, retailers, distributors or wholesalers, in Africa. Projects may be early-stage feasibility studies, mid-stage industrial research and late-stage experimental development. Projects must work on agri-tech and food chain innovations.
All projects must be collaborative and must include at least one partner from the UK and one from an eligible African country. Businesses and research organisations may apply.
See: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk
- UK-US Signals in the Soil (SitS)
National Science Foundation, US and other UKRI funders – budget total £8,000,000
Deadline: 15th May 2019
Award amount max £560,000
The National Science Foundation, the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, and the Science and Technology Facilities Council of United Kingdom Research and Innovation invite applications for their signals in the soil programme. This supports convergent and collaborative research that transforms existing capabilities in understanding dynamic, near-surface soil processes through advances in sensor systems and modelling.
See: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf19556
- Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
The KTP programme 2019 to 2020 is run continuously throughout the year.
Deadlines: multiple – April 2019 through to April 2020
A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) links your organisation with one of the UK’s world-class knowledge bases (a university or research organisation) to power strategic innovation projects, embed expertise and drive commercial growth. needed to develop it, a Knowledge Transfer Partnership may be the answer. It creates a dynamic three-way collaboration – between a business or not for profit organisation, a UK university or research organisation, and a suitably qualified graduate – to help realise a strategic innovation project, bring about transformative change and embed new capability.
See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/knowledge-transfer-partnerships-what-they-are-and-how-to-apply#ktadviser
- Innovate UK Smart Grants: April 2019
Deadline: 24 July 2019
Smart is the new name for Innovate UK’s ‘Open grant funding’ programme. Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £20 million in the best game-changing or disruptive ideas with a view to commercialisation. All proposals must be business focused, rather than pure research. Applications can come from any area of technology (including arts, design, media or creative industries), science or engineering and be applied to any part of the economy.
See: https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/346/overview
- SfAMs: New Lecturer Research Grant 2019
Deadline: 30th April each year.
This grant is normally available for newly appointed lecturers, in their first permanent academic appointment in a Higher Education Institute, to pump-prime their microbiological research. Applicants should be current Full Members of SfAM and have been so for at least two years prior to their application. Funding of up to £10,000 is available to a successful applicant. Applicants need not necessarily be in a ‘Microbiology’ lecturer post but their research field and proposed project should be in the field of Applied Microbiology.
See: https://sfam.org.uk/
- UKRI-BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnerships
Deadline: 1st May 2019
BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP) provide PhD training in areas of research relevant to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council’s (UKRI-BBSRC) remit and priority research areas. Building on the two previous DTP programmes, institution-level or multi-institution bids are invited to apply to the third phase of UKRI-BBSRC DTPs. It is anticipated that up to 15 DTPs will be awarded. The funding for each four-year studentship will include £5,000 p.a. research training support costs, as well as student stipend and fees at standard research council levels. Each doctoral candidate will take a three-month internship during their PhD, to experience working in an area not directly related to their PhD project.
See: https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/2019-doctoral-training-partnerships-programme-3/
- EPSRC Supergen Energy Networks £800,000 Flex Fund
EOI stage Deadline: 9th May 2019 (at 4pm)
The Supergen Energy Networks Hub provides a focus for a whole systems approach to energy networks research in the UK and around the world, working closely with industry and the academic community. This first £250,000 call invites proposals from Early Career Researchers, i.e. those nearing the end of their PhD or having recently taken up their first academic position or Fellowship (full-time or part-time), based at a UK Higher Education Institution or other organisation eligible to hold Research Council awards.
Contact the Supergen Energy Networks Hub Co-ordinator, Linda Ward: linda.ward@ncl.ac.uk
See: www.ncl.ac.uk/supergenenhub/senhubflex/
- KET4CleanProduction Micro Grants
Cut off dates for evaluations: 31st July 2019, 31st October 2019, 31st January 2020, 30th April 2020
European project KET4CleanProduction is offering micro grants for projects in Key Enabling Technologies (KET) including micro- and nano-electronics, nanotechnology, industrial biotechnology, advanced materials, photonics, and advanced manufacturing technologies. You will need to team up with at least two KET technology centres to work on your project. Projects can get up to 50,000 euros in funding. The grant should cover 70% of the total project costs while you cover the remaining 30%.
See: https://ktn-uk.co.uk/news/micro-grants-for-projects-on-integrating-key-enabling-technologies-ket-to-solve-clean-production-challenges
- Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking
Expected deadline (TBC): 4th September 2019
The Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is a €3.7 billion Public-Private Partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium. Operating under Horizon 2020, this EU body is driven by the Vision and Strategic Innovation and Research Agenda (SIRA) developed by the industry.
The scientific priorities for 2019 are the following:
• Foster the supply of sustainable biomass feedstock to feed both existing and new value chains;
• Optimise efficient processing for integrated biorefineries through research, development and innovation;
• Develop innovative bio-based products for identified market applications;
• Create and accelerate the market-uptake of bio-based products and applications.
This funding call includes 21 topics which will be released soon.
See: https://ktn-uk.co.uk/news/bio-based-industries-joint-undertaking-publishes-annual-work-plan-and-budget-for-2019
- STFC Bridging for Innovators (B4I) programme
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is a multidisciplinary research organisation that funds and operates a number of large science facilities offering research and development access to commercial users. Through these facilities, and their expert staff, they can provide access to advanced experimental and computational tools to address challenges in all aspects of the industrial biotechnology supply chain. Their £8 million Bridging for Innovators (B4I) programme is specifically designed to help companies overcome difficult product, manufacturing or process performance issues by providing access to advanced analytical technologies, supporting expertise and capabilities through STFC’s large scale science facilities located around the UK.
See: https://stfc.ukri.org/funding/research-grants/funding-opportunities/closing-calls/bridging-for-innovators-funding-programme/
- HSBC SME Loan Fund
HSBC UK has announced a £12 billion lending fund to support the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Fund includes a ring-fenced £1 billion to help UK companies grow their business overseas, as well as a broader package of support. The initiative is available to UK businesses with a turnover of up to £350 million. Applicants do not need to be an HSBC customer to apply.
See: www.about.hsbc.co.uk/news-and-media/hsbc-uk-lending-fund-committing-12-billion-to-support-uk-smes
- Horizon 2020 Calls
Horizon 2020 is the EU’s multi-billion research and innovation funding scheme running from 2014 to 2020. The UK government has issued some documents to clarify the UK’s eligibility to participate in Horizon 2020 if there is no Brexit deal.
Currently open calls of relevance to industrial biotechnology include:
Industrial Sustainability – The purpose of this call is to further strengthen the global leadership of Europe’s industry in environmental sustainability, through a combination of mature and disruptive technologies. Various deadlines in early 2019. See: https://ktn-uk.co.uk/funding/horizon-2020-industrial-sustainability-h2020-nmbp-st-ind-2018-2020
Fast Track to Innovation – aims to accelerate the market uptake of ground-breaking innovations by providing funding through an open, accessible scheme that nurtures ideas from consortia of innovators of all types and sizes from across Europe. Various deadlines throughout 2019. See: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/eic-fti-2018-2020