Funding

The Follow-on funding programme is designed to support the translation of fundamental research funded by us into practical application, including commercialisation. The aim of the programme is to help researchers maximise the societal and economic benefits of their research. This programme is a proof-of-concept model where further work on an idea will take it through to the stage at which the route to application is clear, which may include a spin-out or licensing opportunity. The programme enables activities essential to preparing a robust business plan and secure, where appropriate, further funding and support to progress. This programme includes: Pathfinder Follow-on Fund: Projects up to 6 months in duration; Valued at under £20k (80% FEC) Standard Follow-on Fund (FOF): Projects up to 12 months in duration; Valued at under £250k (80% FEC) Super Follow-on Fund (SuperFOF): Projects between 12-24 months in duration; Valued at between £0.25M and £2.0M (80% FEC)   Applications are by invitation only, following an outline phase. Pathfinder Grants help researchers undertake the preliminary work required to put them in a position to apply for a Follow-On Fund Grant. This work typically focuses on evaluating the market potential for their research and the comparative strength of their intellectual assets and, if the technical feasibility of the project depends on it, the achievement of technical milestone 1. A Follow-On Grant enables researchers who have a sound understanding of the market opportunity for their intellectual assets to execute a defined programme of work of up to two years in length that has clearly defined and complementary technical and business plan development milestones.   Super Follow-on outline call deadline: 5 June 2013Super Follow-on full call (invite only): 2 October 2013 Standard Follow-on fund call opens: 10 June 2013Standard Follow-on fund call deadline: 2 October 2013  

The Foundation makes prizes available in recognition of significant scientific collaboration between Japanese and British research teams every three years. Applications for the Daiwa Adrian Prizes 2013 are now being accepted. The deadline for applying is 7 June 2013. The 2013 Daiwa Adrian Prizes will be awarded at a ceremony at the Royal Society on 27 November 2013. Daiwa Adrian Prizes are awarded in recognition of significant scientific collaboration between British and Japanese research teams in the field of pure or applied science. Fields covered include physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, engineering, agricultural, biological and medical research, the scientific aspects of archaeology, geology and experimental psychology.  

The Natural Environment Research Council invites applications for its policy placement fellowships. These enable researchers to undertake collaborative work with a policy-making body such as a government department, devolved administration or agency. The work should focus on accelerating and amplifying impact and improvements of research through working with business, NGOs or government bodies. Applicants must be from a NERC research centre or a higher education institution in receipts of NERC-funded research. The fellowships are tenable for six months to three years. NERC will fund 50 per cent of the placement, except for NGOs where NERC will fund 75 per cent. Closing date 10 Jun 13 Deadline information Applications invited between 29 April and 4pm, 10 June 2013.

The Natural Environment Research Council invites applications for its knowledge exchange fellowships. These part-time  aim to increase the impact of NERC-funded science through a programme of work of the fellows’ own choosing. The work should focus on accelerating and amplifying impact and improvements of research through working with business, NGOs or government bodies. Fellows may be hosted at approved UK higher education institutions, research centres and collaborative centres that are currently in receipt of NERC research funding, or at approved independent research organisations. Members of the NERC community at any stage of their career are eligible to apply. Fellows may be employed for one to three years, for a minimum of 20 per cent and a maximum of 80 per cent of their time. Fellowships will cover the fellow’s salary, including superannuation, national insurance and specific allowances, plus up to £40,000 for travel and other associated work plan costs.   Closing date 10 Jun 13 Deadline information Applications invited between 29 April and 4pm, 10 June 2013.  

SPARK Awards are £5k grants to encourage new collaborations between the research community and Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). It is the intention that small confidence building measures such as a SPARK award will encourage a longer term relationship between the SME and research-based partner. The call is open now. The deadline for applications is midnight 14th June 2013. To find out more and to apply, go to: https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/spark-group

Summary After a successful joint workshop (see external link) held in May 2012 in Norwich, the UK's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and India's Department of Biotechnology (DBT) announces a joint call for research proposals.   This call seeks to build on the combined strengths of academic research groups within India and the UK to work together on collaborative multidisciplinary projects involving sequencing, genomics and bioinformatics for crop improvement. BBSRC and DBT have earmarked up to £5M each for this call, for projects up to a maximum duration of three years.   Priority areas for this call fall into two categories:   Enabling technologies -Bioinformatics -Next generation sequencing -TILLING platform -Genetic diversity resources -High throughput chemical profiling   Trait-oriented research -Crop stress biology -Resource use efficiency -Product quality -Plant architecture   Eligibility Standard BBSRC and DBT criteria guidelines will apply, any potential applicants who are unsure whether they and/or their institution meets the relevant eligibility criteria are encouraged to contact the BBSRC or DBT office.   How to apply For full details please see the call text download at this link: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/opportunities/2013/crop-genomics.aspx

The Company of Biologists will consider applications for a grant towards the cost of running a small meeting within the fields of the company's journals. Such a meeting would normally be a local one on a small budget. Applications for support for aspects of large meetings will not be considered for a small meeting grant; such applications should be directed to the company's Grants Committee. Application should be made to the Charity Administrator and should include the title and location of the meeting, full details of costs, other sources of finance already obtained or applied for, and any other relevant details. Level of funding normally not exceeding £300. Only one application per year. Funding will not be made retrospectively.

The Technology Strategy Board, together with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Scottish Enterprise, is to invest up to £8.5m to stimulate innovation in the food and drink sector. The collaborative R&D and feasibility study elements of this competition both open for applications on 20 May 2013. The deadline for registration is noon on 26 June 2013. The deadline for completed feasibility study applications and expressions of interest for collaborative R&D projects is noon on 3 July 2013. A briefing event for potential applicants will be held on 21 May 2013. Through this competition we are encouraging innovative approaches to help businesses produce and process food that is as safe and healthy as possible. In this competition we are looking to fund both feasibility studies and CR&D projects that fall within one of the following areas: Integrating technologies to assist nutrient absorption integrating molecular technologies (such as metabolomics, proteomics or genomics) into new or existing systems, processes or approaches, to enable efficient delivery and uptake of nutrients developing linkages between genetics and diet, and so providing nutritional choices which improve the population's overall health and wellbeing, for example through food which is formulated to meet specific characteristics or deficiencies in sub-groups of the population (such as older people, people who are obese, or people with suppressed immunity) developing technologies that provide evidence of the mechanisms associated with the perception of food, eg taste, smell and sense of texture.   Nutrient regulation and delivery   developing novel formulations and delivery of nutrients (including through non-oral routes, such as micro-nutrient absorption through the skin) developing technologies that identify nutrient deficiencies.   Novel and healthier foods   enabling the screening, identification, characterisation or production of new functional or healthier food, drink or ingredients improving food formulation and reformulation, in particular to reduce salt, fat and sugar.   Safety, authenticity and traceability   identification of the presence or levels of pathogens, contaminants or allergens implementing processing methods throughout the food chain to improve quality assurance, so reducing adverse effects or health risks to the consumer enabling quick and reliable determination of products or ingredients, country of origin, method of production, or the presence of adulterants or substituted or undeclared ingredients enabling efficient and robust tracking and monitoring of food, feed, food- producing animals or substances, intended for consumption.   Production and processing of food or nutrients   enabling the characterisation, retention, or improvement of nutritional content throughout the manufacturing process, for example to maximise the nutritional value of raw materials during food processing and hence that of the finished product developing enabling technologies to convert by-products or waste from food production processes into valuable materials developing smart/recyclable maintenance/ storage, for example packaging that maintains or maximises nutritional value throughout a product's shelf-life developing portable, modular, standardised, flexible and reliable food processing systems developing novel food production processes or making novel use of existing processes to produce food. For more information and to register for the briefing event on 21 May, go to: https://www.innovateuk.org/competition-display-page/-/asset_publisher/RqEt2AKmEBhi/content/nutrition-for-life-providing-safe-and-healthy-foods-crd-;jsessionid=D47685361F0A07A11D7B689416214BDD.3?p_p_auth=7xBs0nn1