We are running the funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service. You cannot apply for this funding opportunity on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.
If you do not already have an account with the Funding Service, you will be able to create one by selecting the ‘start application’ button at the start of this page. Creating an account is a 2 minute process requiring you to verify your email address and set a password.
If you are a member of an organisation with a research office that we do not have contact details for we will contact them to enable administrator access. This provides:
- oversight of every Funding Service application opened on behalf of your organisation
- the ability to review and submit applications
Research offices that have not already received an invitation to open an account should email support@funding-service.ukri.org
Watch our research office webinars about the new Funding Service.
Submitting your application
Applications should be prepared and submitted by the lead research organisation but should be co-created with input from all leads, and project partners, and should represent the proposed work of the entire consortia.
Only the lead research organisation can apply to UKRI.
To apply:
Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this page.
- Confirm you are the project lead.
- Sign in or create a UKRI 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
- Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the ‘How to apply’ section on this funding finder page.
- 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.
As citations can be integral to a case for support, you should balance their inclusion and the benefit they provide against the inclusion of other parts of your answer to each question. Bear in mind that citations, associated reference lists or bibliographies or both, contribute to and are included in, the word count of the relevant section.
Deadline
To be confirmed.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal research organisation deadlines. You will not be able to apply after this time.
Personal data
Processing personal data
As part of UKRI, we 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.
Outcomes publication
We will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity. If your application is successful, some personal information will be published via the UKRI Gateway to Research.
Summary
Word count: 500
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We may make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, so 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, for example:
- project lead (PL)
- project co-lead (PcL)
- researcher co-lead
- specialist
- professional support staff
- research and innovation associate
- technician
- visiting researcher
Only list one individual as the 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.
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
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.
Find out more about UKRI’s new grant roles.
Purpose
Word count: 1,000
What is the equipment, why is it needed, and why should we support it?
What the assessors looking for in your response
Explain how the equipment requested will:
- meet the strategic aims of BBSRC and UKRI
- meet community demand and need from a diverse and inclusive user base
- have a measurable impact beyond the immediate team
- meet national needs by establishing or maintaining a unique or world leading activity or both
- enhance and complement existing research capability at a local, regional, or national scale
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.
Number your references in this section using a superscript citation style. Then include the details of these references in a corresponding list in the ‘References’ section of this application.
Vision
Word count: 1,000
What research will be enabled by this equipment?
What the assessors looking for in your response
Provide a detailed plan which includes a description of the projects that will be supported by the equipment with sufficient experimental detail to allow the panel to assess the quality of the research, including preliminary results where possible.
Explain how the equipment requested will enable research that:
- is high quality and important
- is timely, given current trends and context
- offers training opportunities, specifically to early career researchers and research technical professionals
Number your references in this section using a superscript citation style. Then include the details of these references in a corresponding list in the ‘References’ section of this application.
Approach
Word count: 1,500
What are your plans to manage the requested equipment?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how you have designed your approach including:
- a credible plan for instillation of the equipment, including a work plan with Gantt chart, milestones, and deliverables
- identification of risks and appropriate mitigation
- plans for support and maintenance of the proposed infrastructure
- details of access and usage particularly where a culture of equipment sharing may extend use (this should include any application and assessment processes and an estimate for the balance of users from the host institution, researchers from external institutions and industrial users)
- training and development of staff, specifically for technical staff, including appropriate plans to ensure support and career development for staff involved in managing and supporting the equipment
- identification of how accessibility and inclusiveness have been incorporated into the design of the project
- if computing equipment is requested alongside other equipment, why there is a need for enhanced data analysis/management with the associated purchase of the data-generating platform
Number your references in this section using a superscript citation style. Then include the details of these references in a corresponding list in the ‘References’ section of this application.
Environmental sustainability
Word count: 500
Outline how your application will contribute to promoting environmental sustainability with specific reference to the priority areas and objectives set out in the UKRI Environmental Sustainability Strategy.
What the assessors looking for in your response
This section should include details regarding:
- benefits such as energy efficiency of the equipment, reduced consumable usage, provision of more environmentally friendly housing or use of green energy
- measures such as strategies to mitigate the emissions of high-impact equipment through management of the energy consumption or reducing the impact in other areas such as through remote access or use of consumables
- where the manufacture of the equipment has a high environmental impact, you should consider sharing between departments and organisations to ensure that the equipment is used at its full practical capacity
- how the requested equipment will be managed in alignment with relevant environmental strategies of your research organisation
Number your references in this section using a superscript citation style. Then include the details of these references in a corresponding list in the ‘References’ section of this application.
Resources and cost justification
Word count: 1,500
What will you need to procure and manage the proposed equipment and how much will it cost?
As part of this question, you will need to complete a cost summary table. Further information on how to complete this table will be provided in in the relevant section of the application.
What the assessors looking for in your response
- justify the equipment requested (including all specific makes and models of your preferred option)
- details and justification of the service/maintenance contract requested, if applicable
- details of host contributions to the project (contributions from the host research organisations and other external sources are welcome but not mandatory)
- reasons for the preferred supplier of the equipment, versus other suppliers
- reasons for requesting a particular specification of equipment or a particular manufacturer
Assessors will 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
Only costs under the ‘Exceptions’ heading are permitted. The application must not request costs for staff or other ineligible costs.
Number your references in this section using a superscript citation style. Then include the details of these references in a corresponding list in the ‘References’ section of this application.
Your organisation’s support
Word count: 1,000
Provide details of support from your research organisation and project co-lead research organisations.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Provide a statement of support from your research organisations detailing why the 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 proposal. Contributions from the project lead or project co-lead research organisations and other external sources are welcome but not mandatory.
Assessors will be looking for a strong statement of commitment from your research organisations.
We recognise 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
Number your references in this section using a superscript citation style. Then include the details of these references in a corresponding list in the ‘References’ section of this 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.
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
Word limit: 10
Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the Project Partner section.
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
Save letters or emails of support from each partner in a single PDF no bigger than 8MB. Unless specially requested, please do not include any sensitive personal data within the attachment.
For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘Project partner’.
If the attachment does not meet these requirements, the application will be rejected.
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.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Do not provide letters of support from host and project co-leads’ research organisations.
Applicant and team capability to deliver
Word count: 2,000 (including optional 500 words for additions)
Why are you the right team to successfully deliver the proposed project?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Evidence of how you and your team, have:
- the relevant experience (appropriate to the career stage)
- the right balance of skills and expertise
- the appropriate leadership and management skills and your approach to develop others
- contributed to developing the positive research environment and the wider community
The word count for this section is 2,000 words, 1,500 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 (investigators, researchers, other (technical) staff for example research software engineers, data scientists and so on, and partners), 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 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 toward 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 as a narrative. Do not use a CV type format.
Number your references in this section using a superscript citation style. Then include the details of these references in a corresponding list in the ‘References’ section of this application.
Data management and sharing
Word count: 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 which should clearly detail how you will comply with BBSRC’s published Data Sharing Policy, which includes detailed guidance notes.
Number your references in this section using a superscript citation style. Then include the details of these references in a corresponding list in the ‘References’ section of this application.
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
Word count: 500
What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to use of the requested equipment? If you do not think it 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 strategies taken to not preclude further reuse of data
- formal information standards with which study will be compliant
Number your references in this section using a superscript citation style. Then include the details of these references in a corresponding list in the ‘References’ section of this application.
References
Word count: 1,000
List the references you’ve used to support your application.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Ensure your application is a self-contained description. You can provide hyperlinks to relevant publications or online resources. However, assessors are not obliged to access the information they lead to or consider it in their assessment of your application. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. If linking to web resources, to ensure the information’s integrity is maintained include, where possible, persistent identifiers such as digital object identifiers.
