Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst - Early-stage - Feasibility studies - Round 2

Headline: A major grant supported by three research bodies, the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst is a spectacular opportunity to get your project off the ground with the best possible backing. Designed to support the development of new industrial biotechnology products and processes, and enable their scale-up, this grant aims to support R&D for feasibility studies into future commercialisation. With such a wide brief and opportunities to secure grants at different project stages too, the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst is unrivalled.

Key Objective: To support innovative businesses and researchers working in priority areas to be able to utilise excellent UK research to develop new and improved commercial products and processes in the biotechnology field

Grantors: The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), The Technology Strategy Board (TSB), and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Funding available: Up to £45m in total
Total project size expected to be upto £250k

Duration: up to 1 year

Opening: Currently open

Application deadline: Registration closes 3^rd December 2014, final deadline 10^th December 2014

Details: This grant falls under the overall Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst umbrella, which looks to fund the development and uses of biological processes that produce materials chemicals and energy. Round 2 is specifically targeted at early stage feasibility studies. The panel is looking for projects which explore and evaluate the commercial potential of an early-stage innovative idea.

Projects may involve, although they are not limited to:
• Production of fine and specialty chemicals and natural products (e.g. fragrances, flavours, pharmaceutical intermediates)
• Production of commodity, platform and intermediate chemicals and materials (e.g. plastics, resins, textiles)

· Production of liquid and gaseous biofuels

• Production of peptides and proteins (e.g. enzymes, antibiotics, recombinant biologics)
• Novel or improved upstream or downstream processes to reduce costs or improve efficiency

Projects may not address food and drink or use feedstocks from material that could be used for the human or animal food chain.

The IB Catalyst scheme is designed to allow successful projects at earlier stages to seek further funding as their project develops. At this feasibility study stage, large businesses may claim up to 65% of eligible overall project costs, while SMEs may claim up to 75% of eligible overall costs. Those costs incurred by any Research Organisation partner must not exceed 50% of total project costs. Total project costs may be up to £250k and total duration may be up to 12 months at feasibility study stage.

Conditions: Projects may be business or academic-led but must include a business partner. They may be led by single businesses or a collaborative effort between businesses or research organisations. Businesses of any size may apply.

Commentary: This is a very active area of research which also attracts much grant support both in the UK and through H2020, the EU R&D programme but which is highly competitive. The IB Catalyst also supports later stage feasibility and commercialisation projects. We are very well placed to help you maximise your chance of success, maximise the grant award and save you large amounts of management time through our in-depth knowledge and grant experience

See www.grantaid.com.