The 2024 Transformative Research Technologies (24TRT) funding opportunity aims to support the development of cutting-edge research technologies with transformative potential in the biosciences.

This opportunity is open to UK-based research organizations eligible for Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funding. The funding opportunity aims to support the development of cutting-edge enabling research technologies, which have the potential for transformative impact and are essential to sustaining the vibrancy of bioscience discovery research in the UK.

The research should have the potential to deliver a substantial improvement versus the current state-of-the-art, rather than an incremental improvement, and therefore enable new avenues of bioscience discovery research.

Scope of Work

The funding opportunity aims to support the development of cutting-edge enabling research technologies, which have the potential for transformative impact and are essential to sustaining the vibrancy of bioscience discovery research in the UK.

This includes bioinformatics tools and computational approaches to the biosciences. These technological developments should offer the potential of a step change in the state-of-the-art for the given field. Awards will support small and short early-stage pilot studies directed towards the development of a new technology with transformative potential for the biosciences.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicants must be based at a UK research organization eligible for BBSRC funding. International researchers are not eligible to apply.

The New Investigator Award, Industrial Partnership Award and LINK schemes that feature in BBSRC’s standard research grant do not apply to this funding opportunity. First time PLs should note that, if successful, being the PL on a grant which includes funding for postdoctoral research assistant (PDRA) staff support costs will subsequently exclude them from being a new PL in BBSRC’s standard research grant. PhD students should not be included on applications to 2024 Transformative Research Technologies (24TRT).

Budget and Duration

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £225,000. BBSRC will fund 80% of the FEC. Applications must be between six and 18 months duration. The total indicative budget for this funding opportunity is £3 million.

Additional Information

The Transformative Research Technologies (TRT) funding opportunity is built on our previous Tools and Resources Development Fund (TRDF), responding to the recommendations of BBSRC’s review of technology development in the biosciences. It was run in its current form for the first time in 2023.

TRT aims to support the development of early-stage enabling research technologies. Further support for technology development later in its lifecycle is available within BBSRC.

Key Dates

• Opening Date: 4 September 2024 9:00am UK time

• Closing Date: 28 November 2024 4:00pm UK time

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service. The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application. Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.

Selection Process

Applications that fit the scope of the funding opportunity will be assessed through a single stage, fast-track panel assessment process, so that the early-stage exploratory ideas and technologies can be rapidly tested and challenged. The streamlined nature of the assessment will use a broadly based, multi-disciplinary panel with appropriate expertise.

For More funding Opportunities, Visit Global Funding Opportunities.