STFC Bridging for Innovators

STFC Bridging for Innovators, or B4I, was an in-kind access route that gave companies access to STFC science facilities for industrial research and development. It is now closed, with the last date on the record set at 31 March 2021. The programme sat inside STFC's wider industry-facing offer and focused on turning large-facility capability into practical commercial experimentation. The route was open to UK-registered companies and excluded non-profits, universities, research organisations, and individuals. It used an in-kind assistance model rather than a cash grant, so the value came from access to facilities rather than a cheque. The wider STFC landscape now channels industrial engagement through places such as Hartree Centre, Diamond Light Source industrial access, ISIS commercial access, and STFC Campus Technology Hubs. B4I suited companies that needed heavyweight scientific infrastructure but were not looking for conventional grant funding. Its value was in lowering the cost and friction of doing R and D with major public facilities, which made it useful for testing, measurement, and specialist experimentation. Because the route is wound down, applicants now need to look elsewhere for similar facility access.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.