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.
This funding opportunity will use a two-stage process: an Expression of Interest (EOI) stage and a final proposal.
Launch webinar
Prior to the application process, a launch webinar will take place for potential applicants.
During this webinar, we will provide information about the funding opportunity, how to apply and the general timeline of the funding opportunity and answer any questions you may have. This section of the webinar will be recorded. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to discuss shared interests and collaboration opportunities during a facilitated networking session.
Register for the webinar.
Stage one: expression of interest (EOI)
There is an optional expression of interest stage for this funding opportunity. If you do not submit an EOI you can still apply to the full proposal stage of the funding opportunity. Submitting an EOI is encouraged for those considering applying as a project lead and recommended for co-leads who plan to support lead applicants as part of a consortia application.
Other partners or collaborators, such as the learned societies and other existing networks who may not be eligible to apply, are encouraged to also submit an EOI as potential collaborators or project partners. To support the creation of the best grant proposals, the BBSRC office will, where necessary, aim to coordinate the development of joint applications and collaborations where the aims and overall visions of the expressions of interest correspond. You should not await a response from the BBSRC following the EOI submission, but simply continue with the development of the full proposal to be submitted by the deadline.
In addition to your details, the EOI will ask for your expertise, your initial vision for the grant and what the grant will aim to achieve.
Submit your EOI by email to edinetworkscall@bbsrc.ukri.org
The expression of interest stage closes on 21 May 2024 at 4:00pm UK time.
Stage two: full proposal
A full proposal will be submitted via the Funding Service. We encourage each proposal to include at least one project lead who attended the launch webinar networking session.
You should ensure you are aware of and comply with any internal institutional deadlines that may be in place.
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.
- Confirm you are the project lead.
- 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.org
Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service.
- 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.
- Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
- Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
- 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 new Funding Service.
For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:
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. You should use your 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 25 June 2024 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
BBSRC as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity on our website.
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:
- aims and objectives
- your chosen priority area or areas
- the challenge the project addresses
- roles of likely beneficiaries (members of your network, postdoctoral researchers, research technical professionals and so on)
- collaborators (other BBSRC-funded networks, external stakeholders)
- how you will manage the award (proposed activities and the assessment and dissemination of funds)
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
- project lead (PL)
- project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
- project co-lead (international) (PcL (I))
- specialist
- grant manager
- researcher co-lead (RcL)
- visiting researcher
We are piloting a flexible leadership model that allows for one or more project leads to lead the grant. The project lead (PL) shall be the representative of the lead research organisation (RO) and will submit the application. The project co-leads shall be the representatives of the other ROs involved in the partnership.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Application questions
Vision
Word limit: 1,000
What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how your proposed work:
- is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)
- has the potential to advance current understanding, generates new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area
- is timely given current trends, context and needs
- impacts world-leading research, society, the economy or the environment
- will embed EDI considerations into, and how these will guide your aims, as well as other activities such as stakeholder engagement, events and networking
Within the Vision section we also expect you to:
- address the challenges encountered by members of the network who are from an under-represented group. This will include an overview of the support required in this area
- ensure your proposed work is informed by the network’s current landscape and roadmaps for the future, building on the Networks’ current activities
- where possible, base your proposed work on evidence of the current diversity within the existing network as well as diversity targets. We encourage you to consider how the planned activities might contribute to BBSRC’s EDI Action Plan
- showcase any evidence of strong partnerships and plans to grow and evolve partnerships over the course of the grant to maximise impact and leverage support from stakeholders
Approach
Word limit: 1,000
What type of activities do you plan to support to deliver your proposed vision?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:
- is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
- is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed if applicable, uses a clearly written and transparent methodology
- if applicable, summarises the network’s previous work in this area and describes how this will be built upon and progressed
- will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts
- describes how the network’s environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work
- will build EDI considerations into the formation, operation and governance of the hub, including how these will be operationalised
Within the Approach section we also expect you to:
- demonstrate access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment to deliver the application
- evidence co-creation and user engagement
- provide a detailed and comprehensive project plan including milestones and timelines
- if applicable, include a detailed and appropriate plan for how you will acquire and manage EDI data (additional one page A4). Please see ‘Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)’ question for additional guidance
- explain how any partnerships will be planned and managed
- explain how any partnerships will enable stakeholders to work together, network and provide peer support
- outline any future plans for sustaining the partnership beyond this application, or for funding research which may develop from the partnership
Governance
Word limit: 500
How will you manage the award to successfully deliver its objectives?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how the proposed award will be managed, demonstrating that it:
- will be effectively governed, including details about advisory structures and consultation with relevant stakeholders,
- will be effectively and inclusively managed, demonstrated by a clear management plan
- has clear leadership team roles and responsibilities
- if applicable, will manage and encourage partnerships with non-HEI organisations across government, industry and civil society
- has plans for monitoring your progress as well as self-evaluation throughout the lifetime of your award
- will put in place appropriate governance and administration to deliver the range of network activities proposed
- how equality, diversity and inclusion is embedded in plans for convening and engaging with their community and the allocation of the awarded funds.
Within this section 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
Applicant and team capability to deliver
Word limit: 1,650
Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:
- the relevant experience to deliver the proposed work. For example, the ability of the network manager to disseminate the funds within the existing network to maximise impact
- the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work
- the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others
- contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
Where possible, BBSRC encourages collaboration and consortia applications. Please use the R4RI to introduce any proposed collaborations or potential opportunities for collaborative working across the BBSRC-funded networks, or with other collaborators such as the learned societies, and how the award will benefit from networks and project partners working together (if applicable). Please include:
- how any described collaborations and project partners complement the core team and their existing expertise
The word count for this section is 1,650 words, 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules 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. 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 key skills each team member brings:
- contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
- the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
- contributions to the wider research and innovation community
- contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit
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.
UKRI has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new Funding Service.
For full details, see Eligibility as an individual.
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
Word limit: 500
What are the ethical and RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work 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 and storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further reuse of data)
- formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with
Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) relating to research involving:
- animals
- human participants
- genetically modified organisms
Resources and cost justification
Word limit: 500
What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:
- the expected costs of proposed EDI activities
- project staff (for additional administrative support only)
- significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)
- any equipment that will cost more than £10,000
- any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
- all facilities and infrastructure costs
- International collaboration costs
All costs will be allocated under ‘Exceptions’ and therefore funded at 100%. BBSRC will not fund any Directly Allocated Costs or Directly Incurred Costs.
Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:
- are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
- represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
- maximise potential outcomes and impacts
Your organisation’s support
Word limit: 500
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 work 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 work.
This should also include support from the network lead if this differs from the project lead.
The committee will be looking for a strong statement of commitment from your research organisation.
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
Where possible, BBSRC encourages collaboration and consortia applications. Please use this section to describe in more detail any proposed collaborations or potential opportunities for collaborative working across the BBSRC-funded networks, or with other collaborators such as the learned societies, and how the award will benefit from networks and project partners working together (if applicable).
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.
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.
