Follow-on funding

Super Follow-on outline call open
Super Follow-on outline call deadline: 5 June 2013
Standard & Super Follow-on fund call opens: 10 June 2013
Super Follow-on full call deadline (invite only): 2 October 2013
Standard Follow-on fund call deadline: 2 October 2013

Introduction

The Follow-on funding programme is designed to support the translation of fundamental research funded by us into practical application, including commercialisation. The aim of the programme is to help researchers maximise the societal and economic benefits of their research.

This programme is a proof-of-concept model where further work on an idea will take it through to the stage at which the route to application is clear, which may include a spin-out or licensing opportunity. The programme enables activities essential to preparing a robust business plan and secure, where appropriate, further funding and support to progress.

This programme includes:

Pathfinder Follow-on Fund

Projects up to 6 months in duration
Valued at under £20k (80% FEC)

Standard Follow-on Fund (FOF)

Projects up to 12 months in duration
Valued at under £250k (80% FEC).

Super Follow-on Fund (SuperFOF)

Projects between 12-24 months in duration
Valued at between £0.25M and £2.0M (80% FEC)
Applications are by invitation only, following an outline phase.

Pathfinder Grants help researchers undertake the preliminary work required to put them in a position to apply for a Follow-On Fund Grant. This work typically focuses on evaluating the market potential for their research and the comparative strength of their intellectual assets and, if the technical feasibility of the project depends on it, the achievement of technical milestone 1.

A Follow-On Grant enables researchers who have a sound understanding of the market opportunity for their intellectual assets to execute a defined programme of work of up to two years in length that has clearly defined and complementary technical and business plan development milestones.

Eligibility

Standard eligibility criteria apply, as described in section 3 of our grants guide (please see related links).

In addition to fulfilling the standard eligibility criteria, the Principal Investigator (PI) must currently or previously have held BBSRC funding with demonstrable relevance to the application.

Follow-On Fund projects must draw substantially on previous research funding by us and fall within our portfolio. Proposed applications are not anticipated to extend research grant funding or to be applied research for commercial partners.

How to apply

Please make your applications to 'BBSRC Follow-on Fund' through the JeS system (see external links).

Application forms and guidance

Committee membership

Dr Paul Thomas (Chair) - Cambridge Enterprise
Professor Miles Carroll - Health Protection Agency
Professor Ben Davis - Oxford University
Professor Neil Bruce - University of York
Dr Mike Dawson - Novacta Biosystems
Dr Sam Gallagher - Warwick Ventures Ltd.
Professor Adrian Harwood - Cardiff University
Dr Dave Hughes - Syngenta
Dr Fiona Marston - Absynth Biologics
Dr Steve Martin - Inspire Biotech
Dr Andy Muir - Rainbow Seed Fund
Dr Malcolm Rhodes - The University of Manchester/independent consultant
Professor Derek Stewart - The Hutton Institute
Ms Sue Sundstrom - University of Bristol

Case study

Dr Andrew Almond - Conformetrix

Dr Almond's unique technology, to determine the dynamic 3D shapes of drug molecules, is the culmination of a large body of work produced during a BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship. Within the space of 3 years, Dr Almond's research has gone from laboratory concept to the edge of commercial reality, which promises to have a substantial contribution to drug discovery and, ultimately, patient health.

His research group's discovery of the flexible 3D molecular shape of hyaluronan quickly led to a UK patent and the all-important 'proof of concept' that their new methodology could be generalised to any small flexible molecules, such as antibiotics and hormones With the support of two Follow on Fund awards and a BBSRC/RSE Enterprise Fellowship, Dr Almond has made rapid progress towards commercialisation and, with his colleague Dr Charles Blundell, formed the spin out company Conformetrix to exploit the technology. They went on to raise seed funding from Aquarius Equity Partners.

For more information about Conformetrix visit their website (see external links section above).

Contact

Mary McDonagh
mary.mcdonagh@bbsrc.ac.uk
tel: 01793 413275
fax: 01793 414674