Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

To apply to the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), it is advisable to build a collaborative project in which the Humanities and Social Sciences can make a mark. Possibilities and opportunities can be assessed under the Response mode highlights, by studying the BBSRC Strategy (cross-council projects) and its Portfolio, joining the email alerts for funding opportunities, and directly asking for advice from the council on the suitability of any theme. Examples of successful awards could be available from AMBS collaborative awards, and information about them could be requested from RSS.

Aims

BBSRC funds world-class bioscience, people and research infrastructure aiming to tackle global challenges like climate change, old age health, sustainable food production, and land use and energy production.

The above are Societal Challenges as well, and academics/researchers from the Faculty of Humanities should be involved when this is possible/allowable, which is more often now with the cross-disciplinary, inter-disciplinary policy for many of the funding schemes.

UKRI Strategy 2022-2027 & Corporate Plan 2022-2025 and BBSRC Strategic Delivery Plans 2022-2025

UKRI's Strategy 2022-2027 transforming tomorrrow together is available online.
The latest UKRI Corporate Plan 2022-2025 (August 2022): "UKRI’s corporate plan demonstrates how the world-class research and innovation UKRI supports will drive economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits for all."
The BBSRC Strategic Delivery Plan 2022-25:

Strategic objectives

People and careers

Attracting, retaining and developing a highly skilled, diverse and mobile bioscience workforce through a long-term, systemic approach to people and talent that recognises the value of the whole team, and fosters an open and positive research and innovation culture.

Places

Strengthening clusters, national capabilities and institutes, research and innovation campuses and infrastructures across the UK, and partnering internationally, to enable world- leading bioscience, and its transition into economic and societal benefits.

Ideas

Keeping the UK at the leading- edge of bioscience discovery by supporting people and teams to pursue great ideas and promoting research that advances our understanding of the fundamental ‘rules of life’.

Innovation

Driving innovation, translation and enterprise in UK bioscience, working with Innovate UK, business, investors, and regional partners to build collaborations and creating the conditions for increased private sector investment in R&D.

Impacts

Enhancing UK leadership in transformative technologies, and delivering bio-based solutions in:
- sustainable agriculture and food
- advanced manufacturing and clean growth
- an integrated understanding of health.

Supported by a world-class organisation

Delivering efficiently and effectively as part of UKRI, embedding equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and catalysing change through evidence and engagement.

Budget

Budget category i ii	2022–23 (£m)	2023–24 (£m)	2024–25 (£m)
Core R&I Budgets	300.41	317.51	326.41
Existing cross-UKRI Strategic Programmes	43.48	36.79	17.36
Fund for International Collaboration	3.95	2.97	0.90
Strategic Priorities Fund	39.53	33.82	16.46
Infrastructure*	56.16	70.32	73.55
World-class Labs	55.99	70.24	73.55
Digital Research Infrastructure Programme – phase 1b pilot projects (2022–23 – 2023–24)	0.17	0.08	0.00
R&I Budgets – existing time-limited commitments	1.07	0.00	0.00
COVID interventions	1.07	0.00	0.00
Grand Total	401.12	424.62	417.32

* Infrastructure projects are detailed separately below. Note that further infrastructure allocations to Councils may be made during the Spending Review period from the Infrastructure Fund, Digital Research Infrastructure Programme and Carbon Zero Fund Programme.

Notes

i. The figures provided in this document are in line with the 2022–23 – 2024–25 budget allocations for UK Research and Innovation. These are broken down by our budgeting and reporting categories, and exclude funding for ODA, Financial Transactions, and BEIS Managed Programmes. Figures are indicative and may vary over the course of the three-year period due to budget adjustments made as a part of on-going financial management and planning processes to maximise the use of our total funding.
ii. From 2022–23 UKRI talent investments are managed collectively across the Research Councils. The funding for collective talent activities outlined in this delivery plan are accounted for in the broader collective talent funding line included in our Corporate Plan.

Infrastructure Fundprojects include:*	Total lifetime allocation (some in future SR periods)
Infrastructure Fund: Wave 1 – Full project – John Innes Centre/ The Sainsbury Laboratory (JIC/TSL) - Subject to business case approval	317.67
Infrastructure Fund: Wave 2 – Full project – BioFAIR - Subject to business case approval	TBC
Infrastructure Fund: Wave 2 – Full project – EMBL-EBI: Data Resources for the Life Sciences P2 - Subject to business case approval	80.70
Infrastructure Fund: Wave 2 – Preliminary Activities – UK Plant & Crop Phenotyping Infrastructure	2.40

* Further allocations may be made during the Spending Review period. Excludes wave 1 preliminary activities where spend was in 21–22 only. Allocations include contingency, which may be returned if unused.

Priorities

Advancing the frontiers of bioscience discovery

Tackling strategic challenges

Other priority areas:

Calls

The BBSRC highlights on its website those research areas where more than one funder, including BBSRC, is allowable: cross-research council programmes and research networks.

Applying to the BBSRC is in most cases by responding to specific deadlines for applications: responding to strategic calls and to the responsive mode research.

Responsive mode: standard research grants.
sLolas: Strategic longer and larger grants, with annual deadlines for outline and full applications.
Special opportunities. Example: UK-China multi-council grant on Antimicrobial Resistance
Innovate UK competitions