Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Impact Acceleration Account
Our Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Impact Acceleration Account aims to support a thriving and sustainable future by translating research into practical action and change.
This account is currently funding projects through the Harmonised Impact Acceleration Account .
We focus on developing technologies and systems which can be used to maintain the health and wellbeing of people and animals and to protect and revolutionise our economy, society and environment.
Aims
- drive the commercialisation of early-stage research outputs through supporting small scale innovative proof of concept and technology feasibility studies
- ‘buy in’ expertise to enable ‘fast failure’ or to de-risk projects and advance their progression towards translation and commercialisation
- support and facilitate knowledge exchange and capability development through short-term secondments between academic colleagues and potential end users, including industry partners
- support culture development through the provision of knowledge exchange workshops, with a particular focus on engaging with early career researchers
Funding
From 2022 to 2025, the BBSRC IAA has contributed £300,000 towards the university’s first Harmonised Call and will continue to fund new projects which fulfil the Council’s aspirations under 3 main remits:
Initiator
Up to £20,000 to support access to resources, including external expertise, to de-risk or determine the commercial feasibility of a project, feeding into overall research strategies and progressing projects towards translation. Examples include obtaining market research, freedom to operate and commercial reports.
Accelerator
Up to £50,000 to support small scale proof of concept and technology feasibility projects to accelerate research along the translational pathway, achieving impactful outcomes. This fund will enable academics to validate their research through a ‘fast-fail’ approach and obtain essential data which will leverage further translational funding.
Placements and residencies
Up to £15,000 to support short term secondments/people exchange between academia and industry to facilitate knowledge exchange, support, training and/or establishment of a new collaboration. The IAA will support both incoming and outgoing people exchanges and will be crucial in building long-term relationships with partners.
The next call will launch on 9 May 2023 and be open for 9 weeks. Application must be submitted by 12 July 2023 and decision panels will take place in September 2023. Application outcomes will be announced in October 2023, successful projects are for a duration of up to 12 months.
Strategic Lead
Professor Helen White-Cooper is the Strategic Lead for the BBSRC IAA and is supported by Dr Chris Hubbard, Impact Officer, Research and Innovation Services.
