Connecting Culture Fund
- Funding
- £5,000 – £100,000
- Deadline
- 30 September 2027
- Location
- England
- Applications
- By invitation
Overview
The Connecting Culture Fund helps BBSRC strategically supported institutes strengthen research culture. It pays for activities that bring institutes together and share what works in biosciences.
The funder gives examples of what you could do. You might share resources across several institutes, or create new ones together. You could run cross-institutional culture days for staff and students. You could build or strengthen links with partners such as universities or other organisations with research culture expertise. You could also commission small projects that gather examples of good practice.
Awards range from £5,000 to £100,000. BBSRC will fund 100% of the full economic cost of your project. The total fund is £309,000. Projects can last from three to 12 months. There is no requirement for matched funding from host institutions.
This is an invitation-only opportunity. You can apply only if BBSRC has invited you. An institute must lead or co-lead the application, and other eligible research organisations can join as project partners or collaborators.
The opportunity opened on 27 July 2026 and closes at 4:00pm UK time on 30 September 2027. You cannot apply after that time.
One practical point: all costs must be listed as 'Exception-Other' in your application so that the project is funded at 100% of the full economic cost. Applications go through the UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S, and your research office must check and submit them.
Official source: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/connecting-culture-fund/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- You can only apply if BBSRC has invited you.
- A BBSRC strategically funded institute must lead or co-lead the application.
- Projects must last between three and 12 months.
- BBSRC funds 100% of the full economic cost, up to £100,000.
- All costs must be listed as 'Exception-Other' to be funded at 100% of the full economic cost.
- Applications must go through the UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S.
- Only the lead research organisation can submit the application.
- Submitted applications cannot be changed.
You can only apply if BBSRC has invited you. The fund is for BBSRC strategically funded institutes: Babraham Institute, Earlham Institute, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, John Innes Centre, The Pirbright Institute, Quadram Institute, The Roslin Institute and Rothamsted Research. An institute must lead or co-lead the application. Other eligible research organisations can take part as project partners or collaborators. For the Roslin Institute and the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, the lead organisation is the University of Edinburgh and Aberystwyth University respectively.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
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Start freeWho is this for?
BBSRC strategically funded institutes that have been invited to apply and want to strengthen research culture, alone or with partner organisations.
Regions
No published award history for Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Some funders do not publish their grants data.
Full details from Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Apply for funding to enhance research culture at your BBSRC strategically funded institute. This is an invitation-only funding opportunity and one or more of our institutes must lead or co-lead the application, but other eligible UK based research organisations are encouraged to be involved as project partners.
How to apply
Apply through the UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S. Select 'Start application' on the funder's page, confirm you are the project lead, then sign in or create an account. Answer the questions in the text boxes. Send the finished application to your research office to check. They will submit it to UKRI. Only the lead research organisation can submit.
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Create free accountLast updated: 16 October 2026