Aim

The aim of our Follow-on Fund (FoF) is to help researchers maximise the commercial, economic, and societal benefits of their research.

Scope

The BBSRC FoF is designed to enable researchers, with a sound understanding of the market opportunity of their intellectual assets, to execute a defined programme of work that has 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 both early-stage projects aimed at de-risking innovative ideas and later-stage projects that encompass significant technical milestones.

It is recognised that smaller scale, in particular early-stage, projects may not require the full word count allowance for each application section.

FoF projects must seek to deliver demonstrable benefit to the UK. However, it is recognised that the outcomes of some projects may also provide benefits to, or operate within, international markets.

Projects previously funded through the Global Challenges Research Fund and Newton Fund funding opportunities are considered to be eligible for FoF. However, they must ensure they clearly articulate how they will deliver social and economic impact within the UK.

We conduct reviews of applications to ensure their alignment with the designated scope and retain the authority to reject applications that are considered to be out of scope before assessment by the FoF committee. The decision of BBSRC to decline proposals in this circumstance will be final. If a proposal is declined for assessment, then the applicant will be provided with feedback to support the development of their future proposals.

Remit

Applications to the FoF 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 conduct reviews of applications to ensure their alignment with our remit and retain the authority to reject applications considered out of remit before assessment by the FoF committee. The decision of BBSRC to decline proposals in this circumstance will be final. If a proposal is declined for assessment, then the applicant will be provided with feedback to support the development of their future proposals.

We may share applications with other UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) councils to consider remit and direct you to the most appropriate council.

Project partners

Involvement of industry and users as project partners is strongly encouraged. Proposals which do not have project partners are expected to clearly articulate how industry and users have shaped the project to date and how they 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 be in line with our guidance. Please see Project Partner sections for further information.

Webinar

The FoF applicant webinar will be held on the 20 August 2024 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 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.

What we will fund

FoF 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 technology aims to satisfy
• is robust and designed to optimise the commercial, economic, and societal benefit derived from the grant
• has a substantial link to BBSRC funding

What we will not fund

Applications to FoF should have a primary focus on the translation of research or knowledge, or both, making the following 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
• supporting the direct costs associated with applying for Intellectual property (IP) protection, for example patent filing

Supporting skills and talent

We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.

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 applicants 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. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org
   Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.
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.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. You should:

• use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words
• insert each new image onto a new line
• provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit)
• ensure files are smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Watch our research office webinars about the new Funding Service.

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

Applications should be self-contained, and hyperlinks should only be used to provide links directly to reference information. To ensure the information’s integrity is maintained, where possible, persistent identifiers such as digital object identifiers should be used. Assessors are not required to access links to carry out assessment or recommend a funding decision. Applicants should use their discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

References should be included in the appropriate question section of the application and be easily identifiable by the assessors for example (Smith, Research Paper, 2019).

You must not include links to web resources to extend your application.

Deadline

BBSRC must receive your application by 15 October 2024 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 the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. 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.

Publication of outcomes

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.

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

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 aligns with and addresses the priorities detailed within our strategic delivery plan

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.

Application questions

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 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 service on the actual application.

References may be included within this section.

Route to market

Word limit: 2,500

How would you deploy your project or innovation in its intended user or market?

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
• includes any commercial milestones
• 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, uses a clear and transparent methodology, including a business model
• 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
• 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

Within this section we also expect you to:

• demonstrate access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment to deliver the proposed work
• provide a detailed and comprehensive project plan, including milestones and timelines in the form of a chart or diagram

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

Please see our guidance on intellectual property management in the ‘Additional Information’ section.

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
• have freedom to operate
• protect the foreground IP or market position
• disseminate and communicate the outputs of your project
• 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 FoF 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.

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.

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

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.

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 why the proposed work is needed. This should include details of any matched funding that will be provided to support the activity and any additional support that might add value to the work.

The committee will be looking for a strong statement of commitment from your research organisation.

BBSRC recognises that in some instances, this information may be provided by the Research Office, the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) or equivalent, or a combination of both.

You must also include the following details:

• a significant person’s name and their position, from the TTO or Research Office, or both
• 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 (cash) or indirect (in-kind) contributions such as expertise, staff time or use of facilities.

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 in-direct) and its monetary value
• for more guidance, refer to the ‘Collaborations’ section of the BBSRC grants guide

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.

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.

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 (XLSX, 32KB) to check that contributions meet the minimum requirements. This can also be found in the ‘Supporting documents’ section.

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

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 partner’ section.

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 enter N/A. 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 partners wish to access foreground intellectual property (IP) generated during the project
• fully justify project partner contributions. 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. If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

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.

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 (XLSX, 32KB) to check that contributions meet the minimum requirements. This can also be found in the ‘Supporting documents’ section.

The letter of support should enable the assessment panel to better understand the contribution of the project partner, provide reassurance that the estimates of the values are justified, and show that the contribution will meaningfully support the aims of the project.

BBSRC may decline to accept proposals for assessment where project partners seeking access to foreground IP do not meet the stated thresholds for the project partner contributions. In this circumstance the applicant will be given the opportunity to withdraw the proposal so that it may be submitted to a future Follow-on Fund opportunity when the requirements for project partner contributions can be met.

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

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

The word count for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project 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. A 10% additional word count has been provided to accommodate this.

UKRI has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new Funding Service. For full details, see Eligibility as an individual.

Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)

Word limit: 700

What are the ethical or RRI 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

Using the text box below, demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations, and how you will manage them. This includes any environmental, societal or equity, diversity and inclusion impact.

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 taken to not preclude further re-use of data
• formal information standards with which study will be compliant

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

Genetic and biological risk

Word limit: 700

Does your proposed research involve any genetic or biological risk?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

In respect of animals, plants or microbes, are you proposing to:

• use genetic modification as an experimental tool, like studying gene function in a genetically modified organism
• release genetically modified organisms
• ultimately develop commercial and industrial genetically modified outcomes

If yes, provide the name of any required approving body and state if approval is already in place. If it is not, provide an indicative timeframe for obtaining the required approval.

Identify the organism or organisms as a plant, animal or microbe and specify the species and which of the three categories the research relates to.

Identify the genetic and biological risks resulting from the proposed research, their implications, and any mitigation you plan on taking. Assessors will want to know you have considered the risks and their implications to justify that any identified risks do not outweigh any benefits of the proposed research.

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Research involving the use of animals

Word limit: 10

Does your proposed research involve the use of vertebrate animals or other organisms covered by the Animals Scientific Procedures Act?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you are proposing research that requires using animals, download and complete the Animals Scientific Procedures Act template (DOCX, 74KB), which contains all the questions relating to research using vertebrate animals or other Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 regulated organisms.

Save it as a PDF. The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply. If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Conducting research with animals overseas

Word limit: 10

Will any of the proposed animal research be conducted overseas?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you are proposing to conduct overseas research, it must be conducted in accordance with welfare standards consistent with those in the UK, as in Responsibility in the use of animals in bioscience research, page 14.

Ensure all named applicants in the UK and overseas are aware of this requirement. Provide a statement to confirm that:

• all named applicants are aware of the requirements and have agreed to abide by them
• this overseas research will be conducted in accordance with welfare standards consistent with the principles of UK legislation
• the expectation set out in Responsibility in the use of animals in bioscience research will be applied and maintained
• appropriate national and institutional approvals are in place

Overseas studies proposing to use non-human primates, cats, dogs, equines or pigs will be assessed during NC3Rs review of research applications. Provide the required information by completing the template from the question ‘Research involving the use of animals’.

For studies involving other species, select, download, and complete the relevant Word checklist or checklists from this list:

• Additional questions on the use of rodents overseas (DOCX, 49.1KB)
• Additional questions on the use of rabbits overseas (DOCX, 49.2KB)
• Additional questions on the use of sheep overseas (DOCX, 50.9KB)
• Additional questions on the use of goats overseas (DOCX, 47.3KB)
• Additional questions on the use of pigs overseas (DOCX, 51.4KB)
• Additional questions on the use of cattle overseas (DOCX, 57.0KB)
• Additional questions on the use of Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis overseas (DOCX, 57.3KB)

Save as a PDF. If you use more than one checklist, save it as a single PDF.

The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply. If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Research involving human participation

Word limit: 700

Will the project involve the use of human subjects or their personal information?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you are proposing research that requires the involvement of human subjects, provide the name of any required approving body and whether approval is already in place.

Justify the number and the diversity of the participants involved, as well as any procedures.

Provide details of any areas of substantial or moderate severity of impact.

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Research involving human tissues or biological samples

Word limit: 700

Does your proposed research involve the use of human tissues, or biological samples?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you are proposing work that involves human tissues or biological samples, provide the name of any required approving body and whether approval is already in place.

Justify the use of human tissue or biological samples specifying the nature and quantity of the material to be used and its source.

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

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 £10,000
• 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’

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, 35KB)
• 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

Word limit: 100

Does the proposed work involve international collaboration in a sensitive research or technology area?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate how your proposed international collaboration relates to Trusted Research and Innovation, including:

• list the countries your international project co-leads, project partners and visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in
• if international collaboration is involved, explain whether this project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act
• if one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act are involved list the areas

If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

We may ask you to provide additional information about how your proposed project will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help manage these risks.

Assessment process

We will assess your application using the following process.

Panel

All applications will be assessed by the FoF committee. The FoF committee are a panel of experts selected with the oversight of the BBSRC appointments assurance committee. Collectively, the committee review your application against the criteria and rank it alongside other applications.

BBSRC will make the final funding decision.

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.

Assessment areas

The criteria we will assess your application against are:

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, patients 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 FoF 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

Important note: 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 or content/remit of an 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 proposal please contact your 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 fof@bbsrc.ukri.org

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

Find further information on submitting an application.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email fof@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.

Additional disability and accessibility adjustments

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

Webinar for potential applicants

We will hold a webinar on 20 August 2024 at 1:00pm to 2:00pm UK time. 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)