UKRI Translation: BBSRC Proof of Concept 2026
| 項目 | 值 |
|---|---|
| Opportunity status | Open |
| Funders | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Funding type | Grant |
| Total fund | £3,000,000 |
| Award range | £100,000 - £800,000 |
| Publication date | 5 August 2026 |
| Opening date | 5 August 2026 9:00am UK time |
| Closing date | 14 October 2026 4:00pm UK time |
Last updated: 5 August 2026 - see all updates
Start application
Apply for funding to translate bioscience research into innovations such as products, services or solutions that generate real-world economic, societal, and environmental impact.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding.
Projects must build on prior Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) support and include a clear pathway to real-world use through commercialisation, adoption, or progression towards deployment.
The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £800,000. BBSRC will fund 80% of the FEC.
Projects can last up to 24 months.
This opportunity was formerly known as Follow-on Fund.
Who can apply
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.
What we're looking for
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.
How to apply
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:
- Confirm you are the project lead.
- Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password.
- 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.
- Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
- Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
- 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
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.
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.