Aim

The BBSRC-STFC facility access funding for bioscience partnerships funding opportunity is a joint funded programme by BBSRC and STFC. It aims to support the UK bioscience researchers and businesses in accessing and benefitting from access to STFC skills, expertise, capabilities and world class facilities.

Overall, the ambition is to support businesses and academic researchers to undertake collaborative research and development (R&D). R&D should be focused on solving industrially-relevant research and innovation challenges through engaging with the unique national capabilities and facilities at STFC.

These collaborations will be supported in accessing and working with STFC’s large scale facilities, advanced analytical technologies, high-performance and quantum computing, as well as data expertise.

Advanced analytical technologies

The programme provides support and access to advanced analytical technologies, expertise, and capabilities, located at STFC’s large scale science facilities around the UK including Harwell, Daresbury, and Whitby specifically including:

• neutrons: study structure and dynamics of materials at the atomic scale, including organic systems, the interaction of antimicrobials with pathogen membranes, or toxins from pathogens with models of mammalian and plant membranes
• X-rays: acquire high-resolution data to accelerate drug discovery, design and development, including gathering three-dimensional structure data of macromolecular drug targets and their ligands for drug target identification, and investigate the size, stability and conformation of macromolecules in solution
• lasers: extensive laser-based techniques to understand everything from single-molecule transport in biological systems to environmental changes and chemical pathways in cells, tissues and biomaterials, or watch how chemical and biochemical changes in materials happen in real-time
• high performance computing: access to computing resources, from classic computing for molecular simulations (for example, structural drug representations and molecular docking), to data analysis of complex datasets looking for significant correlations, to drug interaction and stability both in the formulation and in solution
• scientific computing: access to digital research infrastructure and advanced computing expertise in software development for processing experimental biological data, high-performance computing infrastructure, data storage systems and artificial intelligence for science
• deep underground science facility: in an ultra-low radiation environment, largely free from interference from natural radiation, use gamma spectroscopy to study and measure trace levels of radioactivity in samples with various biological tracing and authenticity applications, or study the effect of radiation in biological matter
• quantum computing: access to quantum compute platforms for developing and testing algorithms, expert support in crafting quantum solutions for bioscience applications, and potential engagement with live testbeds to explore and validate quantum applications

Scope

This programme will fund academic-industry collaborative R&D partnerships undertaking industrially-relevant research and innovation in bioscience and biotechnology (within BBSRC’s remit) that has clear benefits to the businesses involved.

Through direct access to STFC facilities and expertise, the programme is intended to foster impactful collaborations and to support world-leading discovery, research and innovation.

The programme is setup specifically to assist academic-industry collaborative R&D partnerships in accelerating the development of new products or services that require further research and innovation at proof-of-concept stage.

As a result of feedback from previous rounds, previous research and innovation carried out at the facilities are included as illustrative examples. These are based on work that has been previously undertaken at a selection of the facilities which is of relevance to bioscience and biotechnology supported across the breadth of BBSRC remit.

These examples are only intended to inspire and inform collaborations and discussions, helping to guide the development of proposals on a wide variety of ideas that explore biology, or apply the biosciences to solve significant challenges.

An integrated understanding of health

Examples include:

• using small angle X-ray scattering to characterise the solution structure of biopharmaceuticals under close to native state conditions to contribute to the understanding of enzyme behaviour
• using advanced computer platforms to investigate genomic signatures of food borne pathogens, such as E. coli or campylobacter, to understand pathogenicity in relation to food safety
• using small-angle neutron scattering to obtain in-depth information on the structure of drug delivery systems. For example, nucleic acid-based nanomedicines with the aim of rationally designing formulations for improved and targeted delivery
• using two-dimensional infrared spectrometry to investigate the dynamics of complex biological systems such as proteins to support drug design
• using available quantum computing platforms (hardware and emulators) including hybrid quantum-classical approaches to perform genomic data analysis and molecular design process to enhance drug discovery

Advanced manufacturing and clean growth

Examples include:

• using small angle X-ray scattering to characterise the solution structure of biopharmaceuticals under close to native state conditions to contribute to the understanding of enzyme behaviour
• using simulations and high-performance computing to understand the balance of proteins and vitamins in the skin microbiome to develop new skin hygiene products
• using a low background radiation underground laboratory environment to study the effects of radiation on biological matter

Sustainable agriculture and food

Examples include:

• using high-performance computing and machine learning to analyse large datasets about the soil microbiome to explain causal relationships that determine crop yield and soil health
• using neutron tomography to visualise plant roots and water distribution in three dimensions, to better understand interactions between plant roots and the soil around them
• using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy to investigate the cell wall structure between different potato breeds to determine how to reduce oil content in crisp production
• using shielded low background gamma-ray spectrometers to analyse naturally occurring radioactive isotopes to prove the authenticity of Welsh lamb

What we will not fund

We will not fund projects relating to:

• market analysis
• fundamental research which is not industrially relevant
• standard testing and measurement services readily available commercially or via academic partners

Duration

The duration of this award is up to 18 months.

Projects can be undertaken anytime over an 18-month period starting 1 April 2026 and ending 30 September 2027.

STFC facilities must be accessed anytime during the period of 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, subject to scheduling of STFC facilities.

Funding available

The FEC of your project can be up to £200,000.

BBSRC and STFC will fund 80% of the FEC of the academic component and 100% of the facility costs.

Companies are expected to provide a contribution, that may be in-kind or direct, based on a percentage of the STFC facility cost. This is dependent on company size. If multiple businesses are acting as project partners, the company contributions will be determined by the largest company in the consortium.

We use the Companies House Act 2006 definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as follows:

Micro companies

Staff headcount less than 10, turnover less than or equal to £632,000, or balance sheet total of less than or equal to £316,000.

Company contribution to total project cost (based on STFC facility costs): 30%

Small companies

Staff headcount less than 50, turnover less than or equal to £10.2 million, or balance sheet total of less than or equal to £5.1 million.

Company contribution to total project cost (based on STFC facility costs): 30%

Medium companies

Staff headcount less than 250, turnover less than or equal to £36 million, or balance sheet total of less than or equal to £18 million.

Company contribution to total project cost (based on STFC facility costs): 40%

Large companies

Staff headcount equal to or more than 250, turnover more than £36 million, or balance sheet total of more than £18 million.

Company contribution to total project cost (based on STFC facility costs): 50%

Subsidy control

This funding opportunity provides funding in line with the UK’s obligations and commitments to subsidy control.

Under the standard terms and conditions for this opportunity, you are wholly responsible for declaring and managing all potential subsidy control matters as part of the assessment process.

Further information about the Subsidy Control Act 2022 requirements can be found within the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

EU state aid rules now only apply in limited circumstances.

Read the Windsor Framework to check if these rules apply to your organisation.

Further information

If you are unsure about your obligations under the UK subsidy control regime or the state aid rules, you should take independent legal advice. We are unable to advise on individual eligibility or legal obligations.

You must at all times make sure that the funding awarded to you is compliant with all current subsidy control legislation applicable in the UK.

This aims to regulate any advantage granted by a public sector body which threatens to, or actually distorts competition in the UK or any other country or countries.

If there are any changes to these requirements that mean we need to change the terms of this funding opportunity, we will tell you as soon as possible.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed to 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.

Stage one: expression of interest

The initial expression of interest stage required companies to submit a concise (approximately 500 words) ‘challenge statement’ describing their problem.

Successful applicants at this stage will have been invited to submit a full stage application

Stage two: full proposal

If successful at expression of interest stage, you will work together with STFC scientists and business development managers to develop a fully costed project proposal.

We are running this funding opportunity on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service.

Please note that the application must be completed by the academic partner, and it is important that the application is started by the project lead. 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

You can only apply for this funding opportunity if we have invited you to do so following a successful expression of interest application. The start application link will be provided via email from business.unit@bbsrc.ukri.org

1. Follow the link in the email to the Funding Service and 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 funding 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.

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 may 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 and STFC must receive your application by 4th December 2025 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 and STFC, 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 business.unit@bbsrc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [OPP1037 BBSRC STFC Facility Access Funding for Bioscience Partnerships; 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.

Publication of outcomes

BBSRC and STFC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity.

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

Only list one individual as project lead. Only members of the research organisation team should be listed in this section.

Key members of staff from the business partner should be listed in the ‘Project partner’ and ‘Letter of support’ sections of the application form.

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

Vision

Word limit: 1,000

What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how your proposed work:

• is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)
• has the potential to advance current understanding, or generate new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area
• is timely given current trends, context, and needs
• impacts world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment

Within the Vision section, we also expect you to:

• briefly describe the problem (as per your challenge statement)
• describe the direct and indirect academic beneficiaries from the research

References may be included within this section.

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

Approach

Word limit: 1,250

How are you going to deliver your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:

• is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
• is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
• uses a clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable)
• summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed (if applicable)
• will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts
• describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work

Within the Approach section, we also expect you to:

• clearly define any goals or project deliverables
• provide a detailed and comprehensive project plan, including milestones and timelines in the form of a Gantt chart or similar
• provide comprehensive details about the risks of the project which are on the critical pathway to the project succeeding, including a risk assessment matrix, how likely the risks are and how the risks will be managed

References may be included within this section.

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

Partnership

Word limit: 750

Why is the proposed industry-academia partnership well suited to solve the challenge?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how your proposed work justifies the need for the partnership by demonstrating:

• how the available expertise from both the industry and academic partners will be maximally utilised to generate meaningful benefits for both partners
• how effective collaboration will be facilitated throughout the duration of the project
• a clear potential for knowledge exchange
• substantive shared interests indicating the potential for a longer-term collaboration

Within the Partnership section we also expect you to:

• describe the expertise of the partners and how these relate to the challenge

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 limit for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules (including references) 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.

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

Facilities

Word limit: 750

Does STFC have the relevant expertise and facilities to tackle the problem?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how your proposed work:

• utilises the relevant expertise and facilities on offer to approach the problem
• leverages unique or uncommon facilities, skillsets and expertise that are not readily available at contract laboratories, universities, or other large research organisations

It is expected that this question will be completed in collaboration with the facility or facilities you propose to work with.

Potential for impact

Word limit: 1,000

What are the potential impacts of the proposed project for the partner company and wider community? How and when will these be achieved?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Discuss the proposal’s potential and mechanism for achieving a realistic set of anticipated benefits for the company and wider community that:

• are well understood and clearly described
• are likely to succeed
• represent a high economic return on investment within a reasonable timeframe

Within the Potential for impact section, we also expect you to:

• highlight, and where possible estimate the potential value (in £) of, benefits for the partner company. Examples include: increase in revenue from sales, licensing or exports; improvements to the quality of products or services and the resulting impact to the company; increase in employment of staff; improvements to company productivity including efficiency improvements in production processes, cost reductions in products or skilled services or greater outputs from the same or reduced inputs; acceleration of route to market for a product or service
• highlight any potential benefits for the wider community. You could discuss: the benefits of the project more widely within the industry, for example, any improvements to how the industry operates and the potential for uptake of any outputs of the project by other companies; benefits more widely to the company’s local geographical region. For example, this may include strengthening industry in the area, stimulating research and development and increasing investment; any additional benefits that have not been previously described such as increased competitiveness of UK industry, a reduction in imports into the UK, improved environmental benefits (for example, reduction in waste going to landfill), and workforce upskilling
• consider the timescale over which you would you expect to realise the benefits described. Provide specific and measurable information if possible. As an approximate guide a proposal scoring at the lower end of this assessment criteria will expect to accomplish the proposed benefits in a timeframe of ten-years or greater. A proposal scoring at the upper end of this assessment criteria will expect to accomplish the proposed benefits in a timeframe of two years or less.
• include evidence that the proposal would represent good value for money if successfully completed. As an approximate guide a proposal scoring at the lower end of this assessment criteria will have estimated economic return to investment ratio of less than 1.0. A proposal scoring at the upper end of this assessment criteria will have estimated economic return to investment ratio of greater than 10.0. The estimated economic return to investment is calculated by dividing the value of the project to the company by the value of the programme investment in the project

It is expected that this question will be completed in collaboration with the company lead.

Resources and cost justification

Word limit: 1,000

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 resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’

STFC facility costs will be captured in the ‘Project partner’ section.

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.

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

Project partners

Add details about any project partners’ contributions.

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.

Any collaborative project funded through this initiative must have a signed collaboration agreement between the business and academic partners before the start of any grant.

The business-academic partnership will also need to sign a user agreement outlining STFC standard terms and conditions for the facility (or facilities) they intend to work with. Any partnership intending to work with The Diamond Light Source will need to sign a user agreement specific to that facility.

UKRI attach great importance to the dissemination of research findings and the publishing of information about the research they support in the public domain. However, all dissemination and publication activities must be carried out in the manner that is consistent with the project’s collaboration agreement.

Project partners: letters (or emails) of support

Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner and STFC facility 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. 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
• have a page limit of two sides A4 per partner

This section should include letters of support from the STFC facilities requested and these should be signed by the departmental director. 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.

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 matched funding that will be provided to support the activity and 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.

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
• Confirmation that a collaboration agreement will be put in place with the project partners if an award is made.

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

Data management and sharing

Word limit: 500

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.

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Word limit: 500

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

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations
• how you will manage these considerations

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

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 Research involving the use of animals template (DOCX, 52.5KB), 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: 700

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. Ensure all named applicants in the UK and overseas are aware of this requirement.

If your application proposes animal research to be conducted overseas, you must provide a statement in the text box. Depending on the species involved, you may also need to upload a completed template for each species listed.

Statement

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

Templates

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, such as:

• rodents
• rabbits
• sheep
• goats
• pigs
• cattle
• xenopus laevis and xenopus tropicalis
• zebrafish

Select, download, and complete the relevant Word checklist or checklists by exploring NC3Rs checklist for the use of animals overseas.

Save your completed template as a PDF and upload to the Funding Service. If you use more than one checklist template, save it as a single PDF.

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

If conducting research with animals overseas 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.

Assessment process

We will assess your application using the following process.

Panel

We will invite experts to assess the quality of your application and rank it alongside other applications after which the panel will make a funding recommendation.

We reserve the right to portfolio manage during the assessment process.

Timescale

We aim to complete the assessment process for the full proposal within three months of receiving your application.

Feedback

If your application was discussed by a panel, 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 UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) principles of assessment and decision making.

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in expert review

Panellists are not permitted to use generative AI tools to develop their assessment. Using these tools can potentially compromise the confidentiality of the ideas that applicants have entrusted to UKRI to safeguard.

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

We reserve the right to modify the assessment process as needed.

Assessment areas

The assessment areas we will use are:

• vision and approach
• partnership
• applicant and team capability to deliver
• facilities
• potential for impact
• ethical and responsible research and innovation considerations of the project
• resources and cost justification

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 application 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 business.unit@bbsrc.ukri.org

Catherine Spencer, Business Interaction Unit, BBSRC

Email: business.unit@bbsrc.ukri.org

Include ‘BBSRC/STFC facility fund’ in the subject line

Dymphie Webb, STFC

Email: dymphie.webb@stfc.ac.uk

Include ‘BBSRC/STFC facility fund’ in the subject line

Izhar Ul-Haq, STFC

Email: izhar.ul-haq@stfc.ac.uk

Include ‘BBSRC/STFC facility fund’ in the subject line

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.

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

Background

The following facilities will be available through the programme:

• Boulby Underground Laboratory
• Central Laser Facility
• Diamond Light Source
• Hartree Centre (high performance computing)
• ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
• National Quantum Computing Centre
• Scientific Computing

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.

Supporting documents

Equality Impact Assessment form (DOCX, 91KB)

Webinar for potential applicants

We held a webinar on 13 May 2025. This provided more information about the funding opportunity and a chance to ask questions.

Watch the webinar

Passcode: Sy+10rGe

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.