ICYMI: The latest news and opportunities from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Welcome to our new monthly LinkedIn newsletter, summarising recent news and opportunities from BBSRC.
We hope that you find this useful: please let us know if there is anything you would like to see included in future newsletters.
Advice and opportunities
UKRI scheme to help researchers turn innovative ideas into commercial ventures
UKRI has launched a ￡9 million proof-of-concept fund to help researchers turn innovative ideas into successful business ventures. This initiative will help researchers to refine their ideas and reduce the risks of entering the market too soon. Prospective applicants need to register by 3 March.
BBSRC Follow-on Fund: 2025 round one now open!
Ready to take the next step in turning your bioscience research into a new product, process or service? Our Follow-on Fund is now open for applications. Awards of between ￡100,000 and ￡800,000 are available, with up to two years of funding to help bridge the gap between bioscience research and real-world impact. Apply by 26 March 2025.
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2025 BBSRC Fellowships
We are offering ￡9 million in fellowships for researchers looking to establish independent research careers and develop leadership skills. Fellows will carry out independent research in a host lab, with fellowships lasting three years (full-time or part-time). Apply by 7 May 2025.
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Now open: UKRI Metascience AI early career fellowships
The UK Metascience Unit is offering fellowships for early career researchers to explore how AI adoption is transforming the research landscape. This includes investigating ethical, epistemic and socioeconomic challenges, and understanding how governments, industry and funding organisations should respond to these challenges. Fellowships of up to ￡260,000 are available for up to two years.? Applications can be made until 10 April.
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BBSRC ICURe Explore: funding for commercialising bioscience
Looking to take your bioscience research beyond the lab? Our Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) Explore scheme offers grants of ￡35,000 to help research teams determine whether their ideas have commercial potential. ICURe Explore is open to research teams in UK universities, BBSRC-funded institutes and public sector research enterprises, and applications must be based on previous BBSRC- or UKRI-funded research. Apply by 18 March 2025.
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Future Leaders Fellowships: round 10 now open
These prestigious fellowships support early career researchers and innovators in any discipline looking to develop original, ambitious projects (including in a commercial setting), working at an eligible academic or non-academic institution. Future Leaders Fellowships last up to four years, with an option to renew for three more, and there is no minimum or maximum funding limit. Apply by 18 June 2025.
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UKRI creating opportunities: rethinking economic (in)activity
UKRI is offering funding for interdisciplinary projects aimed at supporting economic activity in areas with high rates of ill-health, disability and informal care. This initiative invites proposals from UK research organisations, with collaboration encouraged with partners from outside of academia. Up to ￡1.2 million is available.
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领英推荐
Doctoral Focal Awards in engineering biology and AI & data in the biosciences
Our Doctoral Focal Awards are now available to help train the next generation of researchers in engineering biology, and in the application of AI and data science in biosciences. The awards are open to UKRI-eligible higher education institutions, research council institutes, Catapult centres and public sector research enterprises. We particularly encourage applications from consortia. Both opportunities close on 10 April.
What we’re funding
New prosperity partnerships boost UK bio-innovation
Four new prosperity partnerships are bringing together leading UK researchers and businesses to tackle major challenges through long-term collaboration. The partnerships will pool expertise and resources to find innovative solutions to issues ranging from anti-microbial resistance to the environmental impact of salmon farming.
￡20m in long-term discovery research
We’ve invested ￡20m in four long-term frontier bioscience projects through our Strategic Longer and Larger Grants scheme (sLoLA). The projects will address critical challenges around healthy ageing, drug discovery and sustainable agriculture.
Boosting sustainable innovation in UK manufacturing
UKRI has announced nine new feasibility awards to drive the development of resource-efficient and bio-based materials and manufacturing. Backed by BBSRC and Innovate UK, this initiative builds on a successful 2023 funding round, further supporting collaboration between researchers and businesses.
Consultations and surveys
Have your say: UKRI website user satisfaction survey
We’re seeking feedback on your experience of the UKRI website, so we can improve our content, structure and navigation. The 10-question survey takes just three minutes to complete and is open until 28 February 2025.. Let us know what you think!
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Events
BBSRC Sparking Innovation Conference 2025 – register now!
Join 150 bioscience innovators, academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders at the BBSRC Sparking Innovation Conference 2025, to explore how bioscience is shaping the future. The conference will feature expert-led discussions and real-world case studies, and will provide valuable networking opportunities. 30 April to 1 May 2025, the Met Hotel, Leeds.