Funding
The STAR Hub offers a variety of funding opportunities during its 5-year life span to develop long-term partnerships and to support collaborative projects between UK-based academics and UK-registered businesses operating within the plant/fungi/algae-based food and drink sector.
2 COMPETITIONS ARE CURRENTLY OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS:
Business Interaction Voucher (BIV) Open Call
The purpose of the BBSRC-funded STAR Hub Business Interaction Vouchers (BIVs) is to foster and support new collaborations between academia and industry, to boost the UK economy and to create positive social and environmental impact.
Demonstrably falling within the remit of and being relevant to the aims of the Hub, the Vouchers will help resource small, confidence-building activities between an academic partner and a business, addressing a genuine challenge faced by the industry partner. Supported projects are expected to result in outcomes of:
- A longer-term relationship between the partners;
- Improved interaction;
- New research technology transfer projects.
Vouchers are allocated in an open call, the 2023/24 submission cut-off dates of which are:
| 2023-24 Submission Cut-off Dates |
|---|
| Thur, 16 November 2023, 17:00 |
| Fri, 26 January 2024, 17:00 (to be confirmed) |
| Fri, 31 May 2024, 17:00 (to be confirmed) |
Business Interaction Voucher Summary
- Award: up to £20k per project (up to £16k (80% fEC) funded by BBSRC/the STAR Hub)
- Projects are costed at 100% Full Economic Cost (fEC) and funded at 80% fEC by BBSRC/the STAR Hub
- Project duration: 6 months max.
- BIVs are available to
- Academics, who are based at a UK research organisation when carrying out the project, and who will be working in collaboration with a
- UK-registered business of any size, from micro businesses and small to medium sized enterprises (SME) to large organisations
- Academics and their research organisations need to be eligible for BBSRC funding
- Cash and/or in-kind contribution by the industry partner(s) is required
- Applicants need to be STAR Hub members
- Online BIV Application Form (via REDCap)
- Detailed information about the BIVs and how to apply can be found in the STAR Hub Guidance Notes for BIV Applicants below.
Please get in touch with the Hub Manager if you have any queries: star.ukri-oirc@surrey.ac.uk
Feasibility Award (FA) Call 1
The purpose of the BBSRC-funded STAR Hub Feasibility Awards (FAs) is to foster and support new collaborations between academia and industry, to boost the UK economy and to create positive social and environmental impact.
Demonstrably falling within the remit of and being relevant to the aims of the Hub and addressing a genuine challenge faced by the industry partner, the Awards support translation and commercialisation activities to help bridge the gap towards later stage innovation, i.e. to move programmes/concepts to validation, prototype development, etc. Supported projects are expected to result in:
- Longer-term relationship between the collaborators;
- Translation of academic research into industrial application and product development/ enhancement;
- Route towards commercialisation;
- Clear potential for further funding;
- New research technology transfer projects.
Feasibility Awards are allocated in a series of calls, the 2023/24 opening and closing dates of which are shown below:
| Feasibility Award Call | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Call 1 | Wed, 4 October 2023 | Fri, 26 January 2024, 17:00 |
| Call 2 | Wed, 6 March 2024 (tbc) | Fri, 31 May 2024, 17:00 (tbc) |
| Call 3 | Wed, 10 July 2024 (tbc) | Fri, 25 October 2024, 17:00 (tbc) |
Feasibility Award Summary
- Award: up to £100k per project (up to £80k (80% fEC) funded by BBSRC/the STAR Hub)
- Projects are costed at 100% Full Economic Cost (fEC) and funded at 80% fEC by BBSRC/the STAR Hub
- Project duration: 9-12 months
- FAs are available to
- Academics, who are based at a UK research organisation when carrying out the project, and who will be working in collaboration with a
- UK-registered business of any size, from micro businesses and small to medium sized enterprises (SME) to large organisations
- Academics and their research organisations need to be eligible for BBSRC funding
- Cash and/or in-kind contribution by the industry partner(s) is required
- Applicants need to be STAR Hub members
- Online Feasibility Award Application Form (via REDCap)
- Detailed information about the FAs and how to apply can be found in the STAR Hub Guidance Notes for FA Applicants below.
Please get in touch with the Hub Manager if you have any queries: star.ukri-oirc@surrey.ac.uk
Launching soon
- Flexible Mobility Awards (FMAs)
To return to the STAR Hub homepage click here.
Become a member of the STAR Hub
Membership is free and open to any organisation, of any size, anywhere in the world, that can demonstrate a strategic commitment to collaborative research and innovation.
