Aim
The BBSRC-STFC facility access funding for bioscience partnerships 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
Project 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.
If you are a business applicant, you need to clearly articulate how solving your challenge will create wider economic, societal or commercial outcomes, and routes to market or use.
EOI challenge statements should address industry challenges relating to BBSRC’s three strategic challenges:
- integrated understanding of health
- advanced manufacturing and clean growth
- sustainable agriculture and food
As a result of feedback from the pilot round of the programme, previous research and innovation carried out at the facilities has been used to develop illustrative examples.
These are based on work that has been previously undertaken at a selection of the facilities that 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. They should help guide the development of applications 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
- projects relating to standard testing and measurement services readily available commercially or via academic partners
Duration
The maximum duration of this award is 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. 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 (legislation.gov.uk).
EU state aid rules now only apply in limited circumstances.
Read the Windsor Framework (GOV.UK) 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 opportunity, we will tell you as soon as possible.
Trusted research and innovation (TR&I)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks.
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. You will be asked to identify potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.
Further guidance and information about TR&I, including where you can find additional support.
