PoC Funding

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL APPLICANTS FOR FUNDING

From 22 February 2024, BBSRC has revised the PoC grant conditions for the six OIRC Hubs. From now on, please follow the information and instructions for PoC funding provided on this updated webpage and use the new downloadable forms and guidelines therein. Thank you.

The Biofortification Hub Manager

Proof of Concept Funding

The Biofortification Hub offers funding to support innovative research via Proof of Concept (PoC) awards to encourage and support collaboration between academics and industrialists on Biofortification.  

The awards will help pump-prime collaborative research projects of industrial relevance that could lead to a:

• Longer term relationship
• Route to commercial translation
• Clear potential for further funding
• New research technology transfer projects

NEXT PoC CALL (2025): Topic to be announced

OPEN 01 February 2025

DEADLINE to submit proposal 25 April 2025 (18:00 GMT)

Please ensure that you are using the latest PoC forms and guidelines (dated March 2024 or later). The version of each downloadable document is indicated in the file name, The latest version of each document is available on this page. If in doubt, please contact biofortification.hub@nbi.ac.uk.

Application forms as well as the additional information requested (see PoC guidelines) should be sent to biofortification.hub@nbi.ac.uk

PoC funding summary:

• Award up to £100K (£40K recommended)
• Project duration: up to 9-12 months
• Eligible costs include Directly Incurred costs (excluding equipment) and Directly Allocated costs (excluding estate costs)
• The Biofortification Hub aims to support primarily research activities and encourages proposals with Directly Incurred (DI) costs representing 80% or more of the total grant costs. This criterion will be considered during the review process
• Projects are funded at 100% Full Economic Cost (fEC) by the BBSRC/Biofortification Hub
• Cash or in-kind contribution from an industrial partner(s) based in the UK is expected (Business partner contribution examples are available from the Hub Manager)
• Funding is only available to UK institutions and principal applicants who are both eligible to BBSRC funding
• Membership of the biofortification hub is encouraged but not mandatory to apply for PoC funding. You can become a member simply by filling the form online.
• Detailed guidelines about PoC funding and how to apply are available in the download section above.

PoC funded projects:

• Successful applicant(s) will provide a public summary of the project (150 works)
• All successful applicants (including co-investigators and industry partners) must join the Biofortification Hub network. It only takes two minutes to apply for membership online.
• The academic applicant(s) and industrial partner(s) will agree a start date and will need to have a signed agreement in place prior to the project commencing
• A formal “Funding Offer Letter” and “Award Agreement” (summarising the “Terms and Conditions”) will be issued to the successful applicant
• A short report (authorised by the industrial partner for use in the public domain) and an expenditure statement (authorised by the applicant’s Institution) should be sent to the hub Manager within one month of project ending
• Once a project has been completed, funds will be transferred at 100% fEC from BBSRC to Quadram Institute Bioscience then to the awardee.