FUNding OpportunitiesA selection of the latest calls for funding
Our selection of funding opportunities, from current calls with deadlines approaching or no closing date to industry collaborations and fellowships, have particular emphasis on the AAA sector - Animal Health, Agritech and Aquaculture.
This is a growing sector and represents three of the Scottish Life Sciences sectors (including Digital Healthcare), having a distinct crossover with biotech, gene modification, gene editing etc. for food security and in crop science and environmental research.
Scotland is the ideal environment to carry out research and development in the area of domestic livestock, companion animals, aquaculture and plant science. We offer a truly world–leading scientific expertise, access to state of the art research facilities, a pool of highly skilled personnel and a growing cluster of innovative bioscience companies.
Follow-on Funding (FoF) supports the translation of research into practical application, including commercialisation. The aim of the programme is to help researchers maximise the societal and economic benefits of their research.
The FoF is a proof-of-concept programme to support bioscience innovation and provide funding where further work on an idea will take it through to a stage at which the route to application is clear, which may include a spin-out, licensing opportunity or the creation of a social enterprise. The programme enables researchers to conduct activities essential to preparing a robust business plan and to secure, where appropriate, further funding and support to progress the project.
The FoF aims to bridge the funding gap between BBSRC-funded research and the point at which other non-BBSRC funding becomes available. By supporting early-stage projects, it also seeks to reduce the risk for future investors. The FoF should not duplicate other sources of public and private funding.
The EIC Accelerator Challenges supports companies (principally start-ups and SMEs) to scale up high impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones in identified areas of strategic relevance.
Like EIC Accelerator Open (Section II.3 of the EIC Work Programme 2021), the EIC Accelerator Challenges focus on innovations building on scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs (‘deep tech’), and where significant funding is needed over a long timeframe before returns can be generated (‘patient capital’). The EIC Accelerator Challenges is open to innovations in the specific fields of technology or application described by the specific challenges in sections III.3.1 and III.3.2 of the EIC Work Programme 2021. However, innovations that harm the environment or social welfare or that are designed primarily for military applications will not be supported.
The £6.1 million Fisheries and Seafood Scheme will provide financial support (match funding) for projects in England that secure sustainable growth across the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors, and that protect and enhance the marine environment.
The time-limited competitive rounds will match fund projects that deliver sustainable growth in the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors, and that conserve, enhance and support the recovery of the marine environment. They consist of grants for projects that:
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £25 million in the best game-changing and commercially viable innovative or disruptive ideas. All proposals must be business focused. This competition is open to single applicants and collaborations.
To lead a project your organisation must be a UK registered:
Smart is Innovate UK’s ‘open grant funding’ programme.
Women with exciting, innovative ideas who will inspire others can apply for a £50,000 grant and bespoke business support. This competition is open to single applicants only.
To lead a project you must be a female founder, co-founder or senior decision maker within a UK registered micro or SME business that has been operating for at least one year by the competition closing date.
UK registered SME’s can apply for a share of up to £2.5million to develop collaborative research in partnership with organisations from participating Eureka Eurostars member countries. Please note that this competition is open to collaborations only.
To be eligible for grant funding from Innovate UK you:
Food & Agriculture Science Transformer (FAST)
Programme in partnership with Deep Science Ventures (DSV) and the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute
Applications ongoing. Reviewed within 10 working days of receipt and if the candidacy successful, it normally takes no more than 2-3 weeks to get started.
AgriFood Africa Connect brings innovative people and organisations across the UK and Africa together to address key AgriFood challenges in Africa. They build diverse connections across the UK and Africa to drive positive change that aligns with the UK’s Overseas Development Assistance goals.
The goal is to realise sustainable management of the food production systems in Africa in a way that alleviates poverty, enhances economic prosperity and delivers improved well-being.
This award is aimed at those interested in animal genetics, helping them to attend the World Congress in Genetics Applied Livestock Production (WCGALP).
Applications should reflect areas of current or future interest that will advance research and education in the application of genetics to livestock production.
Up to £4000 prize fund is available and can be awarded to a single applicant or divided between a number of successful applicants dependent on the quality of submissions.
Alan Robertson was a population geneticist and a major influence in the widespread adoption of artificial insemination of cattle and on estimating genetic effects that influence quantitative traits. Robertson spent most of his working life based at the National Animal Breeding and Genetics Research Organisation in Edinburgh as a member of the Unit of Animal Genetics.
Closing date: 30 October, 2021
The 12th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (WCGALP 2022) will be held in the Netherlands.
In years when the WCGALP is being held (every four years - 2022, 2026, 2030...) an additional application period will be added as notified by the society.
This scholarship is open to both members and non-members of BSAS.
Application ongoing: Projects are starting all the time.
EUREKA is the leading platform for innovative entrepreneurs in Europe. Eurostars is the only European funding programme specifically dedicated to support R&D-performing SMEs in their innovative R&D projects. With its bottom-up approach, it stimulates international collaborative research and innovation projects that will be rapidly commercialised.
There are hundreds of international projects led by R&D-performing SMEs from Eurostars Participating States and Partner Countries. Organisations of all types from across the globe are receiving government and European Commission support to improve their performance and focus on world-class market-oriented research and development.
If you are a small company in need of public funding for your innovative idea, participation in a Eurostars project can bring you a passport to growth, further innovation, an opening to new global markets and even greater business success.
Assistance is available for pan-European near-market, collaborative R&D projects which lead to the development of advanced products, processes or services. Assistance may include help with finding partners and the lowering of likely barriers to commercial success.
EUROSTARS project portfolio features a number of technological areas including Agriculture and Marine Resources. In this area, previously funded Eurostars projects included sustainable agriculture, agritech; crop production, protection and management; innovation in plant breeding and aquaculture resources.
When applying for Eurostars funding, note that Eurostars has two submission deadlines per year.
Small Research Grants are designed to support personally conducted high-quality research. The awards are available to cover eligible costs arising from a defined research project.
They are designed to encourage high-quality research and academic innovation and, where possible, to integrate with the overall programme of awards such that successful applications may lead to future bids for RSE Research Workshop or Network Grants funding, or act as preliminary investigations for other larger research grants.
Funding areas: Arts and Humanities, Career Development, Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM), Social Sciences.
Closing date: 12pm (UK), 25 October, 2021
Research and innovation jointly funded by the ICRAD partners seeks collaborative approaches towards the development of novel and improved instruments to address, detect and control zoonotic diseases, particularly regarding novel detection, intervention and prevention strategies.
The previous co-fund call within the ICRAD ERA-NET successfully funded 19 collaborative projects looking at infectious animal diseases. This first additional call looks to further knowledge in the area of One Health with an emphasis at the animal-human interface.
In light of this, ICRAD announces the upcoming call for joint transnational research projects on animal health. The overall goal of the ICRAD call is to support cross-cutting research and innovation to better understand zoonoses focusing on the animal-human-environment interface and by developing novel vaccine and diagnostics technology platforms to improve animal health and by consequence animal welfare.
The objective of this funding call is to increase preparedness and improve the ability to respond to (re)-emerging zoonotic disease threats and contribute to improved animal and public health. This will be done through studies focusing on (re)-emergence of pathogens with zoonotic potential, understanding animal host-pathogen interactions and the immune response, and by developing detection and prevention platforms.
Pre-proposal opening date: 1 October, 2021
Pre-proposal submission deadline: 15 December, 2021
New grant funding model launching soon.
The RSE Joint Projects aims to facilitate international collaboration between researchers based in Scotland with researchers overseas. Applications for two-year joint projects are invited from Scottish-based researchers to include an overseas Higher Education Institution (HEI), Research Institute (RI) or Cultural Institution of your choice (open to all countries).
The RSE provides up to a maximum of £6,000 per year and up to a maximum of £12,000 over two years. The collaborating institution is expected to provide the equivalent level of funding per two-year joint project.
Funding areas:
Arts and Humanities, Career
Development, International, Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and
Medicine (STEMM), Social Sciences.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh
Closing date: 12pm (UK), 25 October, 2021The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is one of seven Research Councils that work together as Research Councils UK (RCUK). Funded by the Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
BBSRC provide a range of funding opportunities to enable individuals and groups to pursue world-class bioscience research. This includes joint opportunities with other Research Councils and organisations.
The BBSRC Grants Guide covers all aspects of research grant funding, including: eligibility, research equipment and application procedures.
If you can't find what you're looking for please contact:
Research grant submission: jeshelp@rcuk.ac.uk t: 01793 444164
Grant eligibility: eligibility@bbsrc.ukri.org
Remit: remit@bbsrc.ukri.org
UK Research and Innovation is a new body which works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. Operating across the whole of the UK, working with many partners to benefit everyone through knowledge, talent and ideas, with a combined budget of more than £7 billion.
UKRI provides a range of funding opportunities to enable individuals and groups to pursue world-class research and innovation.
Innovate UK is part of UKRI, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.
As the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK works with people, companies and partner organisations to fund business and research collaborations to accelerate innovation and drive business investment into research and development and realise the potential of new ideas that grow the economy, including those from the UK’s world-class research base.
How to Apply:
Contact your local KTP Adviser or Office or call +44 (0) 300 321 4357.
A KTP can last between 12 and 36 months depending on the project and the needs of the business. It is part-funded by a grant. The amount businesses need to contribute is different for SMEs and larger companies.
2020 close dates for submission are aligned with Innovate UK’s sector and open competitions.
The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) is part of Innovate UK's suite of business support products. It is a well established process to connect public sector challenges with innovative ideas from industry, supporting companies to generate economic growth and enabling improvement in achieving government objectives.
SBRI provides innovative solutions to challenges faced by the public sector, leading to better public services and improved efficiency and effectiveness. It generates new business opportunities for companies, provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a route to market for their ideas and bridges the seed funding gap experienced by many early stage companies. It supports economic growth and enables the development of innovative products and services through the public procurement of research and development (R&D).
The aim of the Medical Research Council (MRC) is to improve human health through world-class medical research, from fundamental science to early clinical trials and preventive medicine. The MRC works in partnership across UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and devolved administrations, the NHS, charities and industry.
The Biomedical Catalyst (BMC) is a unique partnership between the MRC and Innovate UK, providing responsive and effective support to the most innovative life sciences opportunities regardless of scientific approach.
The BMC aims to de-risk innovative science and commercialise ideas arising out of academia and industry helping UK SMEs to develop into competitive and sustainable organisations. This accelerates the progress of novel products to market, facilitates onward investment and bridges “the valley of death”.
MRC supports academically-led feasibility research through the Confidence in Concept which is open to institutions but not individual researchers. Academic-led applications for Early and Late Stage awards are primarily administered through the Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS).
Since BMC launched in April 2012, the scheme has awarded more than £250m funding, matched by £150m of private finance, to over 300 projects seeking to develop a wide range of therapies, diagnostics and devices.
Algae-UK and the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) are pleased to announce a joint Proof of Concept call for projects addressing the technical challenges of delivering bio-polymers, natural pigments, dyes and inks from algae.invites applications for industry led collaborative research with funding of up to £25k available per project.
These compounds have a broad range of applications in several sectors and while there are some specific challenges associated with each sector and specific applications of polymer and pigment materials, there are some cross-cutting themes:
Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC)
Check direct with the funding organisation for information and any updates.
We are a worldwide network of public, private and third sector organisations spanning the GovTech, CivTech and CivicTech spectrum to support and nurture an ecosystem developing products and services which make citizens’ lives better.
The RSE grants funding and awards to recognise excellence and support leading research that benefits Scotland's cultural, economic and social wellbeing.
The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) is a five year £1.5 billion resource funding stream, announced as part of the 2015 spending review, to ensure that UK research takes a leading role in addressing the problems faced by developing countries.
The GCRF will deploy the UK’s world-class research capability to address the challenges faced by the developing world.
The Grand Challenges family of initiatives fosters innovation to solve key global health and development problems. Each initiative is an experiment in the use of challenges to focus innovation on making an impact. Individual challenges address some of the same problems, but from differing perspectives.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Round 25 Challenges (Grand Challenges Explorations) has now closed.
The Grand Challenges family of initiatives fosters innovation to solve key health and development problems. See below for Grand Challenges grant opportunities with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as sole or contributing funder.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The are currently no open grant opportunities.
The Wellcome Trust has awarded the University of Edinburgh an Institutional Translational Partnership Award (iTPA) to diversify and intensify the support available to engage Wellcome- and non Wellcome-funded researchers across the medical, life and social sciences.
High potential translational projects will be considered for an award of up to a maximum of £20,000. The funds may be used on a broad range of activities aimed at stimulating future translation of specific early stage research projects. The award will support direct costs only, and be associated with a range of activities including but not limited to:-
Skills development via industry secondments, academic placements or people exchanges, or specialist training.
Some projects that have received funding:-
Edinburgh Innovations, University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service.
Applications are currently closed but please check Edinburgh Innovations for updates.
The UK Government’s Seafood Innovation Fund (SIF) is a £10 million research and development (R&D) fund that launched in July 2019.
The 3-year programme focuses on delivering longer term, cutting-edge innovation across the seafood sector; helping to take innovative ideas from early stage research to commercial viability. Products must benefit the sustainability and productivity of the seafood industry. Applications for collaborative projects that include both seafood sector organisations and technology businesses are encouraged.
To be considered for funding you must provide an innovative idea or solution relevant to the seafood sector; demonstrate long-term sustainability and environmental benefits; be from an organisation of any size within the EU; follow the full submission process correctly.
The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) is administering the SIF programme on behalf of the UK Government.
The Seafood Innovation Fund is not currently open for applications.
Applicants to a second funding call will be notified of the outcome in due course.
This scheme is for academic scientists who want to work on a collaborative project with industry and for scientists in industry who want to work on a collaborative project with an academic organisation. This exciting opportunity allows researchers to establish personal, scientific and corporate links between sectors.
The Industry Fellowship, part of the Royal Society's Industry programme, aims to enhance knowledge transfer in science and technology between those in industry and those in academia in the UK.
The scheme provides a basic salary for the researcher and a contribution towards research costs.
This scheme, part of the Royal Society's Industry programme, enables scientists employed in industry or academia and/or their postdoctoral researcher to have shorter more dynamic engagements between academia and industry, working on a mutually beneficial and collaborative project.
Collaborations between academia and early-stage companies are particularly encouraged. It is anticipated that the personal and corporate links established by the researcher between the two sectors in the UK will seed longer-term collaborations and contribute to their long-term future development.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh Enterprise Fellowships enable promising science and technology researchers to grow into successful entrepreneurs.
Fellowships funded by Scottish Enterprise comprise the bulk of the programme. These awards are designed to encourage and enable the development of a new business based in Scotland around a technological idea developed by the Enterprise Fellow, either individually or with others, and within which the Enterprise Fellow would be expected to play a leading, though not necessarily the leading, role.
RSE Personal Research Fellowships provide eligible applicants with the opportunity to take between three to twelve months to focus on a research project of their choice. The award provides funding for the appointment of a temporary replacement to enable the awardee to take research leave, either in their own institution or elsewhere, whilst remaining in continuous employment with their present employer.
In addition to funding the salary for the replacement member of staff (including on costs), this grant funds research costs for the awardee.
Funding areas: Arts and Humanities, Career Development, Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM), Social Science.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh
Closing date: 12pm (UK), 25 October, 2021PhD and MScR opportunities are available at The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
A number of studentships for taught and research postgraduates are offered each year.
PhD and MScR opportunities are available at The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
A number of studentships for taught and research postgraduates are offered each year.
Click here for further information and details of open studentship calls at Easter Bush Campus.
AHDB fund a wide variety of PhD students to support the increase of new talent and ideas into our agricultural and horticultural sectors.
Requests for further information should be sent to studentships@ahdb.org.uk indicating to which sector(s) your question is addressed.
There are currently no open studentships.
New funding calls will be added regularly so please bookmark this page for the latest additions and those with deadlines approaching.
Roslin Innovation Centre
The University of Edinburgh
Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian EH25 9RG
