Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Impact Acceleration Account
The University of Manchester is pleased to announce that we have been awarded £300,000 from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to deliver the BBSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA), over a period of three years.
The IAA aims to strengthen knowledge exchange, support the translation/commercialisation of early-stage research and support imaginative and innovative approaches to impact delivery. All funded projects must be linked to BBSRC funded research and will be awarded through four schemes.
Relationship Incubator
The Relationship Incubator supports projects that explore and exploit the potential of the research with an industrial partner/user organisation who can offer a potential pathway to impact. The scheme aims to support academics looking to identify new partners or build early-stage relationships with existing partners.
Two calls are now open for applications:
- Early Career Researcher (ECR) – aiming to support ECRs that wish to scope for, or build on, collaborative opportunities with external organisations.
- Research Theme Focus – aiming to promote knowledge exchange between external organisation(s) and researchers working on a particular scientific focus area that has potential for high relevance to industry sectors.
Please be aware that the standard Relationship Incubator scheme is open on a continuous basis.
We can help you to make your application and you can download our guidance notes below:
- Relationship Incubator guidance notes (PDF document, 584KB)
- Early Career Researcher call guidance notes (PDF document, 684KB)
- Research Theme Focus call guidance notes (PDF document, 685KB)
The same application form can be used for both calls:
- Application form (Word document, 510KB)
If you have a project you think may be suitable, please contact us for more information.
Concept and Feasibility
The Concept and Feasibility scheme is targeted at academics with early stage research that require financial support in making the first steps on the translational pathway. Activities can include prototype evaluation, proof-of-concept studies, pump priming of initial trials and scoping exercises. Projects are expected to have an external collaborator(s).
The scheme is now open with an extended deadline of 17 July 2019. If you have a project you think may be suitable, please contact us for more information.
We can help you to make your application, and you can download our guidance notes below:
- Guidance notes (PDF document, 418KB)
- Application form (Word document, 494KB)
Push to IP
The scheme aims to drive impact from research disclosures/commercialisation by supporting projects where the intellectual property (IP) position is currently confounded or immature for pure commercialisation. The scheme will fund the delicate and crucial final steps in reaching the stage of patent filing or strengthening the case for patent protection.
The scheme is now open with an extended deadline of 17 July 2019. If you have a project you think may be suitable, please contact us for more information.
We can help you to make your application, and you can download our guidance notes below:
- Guidance notes (PDF document, 418KB)
- Application form (Word document, 496KB)
Impact Awareness
The Impact Awareness scheme aims to promote and build awareness around projects that require additional support or external interest to explore and fulfil their impact potential. Relevant mechanisms include hosting networking events, seminar series, website development and case studies. Proposals must be orientated towards engaging with external organisations.
The scheme is an open, responsive call, opening in March 2018. If you have a project you think may be suitable, please contact us for more information.
We can help you to make your application, and you can download our guidance notes below:
- Guidance notes (PDF document, 344KB)
- Application form (Word document, 491KB)
Find out more
For more information about how the BBSRC Impact Acceleration Account can help industrial partners to access our research expertise, please contact Kate in the Business Engagement Team:
Dr. Cristina Melero
Business Engagement Officer
Email: cristina.melero@manchester.ac.uk
Tel: 0161 306 890