Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council: every grant open right now (April 2026)
£2.5M+ BBSRC grants now open for biotech researchers and businesses. Find funding for sustainable farming, medical treatments, and commercialisation projects.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funds research that turns biological science into practical benefits. They back everything from sustainable farming to new medical treatments, supporting universities, research institutes, and some innovative businesses working in biotechnology.
Most BBSRC grants target academic researchers, but several schemes welcome applications from small businesses and research organisations looking to commercialise bioscience discoveries.
Current BBSRC grants (April 2026)
| Grant | What it funds | Funding | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBSRC Follow-on Fund: 2026 round one (Grant) | Commercialising bioscience research | Up to £800,000 | 31 March 2026 |
| BBSRC Brazil pump-priming award (FAPPA) | UK-Brazil research partnerships | Up to £35,000 | 14 July 2026 |
| Early independence: BBSRC fellowships | Independent research careers | Up to £9,000,000 | Rolling |
| Green ERA-Hub: biomass production | Sustainable biomass research | Up to £2,500,000 | Rolling |
| Future Leaders Fellowships: round 11 | Ambitious research across all areas | Up to £110,000,000 | Rolling |
| Animal health and welfare research | Livestock and fish farming improvements | Up to £3,750,000 | Rolling |
| UKRI Translation: Proof of Concept | Research commercialisation | Up to £9,000,000 | Rolling |
| BBSRC Follow-on Fund: 2026 round one | Research to market development | Up to £3,000,000 | Rolling |
| Metascience research grants: round two | Improving R&D effectiveness | Up to £6,000,000 | Rolling |
BBSRC Follow-on Fund: 2026 round one (Grant)
This grant bridges the gap between research and commercial application in biosciences. You need between £100,000 and £800,000 to develop your research into something with clear market potential. The deadline is 31 March 2026, making this the most urgent opportunity for businesses looking to commercialise biotechnology research.
BBSRC Brazil pump-priming award (FAPPA)
You can get up to £35,000 to start research partnerships with Brazilian scientists. You must already have BBSRC funding to apply, and the money covers travel, workshops, and small pilot studies. The 14 July 2026 deadline gives you time to identify Brazilian partners and plan your collaboration.
Future Leaders Fellowships: round 11
These fellowships provide massive funding (up to £110,000,000) for researchers establishing independent careers. You need to show how your work will benefit the economy or society. While primarily academic, the scheme welcomes applications from innovative businesses with strong research programmes.
Green ERA-Hub: biomass production and utilisation
This international grant funds sustainable biomass research with up to £2,500,000 available. Your project must involve partners from at least three different countries. The focus is on making biomass production more sustainable and finding better ways to use agricultural waste.
UKRI Translation: Proof of Concept
You can get up to £9,000,000 to prove your research concept works in practice. This scheme helps turn academic discoveries into products, processes, or services. Your project must show clear commercial potential and have industry support.
Animal health and welfare research
This European collaboration funds research to improve livestock and fish farming. You need partners from at least three countries and can get up to £3,750,000. The focus is on practical solutions that farmers can actually use to improve animal welfare while maintaining productivity.
Before you apply
BBSRC wants to see clear pathways from research to real-world benefits. Your application must explain how your work will create economic impact, improve lives, or solve practical problems. Generic statements about "advancing knowledge" won't cut it.
Most BBSRC grants require you to show existing research excellence. They rarely fund completely new research areas without evidence you can deliver results. If you're a business, you'll need academic partners for most schemes.
Budget carefully and justify every cost. BBSRC reviewers scrutinise budgets closely and will question anything that looks excessive or poorly planned. They particularly dislike applications that request maximum funding without clear justification.
International collaboration is increasingly important across BBSRC schemes. Even domestic grants often score better when they include international partners or show how the work connects to global research networks.
Set up alerts for biotechnology grants to catch new BBSRC opportunities as they open.