What is BBSRC EngBio ICURe Discover
BBSRC EngBio ICURe Discover is a game-changing, 10-week part-time online market discover programme, supporting bioscience researchers and technicians to:
- discover more about their potential market
- enhance market awareness
- deepen the understanding of potential technology applications
The programme is designed using the lean start-up methodology, which applies the scientific method (hypothesise, test and evaluate) to business ideas.
You will learn how to use this approach to gauge your potential customers’ opinions on your engineering biology-based idea, product or service.
The programme is suitable for participants looking to explore the potential of their early stage engineering biology projects, or those who require a part-time commitment for market exploration.
What is included
BBSRC EngBio ICURe Discover includes:
- up to £2,500 support for testing assumptions and market discovery activities
- up to £1,200 for business adviser support
- part-time, online market discovery for 10 weeks
- two-day online training bootcamp with commercialisation experts to develop a hypothetical business model, learn how to talk about technology to potential customers, and identify customer pain points
- training on how to gather market feedback that indicates the next steps for your engineering biology research and potential for commercialisation
- access to our teams of experts; we will proactively connect you to our network of entrepreneurs, investors and funders
- training in commercial viability using tools such as the Business Model Canvas
- developing an understanding of existing market offerings and competitive landscape for your sector
- giving a reflective presentation to our panel of experts and gain further traction for your commercialisation plans
- opportunity to apply for the ICURe Explore programme and secure up to £35,000 of grant funding to carry out more extensive market exploration and customer discovery
Engineering biology scope
Engineering biology must be the primary, underpinning technology for the product, process or service being carried forward for market exploration.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) defines engineering biology as the application of rigorous engineering principles to the design and fabrication of biological components and systems. From modifications of natural systems to new forms of artificial biology.
We have provided an illustrative list of example inclusions and exclusions to demonstrate the boundaries of the scope for this opportunity. The lists are not exhaustive.
Examples of inclusions
Orthogonal biosystems
Applications in engineering cells and organisms that include systems or parts not found in nature to impart new capacities or chemistry
Regulatory circuits
Applications designing and inserting well-characterised circuits or networks, to generate new functions or responses in cells and organisms
Protocells
Applications in bottom-up chemical design approaches to produce synthetic or semi-synthetic cells and compartments
Metabolic engineering
Applications involving using complex modifications informed by predictive models of biosynthetic pathways to allow or enhance production of useful products
Minimal genomes
Applications involving the understanding of the minimal number of parts (genes) needed for life, to serve as a chassis for engineering minimal cell factories for new functions
Bio nanoscience
Applications that utilise and exploit synthetic molecular nano machines based on cellular systems
Examples of exclusions
Focus on embedded engineering of a system
Applications that focus on the engineering of a system in which biology is embedded, rather than engineering the biological system itself.
For example, engineering the scaffold in tissue engineering, while not engineering the biological component.
Focus on learning from biology rather than engineering biology
Applications that are learning from biology, rather than engineering the biological system.
For example, design of a purely physical or chemical mechanical construct, taking inspiration from biological systems, rather than engineering an artificial or modified biological system.
Focus on pre-existing engineering biology outputs
Applications focused on the development of an output of pre-existing engineering biology, with no tangible engineering biology being conducted.
For example, an experiment using a metabolite of a well-established engineered chassis as an input to a chemical process, with no demonstrable element of engineering biology conducted by the applicants.
However, you are eligible if you are taking pre-existing engineering biology in a new context, such as a novel chemical production using an existing engineered chassis.
Focus on medical or clinical devices and therapeutics
Applications based on medical or clinical devices and therapeutics being developed solely for a specific end-point clinical utility (including diagnostics).
For example, developing a technology specifically for diagnosing or treating a specific disease.
However, you are eligible if:
- you also aim to investigate other market opportunities for this technology outside of the health sector, for example for livestock
- this technology can be pivoted and used as a platform technology
If you are unsure whether your application fits the scope of this funding opportunity, we strongly advise you to contact us.
Previous funding
We will prioritise teams where the research underpinning the bioscience innovation, and the products or services being carried forward for market exploration, is building on a previous BBSRC or other UKRI grant.
In your application, you should specify what UKRI grants have supported this underpinning research to date.
If you are a PhD student and your application is based on your PhD research, you should specify the funder of your PhD.
