BBSRC Stand-alone LINK

BBSRC Stand-alone LINK — Always Open

Supports United Kingdom university and industry teams through LINK grants that share innovation ownership and risk.

BBSRC Stand-alone LINK is a co-funding designation within the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council's Responsive Mode that supports pre-competitive academic-industry research collaborations. The scheme funds bioscience research across the full BBSRC remit — including agri-food, synthetic biology, biomanufacturing, and biomedical sciences — that would not be undertaken in its proposed form without the joint public-private partnership. Industry partners must contribute a minimum of 50% of total project cost, accepted in cash or in-kind, a higher bar than the BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award which requires only 10% in cash. BBSRC then funds 80% of the full economic cost of the remaining 50%, with host institutions covering the difference via core funds.

Eligibility requires at minimum one UK-registered company and one UK academic partner; overseas companies with a UK R&D or manufacturing site may apply with prior justification. Awards can reach up to £2m total value. Applications are submitted via the standard UKRI Funding Service applicant-led route and are reviewed continuously because Responsive Mode has been always-open since 1 May 2026 — there is no separately timed call window. A management framework defining scientific and commercial deliverables must be included, along with letters from each partner's tech transfer office and every industry collaborator. A signed collaboration agreement covering IP exploitation terms is required before funded research begins.

Strong LINK proposals clearly articulate why the research is pre-competitive, demonstrate matched industry commitment through signed letters, and show a route from co-funded discovery to eventual commercial exploitation without pre-determining that outcome. Industrial applicants spanning biotechnology, agri-tech, food technology, medtech, and biomanufacturing are typical partners. Teams should contact industry.collaboration@bbsrc.ukri.org before submission for guidance on structuring the industry contribution and IP framework.