BBSRC Industrial Partnership Awards (IPAs)

Call status: Open

Application deadline: as per next responsive mode

Science-led, responsive mode grants where an industrial partner contributes in cash at least 10% of the full economic cost of the project. Additional in-kind contributions from industry are welcome but they neither count against the industry contribution nor the total cost of the project. (See FAQs for example calculations.)

Applications are assessed by our Research Committees, alongside standard applications, using the same criteria. IPA projects are normally funded in preference to standard grants of equivalent scientific merit.

Before applying

The company partner should be registered in the UK or have a UK R&D or manufacturing site. Where a suitable company cannot be found in the UK, an overseas company may be used. However, such collaborations are judged on a case by case basis, and clear justification must be provided. We strongly encourage you to contact us (contact details below) prior to submission if you wish an overseas company to be an industrial partner under this scheme.

Applicants should describe the value of the partnership and its mutual benefits. Applicants should include a letter from their university’s Technology Transfer office stating that should the IPA be funded, a collaborative agreement will be put in place with the industrial partner before commencement of the project. The letter should:

  • describe the expected IP management and distribution strategy of this collaboration
  • be signed off by the industrial partner budget holder (or equivalent) as well as colleagues in the institutions Technology Transfer Office (or equivalent).

Please consult the FAQs in the downloads section for calculating grant costs and contributions.

How to apply

Visit our ‘Apply for funding’ section to submit your application through our electronic submission system. View the website here.

For more specific guidance about applying to this scheme, please consult the FAQs (see downloads here).

The schemes are dictated when selecting classification as follows:

  • Select Council: ‘BBSRC’
  • Select Document Type: ‘Standard Proposal’
  • Select Scheme: ‘Responsive Mode’
  • Select Call/Type Mode: ‘Responsive Mode [deadline]’
  • In the Document Menu select ‘Classifications’ and then ‘Grant Type’
  • Select the appropriate classification (Industrial Partnership Award, LINK etc)

Applications are processed alongside other responsive mode applications. Application deadlines are therefore the same as responsive mode applications. Responsive mode deadlines can be found on our application deadlines page.