This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.

Who is eligible to apply

In order to be eligible for BBSRC Proof of Concept (PoC), your application must have a direct link to current or previous BBSRC-supported funding.

Who is not eligible to apply

Standard eligibility rules for BBSRC funding apply, including that international and overseas organisations are not eligible. Researchers based at international or overseas institutions are also not eligible.

Applications with no prior link to BBSRC funding are not eligible.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity 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

UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Demand management

Demand management is not currently being applied to this funding opportunity. However, should the level of interest exceed what can be managed within the assessment process, UKRI may introduce limits on the number of applications that can be submitted. Further details will be clearly communicated where this is the case. UKRI encourages organisations to support applicants in preparing well-planned, high-quality applications that are competitive for funding relative to the funding opportunity

Aim

The aim of BBSRC’s Proof of Concept (PoC) opportunity is to translate bioscience research into innovations such as products, services and solutions that generate real-world economic, societal, and environmental impact.

Scope

The BBSRC PoC is designed to enable researchers, with a sound understanding of the market opportunity for their intellectual assets, to execute a defined programme of work with clear objectives.

Projects considered through this programme must:

• draw upon current or previous BBSRC supported research, or other type of BBSRC research investment, or both
• enable research outputs to be further developed into practical application to deliver benefit and impact

We support commercialisation projects aimed at de-risking innovative ideas and later-stage projects that encompass significant technical milestones.

BBSRC PoC projects must primarily deliver economic, societal or environmental benefit to the UK. Project outcomes may also provide benefits within international markets, provided that the primary aim is to deliver significant benefit to the UK. The PoC does not support Official Development Assistance (ODA) activity.

Projects that primarily aim to promote or specifically target economic development or welfare outcomes in ODA-eligible countries and territories are not eligible for funding.

We will check applications to ensure their alignment with the designated scope, and we retain the authority to reject applications that are out of scope before assessment. Our decisions are final and not subject to appeal under this funding opportunity.

If an application is declined for assessment, then you will be provided with feedback to support the development of your future applications.

Remit

Applications to BBSRC PoC must be within the remit of BBSRC. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the remit of your proposed project, please see the ‘Contact details’ section.

We check applications to ensure their alignment with our remit and we retain the authority to reject applications considered out of remit before assessment. Our decision to decline applications in this circumstance will be final and is not subject to appeal.

If an application is declined for assessment, then you will be provided with feedback to support the development of your future applications.

We may share applications with other UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) councils to consider remit and direct you to the most appropriate council should your application be outside the remit of BBSRC. Please note the remit decision by the Office is final.

Project partners

Involvement of industry and users as project partners is strongly encouraged. Applications that do not have project partners are expected to clearly explain how industry and users have shaped the project to date. They should also describe how industry and users will be engaged in the future development of the project.

Project partners who wish to access foreground intellectual property (IP) generated during the project must make either a cash or in-kind contribution or a combination of both.

Project partner contributions must fully comply with the guidance in the ‘Project partners’ section.

If you are interested in including investors as project partners, please contact the BBSRC PoC team (poc@bbsrc.ukri.org) to discuss this further.

Webinar

The applicant webinar will be held on the 19 August 2026 1:00pm to 2:00pm UK time. To register for this webinar, please see the ‘Additional information’ section.

We will also provide a link to the recording of the webinar for those unable to attend.

Duration

The duration of this award is up to a maximum of two years.

Funding available

The FEC of your project can be up to £800,000. BBSRC will fund 80% of the FEC (up to £640,000). The remaining 20% must be met by the research organisation.

Additional support

We aim to support BBSRC PoC award-holders to successfully progress towards impact as part of a wider vision to build and strengthen pathways for bioscience translation.

We may contact award-holders to make invitations to participate in opportunities ranging from support for skills development and training, networking and engagement events, dissemination and communication activities, and access additional support to help maximise the impact of your project.

What we will fund

BBSRC PoC grant applications must demonstrate that the proposed work programme:

• is based on a sound understanding of the market need and opportunity that its product, service or solution aims to satisfy
• is robust and designed to optimise the economic, societal, and environmental benefit derived from the grant
• has a substantial link to BBSRC funding

What we will not fund

The following examples would be ineligible:

• projects focused solely on delivering training
• new research or extending an existing research grant
• applied or contract research conducted on behalf of commercial organisations
• applications outside of our remit
• applications outside of the scope of BBSRC PoC
• patent costs, and other intellectual property rights costs such as those relating to licensing agreements and the establishment of spin-out companies, are not eligible costs on research grants
• Official Development Assistance (ODA) activity

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UKRI is committed in 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 TR&I Principles 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 further guidance and information about TR&I, including where you can find additional support.

We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service, so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

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

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page:

1. 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.
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.

Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.

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 will 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:

• how applicants use the Funding Service
• how research offices use the Funding Service
• how reviewers use the Funding Service

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 use of generative AI in application and assessment.

Deadline

BBSRC must receive your application by 14 October 2026 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 this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

Personal data Processing personal data

BBSRC, 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 privacy notice.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email poc@bbsrc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; 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 UKRI’s privacy notice.

Institutional matched funding

There is no requirement for additional matched funding beyond the standard 20% FEC contribution expected from the research organisation. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations. Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged.

This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.

Publication of outcomes

BBSRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at UKRI Gateway to Research.

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.

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
• research and innovation associate
• technician
• researcher co-lead (RcL)

Only list one individual as project lead.

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.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.

Application questions Background

Word count: 2,200

What is the background to this application, including the direct link to current or previous BBSRC funding, and the technical development work that has preceded?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a brief overview of the background to this application including:

• the key grants (and funders) that have enabled and informed the work proposed in the application, specifying any previous BBSRC grant references
• details of the development steps that have progressed the research or innovation to this translation stage
• how the proposed work contributes to BBSRC’s research portfolio and priorities

Within this section we also expect you to:

• identify if the application is a resubmission (including invited resubmission) and how the proposed work has developed
• reference any other correspondence with us relevant to and regarding the application

Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further instructions are provided within the Funding Service.

References may be included within this section.

Opportunity and market analysis

Word limit: 1,400

What is the opportunity you are looking to exploit or what challenge will your project address?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how your proposed work:

• has the potential to address a business need, technological challenge, or exploit a market opportunity
• could lead to the development or deployment of a new or improved product, service, or technology
• is timely given current trends and context
• meets the needs of potential users or customers
• is resilient to changing external circumstances and consumer behaviours
• impacts positively on society, the economy or the environment

Within this section we also expect you to:

• identify the potential direct or indirect benefits and who the beneficiaries might be

Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further instructions are provided within the Funding Service.

You can use the upload file function to provide directly relevant excerpts of market research reports. This must be no longer than 10 sides of A4 in Arial 11pt and uploaded as a PDF of no more than 8MB. Upload details are provided within the Funding Service on the actual application.

References may be included within this section.

Route to market

Word limit: 2,500

How would your proposed project progress the innovation towards its intended user(s) or market(s)?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:

• includes plans for the innovation to reach its intended market or users
• is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
• is feasible and is supported by technical, research or scientific evidence
• comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
• if applicable, summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed
• will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts
• identifies any support required post-award to deliver the solution such as access to other networks or further funding

Within the Route to market section we also expect you to:

• demonstrate access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment to deliver the proposal
• provide a detailed and comprehensive project plan, including milestones and timelines in the form of a Gantt chart or similar (additional one-page A4)
• describe how the proposed work will inform or deploy the product, service or technology using the most appropriate route to market

Upload details are provided within the Funding Service on the actual application.

References may be included within this section.

Intellectual property (IP) management and communication

Word limit: 1,000

What is your IP exploitation plan?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of your plans to:

• manage the outputs of the project, including any intellectual assets and intellectual property and its protection (if applicable)
• have freedom to operate
• protect the foreground IP or market position
• disseminate and communicate the outputs of your project in a timely manner without compromising future IP protection
• access potential future investments, if required

Include any intellectual property rights (IPR) if appropriate. If your IPR is a patent, please include the patent number or numbers along with a summary scope of the claims. We recognise that not all applications to the BBSRC PoC will have a patent or other IPR.

Additional guidance for applicants with project partners

Project partners seeking pre-negotiated access to foreground intellectual property (IP) must contribute a minimum of 50% total project costs. Project partners seeking to secure the right to negotiate access to foreground IP at the end of the award must contribute a minimum of 10% total project costs. This contribution can be cash or in-kind contribution or a combination of both.

Project contributions must be directly relevant and auditable in relation to the proposed project. These thresholds are specific to this funding opportunity.

Empty shell companies (no investment, staff, or premises) formed for the sole purpose of commercialising foreground IP generated during the project are exempt from contributing project costs.

You are advised against the direct assignment of foreground IP to a newly formed spin-out company. Instead, option agreements should be utilised until the spin-out has secured enough funding to drive the translation of foreground IP, when a substantive agreement should be executed.

You must clearly justify why your chosen approach is the best for your foreground IP within the relevant sections of the application. We reserve the right to request further information on IP management plans and IP rights of third parties should your application be recommended for funding.

Please use our Project Partner Contribution Calculator to check that contributions meet the minimum requirements. This can also be found in the ‘Supporting documents’ section.

We may decline to accept applications for assessment where project partners seeking access to foreground IP do not meet the stated thresholds for the project partner contributions.

If you are interested in including investors as project partners, please contact the BBSRC PoC team at poc@bbsrc.ukri.org to discuss this further.

References may be included within this section.

Wider benefits

Word count: 1,400

Beyond the commercial opportunity, what are the potential societal, environmental, and economic benefits of the proposed approach?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

You should:

• explain why public funding is appropriate and essential for the proposed programme of work, including why private investment cannot, or will not enable this
• consider the potential impact on high-level societal challenges. For example, gender equality, diversity, social inclusion, and climate change
• outline any wider economic impacts. For example, job creation, skills, and capacity building
• describe the steps you will take to maximise any potential benefits

References may be included within this section.

Your organisation’s support

Word limit: 10

Provide details of support from your research organisation.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a statement of support from your research organisation detailing how they will support you, as the applicant, and your proposed activities. This should include details of any additional support that might add value to the work.

Assessors will be looking for a strong statement of support from your research organisation. This information should have been approved for submission by an appropriate institutional authority.

BBSRC encourages applicants to seek this support letter from their Technology Transfer Office (TTO) or equivalent.

You must also include the following details:

• a significant person’s name, their position and office or department, or all
• office address or web link

Upload details are provided within the Funding Service on the actual application.

Project partners

Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.

A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct contributions for example cash, donated equipment and resources, or staff seconded to the project, or indirect and in-kind contributions for example use of project partner’s equipment, datasets, or facilities. Project partners may be in industry, academia, third sector or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU.

Add the following project partner details:

• the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)
• the project partner contact name and email address
• the type of contribution (direct or indirect) and its monetary value

If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Additional guidance for applicants with project partners

Project partners seeking pre-negotiated access to foreground intellectual property (IP) must contribute a minimum of 50% total project costs.

Project partners seeking to secure the right to negotiate access to foreground IP at the end of the award must contribute a minimum of 10% total project costs. This contribution can be cash or in-kind contribution or a combination of both. Project contributions must be directly relevant to the proposed project.

Empty shell companies (no investment, staff, or premises) formed for the sole purpose of commercialising foreground IP generated during the project are exempt from contributing project costs.

You are advised against the direct assignment of foreground IP to a newly formed spin-out company. Instead, option agreements should be utilised until the spin-out has secured enough funding to drive the translation of foreground IP, when a substantive agreement should be executed.

You must clearly justify why your chosen approach is the best for your foreground IP within the relevant sections of the application. We reserve the right to request further information on IP management plans and IP rights of third parties should your application be recommended for funding.

Please use our Project Partner Contribution Calculator to check that contributions meet the minimum requirements. This can also be found in the ‘Supporting documents’ section.

We may decline to accept applications for assessment where project partners seeking access to foreground IP do not meet the stated thresholds for the project partner contributions.

If you are interested in including investors as project partners, please contact the BBSRC PoC team at poc@bbsrc.ukri.org to discuss this further.

Project partners: letters (or emails) of support

Word limit: 500

Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the project partners section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box, or if you do not have any project partners, please see instructions below. Each letter or email you provide should:

• confirm the partner’s commitment to the project
• clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them
• describe any additional value that they bring to the project
• state if project partners wish to access foreground intellectual property (IP) generated during the project
• fully justify project partner contributions
• have a page limit of two sides A4 per partner

All project partners that propose to make either a cash or in-kind contribution or a combination of both must provide a justification for the value of their planned contributions and summarise how those contributions add value to the overall project.

Applications without project partners must use the text box to clearly articulate how industry, users or both have contributed to the development of the project to date and how they will be engaged in the future progress of the project.

The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.

Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the Project partners section.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Additional guidance for applicants with project partners

Project partners seeking pre-negotiated access to foreground intellectual property (IP) must contribute a minimum of 50% total project costs. Project partners seeking to secure the right to negotiate access to foreground IP at the end of the award must contribute a minimum of 10% total project costs. This contribution can be cash or in-kind contribution or a combination of both. Project contributions must be directly relevant to the proposed project.

Empty shell companies (no investment, staff, or premises) formed for the sole purpose of commercialising foreground IP generated during the project are exempt from contributing project costs.

Applicants are advised against the direct assignment of foreground IP to a newly formed spin-out company. Instead, option agreements should be utilised until the spin-out has secured enough funding to drive the translation of foreground IP, when a substantive agreement should be executed.

You must clearly justify why your chosen approach is the best for your foreground IP within the relevant sections of the application. We reserve the right to request further information on IP management plans and IP rights of third parties should your application be recommended for funding.

Please use our Project Partner Contribution Calculator to check that contributions meet the minimum requirements. This can also be found in the ‘Supporting documents’ section.

We may decline to accept applications for assessment where project partners seeking access to foreground IP do not meet the stated thresholds for the project partner contributions.

If you are interested in including investors as project partners, please contact the BBSRC PoC team at poc@bbsrc.ukri.org to discuss this further.

Applicant and team capability to deliver

Word limit: 1,650

Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work
• the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work
• the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others
• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
• describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, innovation environment (in terms of the place, its location, reputation, and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

The word limit for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) modules and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the R4RI format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project lead and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.

Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:

• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
• contributions to the wider research and innovation community
• contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit

Additions

Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).

Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

References may be included within this section.

The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.

Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)

What are the ethical and RRI considerations, implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical and RRI considerations, including both the research or topic area itself and the design and delivery of the project
• the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, while minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm
• how you will manage these considerations throughout the lifecycle of the project

If you are collecting or using data you should identify:

• any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing or storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further reuse of data)
• formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with

Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) relating to research involving:

• animals
• human participants
• genetically modified organisms

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation.

Animal Involvement and “3Rs”

You must complete this section about how your proposed project will involve or impact animals.

If your project does not involve or impact animals, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what animals you are involving
• the severity of the procedures you are using
• where the procedures will take place
• welfare standards you aim to meet
• the relevance of your project to the development, validation or dissemination of the 3Rs

You may also need to download, complete, and upload at least one set of additional questions. You will be told how to do this towards the end of this section.

To complete this section and check whether your project is in the scope of the questions, refer to the UKRI policy for research and innovation involving animals.

What counts as an animal

UKRI policy relates to all animals in the Kingdom Animalia, including vertebrates and invertebrates.

Genetically modified organisms and biological risk

You must complete this section if your project will include genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies.

If you project does not involve genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• the type of organism your project will involve and the procedures your project will include
• the intended use of the organism or genetic technology
• the genetic, biological and environmental risks of your project

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance on genetic technologies.

Human Participation in Health-related Research

You must complete this section about whether your project will include human participation.

If your project does not involve human participation, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what type of human participation your project includes
• the project design for human participation
• the phase of the clinical trial
• whether the project will be in an NHS setting, if so how the project will be registered
• whether diversity and inclusion will be considered

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance for human participants in research.

Data management and sharing

Word limit: 700

How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed research?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes.

Resources and cost justification

Word limit: 2,000

What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:

• project staff
• significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)
• any equipment that will cost more than £25,000
• any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
• all facilities and infrastructure costs
• all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’

You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders. Where a funding limit is imposed on the opportunity, requested costs for reasonable adjustments may exceed the maximum funding amount.

Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:

• are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
• represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
• maximise potential outcomes and impacts

Facilities

Word limit: 700

Does your proposed research require the support and use of a facility?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you will need to use a facility, follow your proposed facility’s normal access request procedures. Ensure you have prior agreement so that if you are offered funding, they will support the use of their facility on your project.

For each requested facility you will need to provide the:

• name of facility, copied and pasted from the facility information list (DOCX, 42KB)
• proposed usage or costs, or costs per unit where indicated on the facility information list
• confirmation you have their agreement where required

Facilities should only be named if they are on the facility information list above. If you will not need to use a facility, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

Trusted Research and Innovation is the protection of the UK’s intellectual property, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation.

Organisations receiving UKRI funding are obliged to act in line with UK government legislation. They are also expected to undertake appropriate due diligence assessments of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.

You will be asked about:

• which areas of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act your project relates to
• who you intend to collaborate with and how
• if your project requires an export control licence

Your answers may affect the T&Cs of your funding agreement if you are successful. We may use your answers to determine that our current T&Cs are sufficient or if additional T&Cs are required.

Assessment process

We will assess your application using the following process.

Panel

All applications will be assessed by the Proof of Concept Committee drawn from members of the BBSRC Knowledge Exchange, Translation and Commercialisation (KETC) College. The KETC College is an expert community appointed with the oversight of the BBSRC Appointments Panel. Your application will be reviewed against the assessment criteria and ranked alongside other applications.

BBSRC will make the final funding decision.

For more information on how we prioritise applications for funding please visit How we make decisions.

Timescale

We aim to complete the assessment process within six months of receiving your application.

Feedback

We will give feedback with the outcome of your application.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in expert review

Generative AI may be used only for the purpose of language refinement during application assessment. When using generative AI to refine the language of a review, expert reviewers and panellists must ensure that:

• no part of the application being assessed is entered into a generative AI tool
• no personal information from the application is disclosed
• generative AI is not tasked with understanding, summarising or evaluating the application’s content

Expert reviewers and panellists must also:

• comply with relevant intellectual property and data protection legislation
• not take into account or speculate within their assessment whether generative AI has been used to develop the application

For more detail see our policy on the use of generative AI.

Assessment areas

The assessment areas we will use are:

• background
• opportunity and market analysis
• route to market
• intellectual property (IP) management and communication
• wider benefits
• your organisation’s support
• project partner support
• applicant and team capability to deliver
• ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)
• data management and sharing
• resources and cost justification
• facilities
• trusted research and innovation

The assessment criteria we will use to assess your application against are as follows.

Scientific and technical merit

To what extent does the proposal identify or demonstrate:

• high scientific quality (including technical feasibility, objectives and deliverables)
• potential risks with any mitigation strategies
• novelty regarding any existing technology
• a technology readiness level gain throughout project
• quality of the development and implementation plan, including strength of the consortia (both academic and project partners where relevant)
• input from end users and customers

Societal impact

To what extent does the proposal articulate:

• the societal benefits of the proposed innovation, including non-monetary benefits. For example, time saved, patient’s care improved, and so on
• a knowledge exchange plan, including dissemination of expertise into the challenge area
• how it addresses the needs of end users or customers
• consideration of regulatory alignment, engagement or both (where relevant)
• consideration of societal sensitivities. For example, reduced plastic, data security and so on

Economic impact

To what extent does the proposal demonstrate:

• a robust business plan. For example, need, size, competitors, value, and location
• the likelihood of commercialisation and route to market (including project partner support, if relevant)
• economic benefit, both UK and globally
• consideration of intellectual property management

Added value

To what extent does the proposal demonstrate:

• that the resources requested, relative to the anticipated outputs, represent an appropriate investment of our funds (value for money)
• the degree of support from project partners, both during project and after funding (if relevant)
• a consideration of the future of the project after BBSRC PoC funding has finished

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Get help with your application

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page:

The helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility, content or remit of a funding opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your application please contact your organisation’s Research Office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact poc@bbsrc.ukri.org

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the Funding Service helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org
Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

• Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm
• Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

To help us process queries more efficiently, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.

Background

This opportunity was formerly known as BBSRC Follow-on Fund.

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Webinar for potential applicants

We will hold a webinar on 19 August 2026. This will provide more information about the funding opportunity and a chance to ask questions.

Register for the webinar.

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays
• disruptive working patterns and conditions
• the loss of ongoing work
• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic

Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant and their wider team to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.

Supporting documents

Project partner contribution calculator (XLSX, 32KB)

Equality impact assessment (PDF, 222KB)