BBSRC Follow-on Fund: 2026 round one
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) · United Kingdom
Follow-on Fund (FoF) to bridge the gap between bioscience research and achieving economic and societal benefit. Supports progression of discoveries towards practical application.
Summary
Deadline
31 Mar 2026
Complexity
Medium
Time to apply
20-60 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
Follow-on Fund (FoF) to bridge the gap between bioscience research and achieving economic and societal benefit. Supports progression of discoveries towards practical application.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Research
Business size
Research organisation
Industries
Bioscience research translation, commercialisation of BBSRC-funded research, biotechnology and biological sciences.
Match funding
Required
Requirements
Must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding. Must have direct link to current or previous BBSRC-supported funding. Applicant must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding; application must draw substantially on current or prior BBSRC funding. Must draw upon current or previous BBSRC-supported research. Must enable research outputs to be furthe...
Eligible applicants
Must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding. Must have direct link to current or previous BBSRC-supported funding.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
£100,000 - £800,000 (full economic cost)
Total fund available
£3,000,000
Funding intensity
BBSRC will fund 80% of the Full Economic Cost (FEC).
Payment type
Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
Eligible scope
Must draw upon current or previous BBSRC-supported research. Must enable research outputs to be further developed into practical application. Must demonstrate UK benefit.
Eligible expenses
- Eligible project costs under FEC model. Staff. Facilities. Equipment. Project partner contributions permitted.
Ineligible costs
- Costs not directly supporting commercialisation follow-on from prior BBSRC-funded research.
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service (not Je-S).
Competitiveness
Closed / Not accepting applications
Decision timeline
Assessment completed within six months of receiving application.
Assessment process
Assessed by the FoF Committee panel. Final funding decision by BBSRC.
Application sections
- Background. Opportunity and market analysis. Route to market. Intellectual property management and communication. Wider benefits. Organisation support. Project partners. Applicant and team capability (R4RI). Ethics and RRI. Genetic and biological risk. Research involving animals. Research involving human participation. Data management. Resources and cost justification. Facilities. Trusted Research and Innovation.
Application components
Not specified
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
- Gantt chart (one A4 page). Project partner letters of support (single PDF). Animal research template (if applicable). Overseas animal research checklist (if applicable).
Assessment criteria
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications out of remit or out of scope may be rejected before assessment. Applications without prior BBSRC link are ineligible.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
26 Jan 2026
Project duration
Up to 2 years
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
- None stated
Collaboration rules
- Industry and user project partners strongly encouraged. Applications without partners must demonstrate industry or user engagement. Project partner IP access requires minimum contribution thresholds.
Consortium requirements
- Lead UK research organisation; collaborations permitted per BBSRC Follow-on Fund guidance.
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Application Limit","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Research Category","value":"Translation; commercialisation; market development; technology progression."},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Not specifically detailed."},{"label":"Subsidy Scheme","value":"Not specified."},{"label":"Sanctions Rule","value":"Not specified."},{"label":"Animal Research Rule","value":"Specific requirements apply if research involves animals, overseas animal research, GM organisms or biological risk. Approvals required where applicable."},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"Must have substantial link to BBSRC funding. Must demonstrate market need. Must demonstrate route to practical application. Must deliver UK benefit."},{"label":"Renewal Rules","value":"Resubmissions permitted; must identify if resubmission."},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"Does not support Official Development Assistance (ODA) activity. May invite successful applicants to additional market discovery support via Innovate UK ICURe programme."}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 31 Mar 2026
- Funding amount
- £100,000 - £800,000 (full economic cost)
- Funding band
- Mid (£500k-£5M)
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
- Audience
- Research Innovation
- Industry
- Bioscience research translation, commercialisation of BBSRC-funded research, biotechnology and biological sciences.
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- 26 Jan 2026