Mid-range equipment for biosciences research: ALERT 2024 (Grant)

The ALERT 2024 funding opportunity is open to research organisations, researchers, and research technical professionals (RTPs) normally eligible to apply to BBSRC, as described in the BBSRC guidance for applicants.

As an individual you can only be the project lead on one submitted application.As project lead on one application, you can still be project co-lead on a different application, but you cannot lead that application. However, as applications will be in direct competition, this is not recommended unless the applications are in very different areas.

Before applying for funding, check the Eligibility of your organisation.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service.

For full details, visit Eligibility as an individual.

Applications involving two or more collaborating research organisations are welcome but must be submitted as one application on the Funding Service by the lead research organisation.

A research organisation may submit more than one application, but we strongly encourage you to discuss and prioritise your submissions given the limited budget available.

Research technical professionals (RTPs)

Building on the Technician Commitment UKRI Action Plan and the UKRI people and teams action plan, we particularly encourage applications from RTPs as either project leads or project co-leads. Further guidance on RTP eligibility criteria are provided within the Funding Service.

In partnership with The UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy, we have created three short films to showcase the important role of RTPs in ALERT.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks

• support for people with caring responsibilities

• flexible working

• alternative working patterns

Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI.

Scope

The BBSRC Infrastructure Strategic Framework highlights the fundamental importance of supporting a diverse range of infrastructure to ensure the continued success of the UK biosciences. A key component of this is advanced, multi-user equipment that addresses the shared needs of research organisations, industry and end user communities.

We recognise that new technologies, tools, and approaches, often spanning several disciplines, are revolutionising biology. They are providing unprecedented opportunities to:

• advance understanding of the complex, dynamic processes that govern life

• apply that knowledge for the benefit of society and the economy

To support this approach, this funding opportunity encourages you to apply for:

• equipment that is widely used and underpins capability across all scientific areas within our remit (relevance to the priority areas in BBSRC’s strategic delivery plan is particularly encouraged)

• the use of emerging advanced research technology or utilisation of equipment in new ways, specifically ‘lab-to-field’ equipment which enables the translation (or applied use) of laboratory scale experiments to real-world settings or environments

• equipment that promotes collaboration and increased access to users within industry, public sector, and other institutes, for example equipment sharing and access to equipment

Read more about the BBSRC remit

Duration

The maximum duration of the grants is 12 months and grants must start by 1 August 2025 at the very latest.

No slippage will be allowed to this date, and grant extensions will not be allowed under any circumstances.

Funding available

The indicative budget for ALERT 2024 is approximately £20 million.

You may seek the cost of capital equipment between £200,000 and £1.5 million in value, including VAT if applicable.

The funding requested should be the costs being sought from us, net of any discounts and contributions from elsewhere. It may include other eligible one-off costs such as initial service and maintenance contracts. Costs should be requested at 100% FEC.

Funding must be requested under the ‘Exceptions – equipment’ heading only. No other cost types are eligible under this funding opportunity. Any applications submitted with costs in any other heading will be rejected without consultation.

Contributions from host research organisations and other external sources are encouraged but not mandatory. These may take the form of cash contributions, running costs or staff resourcing associated with the equipment, for example, managing, operating, or providing training on the equipment. Any contributions from elsewhere must be secured at the time of application.

What we will fund

Only one piece of capital equipment may be funded. However, this can include equipment that requires assembly or involves several components (not necessarily physically linked) provided they constitute one of the following:

• a pipeline: an end-to-end experimental process made up of several components that may require assembly

• a platform: a single piece of experimental equipment that may be constituted from multiple parts

If you plan to request several components that could constitute a pipeline or platform, your application should provide robust justification for why it should be considered as such. Relevant applications considered not to meet either of these definitions will be rejected. If you are unsure whether your proposed application meets either of these definitions, please contact us at bbsrcalert@bbsrc.ukri.org

Costs such as initial installation or service maintenance contracts can be included if they are one-off costs and part of the manufacturer’s offer. These costs should be included in the equipment quotation.

Refurbishment or installation costs may be eligible under the scheme providing these are an absolute requirement for the proper functioning of the equipment, for example, a ventilation system or cold room. These costs must be itemised in the application and fully justified.

In a large multi-component application that is otherwise in scope, one or more small components costing under £10,000 may be requested. These must be from the same supplier with all components forming a single invoice. If they cannot be sourced from the same supplier, your research organisation will need to fund each component under £10,000 separately.

All equipment must be on the market at the time of the funding opportunity closing date.

What we will not fund

Applications in the following areas are excluded from ALERT 2024 and will not be accepted. We withhold the right to reject these applications without consultation:

• applications where the principal beneficiaries are outside our remit

• applications that request any other costs apart from capital funding (for example running costs, staff costs, consumables, estate, and indirect costs)

• equipment requested with a total value below £200,000 including VAT

• applications that exceed 12 months in duration

• unsolicited resubmissions of applications that have previously been considered by us or any other funder

• applications requesting contributions to large facilities, purchase of equipment that constitute common elements of a well-found laboratory (such as centrifuges, fridges, incubators and so on) or for buildings and other types of infrastructures

• applications where the specified equipment is scheduled for market release after the funding opportunity close date

• multi-component applications that do not meet our pipeline or platform definition

• applications where the principal beneficiaries are outside the UK

• applications for technology development (although the use of new or emerging technologies is encouraged)

• applications to develop software packages

• applications for single-user or single-project equipment

• applications of the same nature that are currently under consideration by other funding opportunities

• applications where additional contributions are dependent on the outcome of requests to other funders still under consideration

• applications that include general maintenance costs (other than those detailed in the ‘Additional funding considerations’ section) or depreciation costs

Additional funding considerations

Service maintenance contracts may extend a maximum of 24 months past the end date of the award (36 months in total), but the contract cost must be paid within the lifetime of the grant (12 months). Where a compelling case can be made for warranties and service contracts extending beyond 36 months, these will be considered if appropriately justified.

We expect that institutions will make longer-term arrangements to ensure appropriate ongoing support over the lifetime of the equipment. Separately negotiated service contracts are not eligible for this funding opportunity.

The application must not request costs for staff or other ineligible costs. However, you should indicate the % full time equivalent (FTE) allocated to each applicant named on the project within the application.

You must obtain three quotes for the equipment, from multiple suppliers where possible, and use these as the basis for completing the ‘Resources and cost justification’ section. You are not required to attach quotes to your application. However, if you are successful, we may ask you for quotes prior to award.

We recommend applicants make use of equipment databases when deciding on what equipment to request, such as the Equipment Data service operated by Jisc.

Managing VAT exceptions on equipment is the responsibility of the research organisation. If the research organisation is confident that they meet HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) criteria for exemption, then they can submit without VAT. In such cases, if the value is pushed just below the minimum £200,000 threshold because VAT has been excluded, then this will be accepted.

Open research and ALERT

Open research is integral to UKRI’s mission to deliver economic and social benefit. BBSRC aims to promote open sharing of all research data, including data arising from ALERT-funded equipment.

To help maximise the impact of our funding, we encourage applicants to consider manufacturers who provide openly accessible data formats with their equipment.

Use of open formats ensures that deposition of data in public data repositories is as easy as possible and eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming data conversion steps when data is submitted to public repositories. Using these formats helps to enhance transparency, openness, verification, and reproducibility in research supported by ALERT.

Equipment access, and equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)

Our action plan for EDI outlines our commitment to removing barriers to participation in our programmes, ensuring investments do not inadvertently prevent access or usage by individuals from minority groups for example, disabled researchers.

You may wish to reference relevant research organisation strategies and policies which support equality, diversity, and inclusion as they relate to access to equipment and facilities. You should indicate how your proposed project has been designed and will be delivered with broad access in mind.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.

See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where applicants can find additional support.

Resubmissions

If you have submitted a similar application that has either been peer reviewed or is currently undergoing peer review by another funder, please contact bbsrcalert@bbsrc.ukri.org as soon as possible. We will confirm with you whether or not your new application is eligible for submission to ALERT 2024.

Assessment process

Your application will be assessed through a single-stage, expert panel only process. Additional external reviews will not be sought.

Assessment will be conducted by a multidisciplinary panel of experts covering scientific, managerial, technical and user aspects of equipment provision and management. The panel will assess applications against the published criteria for this funding opportunity.

Timescale

We aim to complete the assessment process within three months of receiving your application.

Feedback

There will be no applicant response opportunity and only summary feedback from the panel will be provided shortly after the assessment process is complete.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.

Assessment areas

The assessment areas we will use are:

Purpose

To what extent has the applicant explained how their application:

• meets the strategic aims of BBSRC and UKRI

• meets community demand and need from a diverse and inclusive user base

• meets national needs by establishing or maintaining a unique or world leading activity or both

• enhances and complements existing research capability at a local, regional, or national scale

Vision

To what extent has the applicant explained how the equipment requested in their application will enable research which:

• is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the fields or areas

• is timely given current trends, context, and needs

• has a measurable impact beyond the immediate team, including society, the economy, or the environment

• identifies the potential local and regional impacts, both direct and indirect, and who the beneficiaries might be

Approach

To what extent has the applicant demonstrated that they have designed their approach so that it:

• is effective and appropriate to achieve their objectives

• is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed

• ensures provision for training and development of Research Technical Professionals.

• uses a clear and transparent methodology

• describes how the research environment (in terms of the place, its location, and relevance to the application) will contribute to the successful utilisation of the equipment

• demonstrates consideration of equality, diversity and inclusion, including equitable access, in the design and planned use of the asset

Sustainability

To what extent has the applicant explained how the requested equipment will achieve societal, environmental and economic sustainability, including:

• how long-term operational and maintenance costs, including staffing, will be supported

• showing alignment with UKRI or host research organisation carbon reduction targets

• how the proposed equipment contributes to a broader approach to environmental sustainability such an enhancing biodiversity or clean air, as well as reducing carbon emissions

Resources and cost justification

To what extent has the applicant demonstrated that the resources requested in the application:

• are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified

• represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the maximum potential outcomes and impacts

Applicant and team capability to deliver

To what extent has the applicant, and if relevant their team, demonstrated they have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the application

• the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the application

• the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the application and their approach to develop others (specifically research technical professionals)

• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

To what extent has the applicant demonstrated that they have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations

• how they will manage these considerations

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Click here to start application on the UKRI Funding Service: Are you leading the project? - UKRI Funding Service

We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.

Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.

1. Confirm you are the project lead.

2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.orgPlease allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this Opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.

3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.

4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.

5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.

6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. You should:

• use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words

• insert each new image onto a new line

• provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit)

• ensure files are smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Watch our research office webinars about the Funding Service.

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service

• how research offices use the Funding Service

• how reviewers use the Funding Service

References

Applications should be self-contained, and hyperlinks should only be used to provide links directly to reference information. To ensure the information’s integrity is maintained, where possible, persistent identifiers such as digital object identifiers should be used. Assessors are not required to access links to carry out assessment or recommend a funding decision. Applicants should use their discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

References should be included in the appropriate question section of the application and be easily identifiable by the assessors, for example (Smith, Research Paper, 2019).

You must not include links to web resources to extend your application.

Deadline

BBSRC must receive your application by 9 January 2025 at 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time.

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

Personal data

Processing personal data

BBSRC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

Publication of outcomes

We will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity on our website: awarded research grants. If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the  UKRI Gateway to Research.

Summary

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers

• policymakers

• the public

• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• context

• the research the equipment will enable

• aims and objectives

• potential applications and benefits

Core team

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• project lead (PL)

• project co-lead (UK) (PcL)

• researcher co-lead (RcL)

• specialist

• professional enabling staff

• research and innovation associate

• technician

Only list one individual as project lead.

The project lead and project co-lead have replaced the principal investigator and co-investigator roles, respectively. Please see the full descriptions of these new harmonised set of role types being used in the Funding Service.

The researcher co-lead role has replaced the research co-investigator role previously used in Je-S grant applications. They will be an individual who merits appropriate recognition for making a substantial contribution to the formulation and development of the application and will be closely involved with the project. They will be employed on the project by and based at the institutions of the project lead or any project co-leads.

Research technical professionals

A research technical professional can be listed as a project lead or project co-lead, provided that:

• their appointment is resourced from the central funds of their research organisation at the time of application

• their level of responsibilities and duties is appropriate to a person with substantial research experience

• their contract extends beyond the duration of the project

Application questions

Purpose

Word limit: 1,500

What is the equipment, why is it needed, and why should BBSRC support it?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

To describe the equipment you are requesting:

• complete the Equipment Classification table (see ‘Supporting documents’ in the ‘Additional information’ section) and paste this table into the text box

Explain how the proposed equipment:

• is timely, given current trends and context

• meets community demand and need from a diverse and inclusive user base

• enhances and complements existing research capability at a local, regional, or national scale

• meets the strategic aims of BBSRC, UKRI or the government

You may wish to provide a summary of existing facilities beyond the institution, including identification of similar instruments overseas or in industry, outlining reasons why they cannot be utilised for the intended research.

We also recommend including the following to support your response:

• where multi-component equipment is requested, provide a clear diagram or schematic that demonstrates how the equipment operates as a pipeline or platform

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Vision

Word limit: 2250

What are you hoping to achieve with the proposed equipment?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how the proposed equipment will:

• enable high quality, novel or transformative research

• offer training opportunities for the wider community

• if applicable, have measurable impact beyond the immediate team, including on world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment

• lead to potential local and regional impacts, both direct and indirect, and who the beneficiaries might be

Please provide a detailed plan of research that would be enabled by the equipment, with sufficient experimental detail to allow the panel to assess the quality of the research, including preliminary results where possible. Where such data is not available for applications, you should explain why this is the case.

References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Approach

Word limit: 1500

What are your plans to manage the proposed equipment?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

You must include:

• a Gantt chart, or similar, showing a clear project plan, including work plan, milestones, and deliverables

We expect you to show how your approach:

• is feasible, identifying any risks to delivery and appropriate mitigation

• will manage usage of the equipment, providing details of access and usage estimates, particularly where a culture of equipment sharing may extend use to external users

• will ensure the availability of long-term technical support

• supports training and development of Research Technical Professionals

• supports a research environment (in terms of the place, its location, complementary expertise, facilities and relevance to the application) that will contribute to the successful utilisation of the equipment

• has considered equality, diversity and inclusion, including equitable access, in the design and planned use of the asset to maximise benefit to the UK biosciences community

The following can also be included to support your response:

• data and figures that show current and/or expected usage of existing and requested equipment.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Sustainability

Word limit: 1500

What steps have you taken to ensure the sustainability (economic, environmental and social) of your proposed asset?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

For the sustainability, explain how the proposed equipment:

• is as economically, environmentally and socially sustainable as possible

• will have its lifetime maximised, including stating what the expected lifetime is and, where relevant, how the asset will be sustainably decommissioned

Within the Sustainability section we also expect you to explain:

• how long-term operational and maintenance costs, including staffing, will be supported

• how the proposed asset is complementary to UKRI or host research organisation carbon reduction targets

• if relevant, how the proposed asset contributes to a broader approach to environmental sustainability, such an enhancing biodiversity or clean air, as well as reducing carbon emissions

Applicant and team capability to deliver

Word limit: 2000

Why are you the right individual or team to procure and manage the proposed equipment?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of how you and your team have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage)

• the right balance of skills and expertise

• the appropriate leadership and management skills and your approach to develop others

• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

The word count for this section is 2000 words: 1,500 words to be used for R4RI modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you, and if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on), have and how this will help to deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.

Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed below. You should use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the following key skills each team member brings.

Contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge

Examples might include:

• contributions to and skills acquired from relevant past projects, experience in particular methods or technologies and key outputs such as data sets, software, and research and policy publications. In each case, summarise the relevance to the proposed project

The development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships

Examples might include:

• provisions made for training and development opportunities that will benefit the individuals employed, project management, supervision, mentoring or line management contributions critical to the success of a team or team members or where you exerted strategic leadership in shaping the direction of a team, organisation, company, or institution

Contributions to the wider research and innovation community

Examples might include:

• how you have contributed to wider collaborations and networks across disciplines, institutions, or countries, commitments such as editing, reviewing and committee work, positions of responsibility, and activities which have contributed to the improvement of research integrity or culture, or examples where you have shown visionary strategic leadership in influencing a research agenda

Contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit

Examples might include:

• engagement across the public and private sectors or with the wider public, past projects that have contributed to policy development or public understanding, and other impacts across research, policy, practice and business, and other examples of, and how you have ensured your outputs reach and influence relevant audiences

Additions

Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).

You should complete this section as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Word limit: 500

What are the ethical and RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed use of the equipment?

You should consider ethical and RRI issues that may arise at each stage of the project delivery. For ALERT specifically, you should demonstrate how you have considered ethics and RRI from initial procurement processes, through to the use and management of the equipment.

Please see UKRI’s guidance on ethical research and innovation for more information.

If you do not think that the proposed equipment raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations

• how you will manage these considerations

If you are collecting or using data you should identify:

• any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing or storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further re-use of data)

• formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Resources and cost justification

Word limit: 1500

What will you need to procure to deliver the proposed equipment and how much will it cost?

Complete the Cost summary table (see ‘Supporting documents’ in the ‘Additional info’ section) and paste the table into the text box.

The information provided in this table should match your equipment quotes. If you are unable to obtain three quotes, please explain why in this section.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Justify the application’s costs, in particular:

• details of the equipment requested

• details of the service or maintenance service requested (if applicable)

• details of any cash contributions to the equipment from other sources

• details of any in-kind contributions to the equipment

• reasons for your preferred equipment (versus other options)

• reasons for requesting a particular specification of equipment or a particular manufacturer

Overall, assessors want you to demonstrate how the funding you anticipate needing for your proposed equipment:

• is comprehensive, appropriate, and justified

• represents the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes

• maximises potential outcomes and impacts

Your organisation’s support

Word limit: 1000

Provide details of support from your research organisation.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a Statement of Support from your research organisation detailing why the proposed equipment is needed. This should include details of any matched funding that will be provided to support the activity and any additional support that might add value to the application.

Assessors will be looking for a strong statement of commitment from your research organisation. This should come from a Head of Department, Director or equivalent senior position, to provide the necessary assurance for the equipment being situated within the facility/institution.

BBSRC recognises that in some instances, this information may be provided by the Research Office, the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) or equivalent, or a combination of both.

You must also include the following details:

• a significant person’s name and their position, from the TTO or Research Office, or both

• office address or web link

Upload details are provided within the Funding Service on the actual application.

Project partners

Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.

A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct (cash) or indirect (in-kind) contributions such as expertise, staff time or use of facilities.

Project partners are therefore distinct from the intended user base of the equipment, described in the Vision section above. Project partners should only include those contributing to the successful establishment of the equipment, rather than researchers intending to use the equipment.

Add the following project partner details:

• the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)

• the project partner contact name and email address

• the type of contribution (direct or in-direct) and its monetary value

If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Project partners: letters (or emails) of support

Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the Project Partner section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box, or if you do not have any project partners enter N/A. Each letter or email you provide should:

• confirm the partner’s commitment to the project

• clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them

• describe any additional value that they bring to the project

• the page limit is one side of A4 per partner

The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply. If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the project partners’ section.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Data management and sharing

Word limit: 500

How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed research?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes.

Trusted Research and Innovation

Word limit: 100

Does the proposed equipment involve international collaboration in a sensitive research or technology area?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate how your proposed international collaboration relates to Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I), including:

• list the countries your international project partners, or other collaborators, are based in

• if international collaboration is involved, explain whether this project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act

• if one or more of the 17 areas of the UK NSI Act are involved list the areas

• details of proposed international interactions, regardless of whether these relate to areas covered by the 17 sensitive areas in the National Security & Investment Act 2021

If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

We may contact you following submission of your application to provide additional information about how your proposed project will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help manage these risks.

Background

Infrastructure Strategic Framework

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Additional disability and accessibility adjustments

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process if required.

Webinar for potential applicants

We will hold a webinar on 23 October 2024 at 10:00am UK time. This will provide more information about the funding opportunity and a chance to ask questions.

Register for the webinar

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays

• disruptive working patterns and conditions

• the loss of ongoing work

• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic

Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant and their wider team to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.

Supporting documents

BBSRC ALERT 2024 supplementary tables (DOCX, 89KB)

Related content

• UKRI policies and standards

• BBSRC policies and standards

Get help with your application

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

Important note: The Helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the Helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding Finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility or content/remit of an opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your application please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact bbsrcalert@bbsrc.ukri.org

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.orgPhone: 01793 547490

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To help us process queries quicker, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

See further information on submitting an application.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email bbsrcalert@bbsrc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)

• declaration of interest

• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section

• conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection

• the application is an invited resubmission

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.