Area of investment and support

BBSRC Proof of Concept

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Proof of Concept programme supports the translation of bioscience research into innovations with commercial, societal or environmental potential. This programme was formerly known as the BBSRC Follow-on Fund.

• Budget: £6 million annually, split into £3 million for each funding round
• Duration: Two funding rounds per year
• Partners involved: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

The scope and what we're doing

The BBSRC Proof of Concept (PoC) programme translates bioscience research into products, services and solutions that generate real-world economic, societal, or environmental impact. The programme will build upon the excellent track-record of the BBSRC Follow-on Fund by investing in opportunities to solve economic and societal challenges, both within BBSRC’s bioscience remit, and for the benefit of the UK.

The BBSRC PoC programme supports researchers with a sound understanding of the market opportunity for their intellectual assets, to deliver a defined programme of work with clear technical and commercial objectives.

Projects considered through this programme must:

• draw upon current or previous BBSRC supported research, or other type of BBSRC research investment, or both
• enable research outputs to be further developed into practical application to deliver benefit and impact

We support commercialisation projects aimed at de-risking innovative ideas and later-stage projects that encompass significant technical milestones.

BBSRC Proof of Concept projects will primarily deliver economic, societal, or environmental benefit to the UK. Project outcomes may also provide benefits within international markets, provided that the primary aim is to deliver significant benefit to the UK. The programme does not support Official Development Assistance (ODA) activity.

BBSRC PoC specifically aims to:

• increase and accelerate the uptake and practical application of bioscience research outputs to deliver benefit and impact
• enable researchers to further develop their understanding of potential routes to impact, including identifying opportunities and markets, and engaging directly with key stakeholders, customers, enablers and users
• support translation activities, including collaborative projects with industry, the third sector and other users
• enable researchers to develop their enterprise and entrepreneurial skills and capabilities

Why we invest in this area

The BBSRC Proof of Concept programme addresses the gap between research and practical application, to accelerate bioscience discoveries into real-world impact. It funds the progression of projects to the point where there is a clear route towards translation, such as through commercialisation and adoption.

The programme supports the translation of research and investments that have previously been made by BBSRC. This could include scaling up a process to demonstrate its viability at industrial scale or developing a prototype. Projects will have clear potential to generate intellectual assets that enable a new product, process or service. Examples of outputs from previously funded projects have included:

• the development of spin-out companies and social enterprises
• licensing agreements
• direct adoption of new practices into existing organisations

Past projects, outcomes and impact

See the BBSRC Follow-on Fund Showcase videos on YouTube.

Who to contact

Ask a question about this area of investment

Email the BBSRC PoC team: poc@bbsrc.ukri.org

Governance, management and panels

Proof of Concept applications are assessed by an expert panel with appropriate scientific, knowledge exchange, translation and commercialisation expertise. Current panel membership includes:

• • Chair: Dr Liliya Serazetdinova, Earlham Institute
  • Dr Amin Asfor, University of Surrey
  • Dr Richard Auburn, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Professor Christopher Baker, Rothamsted Research
  • Dr Catherine Breslin, University of Strathclyde
  • Dr Hugo Campos, International Potato Center
  • Professor Olena Doran, University of The West of England, Bristol
  • Professor Julian Gough, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
  • Dr Cara Griffiths, SugaROx and Rothamsted Research
  • Professor John Heap, University of Nottingham
  • Dr Geraint Lewis, Newcastle University
  • Mr Hassan Mahmudul, UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund, Future Planet Capital
  • Dr Siti Hajar Masri, Recursion
  • Miss Siân Ringrose, Biotech&Business Consulting
  • Professor Jo Slater-Jefferies, University of Southampton, National Biofilms Innovation Centre
  • Professor Derek Stewart, The James Hutton Institute
  • Dr Jen Vanderhoven, FREY Consulting

Last updated: 17 August 2026