BBSRC: Alternative Proteins Innovation and Knowledge Centre

07/09/2023

30/10/2023

The aim of this call is to establish and lead an Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) to support research and innovation into more sustainable alternative proteins. The IKC will provide a nucleating point for the emergence and further growth of the alternative protein industry in the UK, by creating a knowledge-rich environment in which business can collaborate with academics and other businesses to create the next generation of alternative protein products and technologies as they emerge from the science base. The total fund is £15,000,000. This is a single award for five years running from 2024 to 2029.

It is expected that the IKC strategy and activities will encompass the following areas: cultivated meat fermentation systems for algal, bacterial or fungal fermentation plant based alternative proteins novel aquaculture systems new food production systems including insect production, seaweed cultivation and other alternatives to traditional animal production systems.

Eligibility Note Research organisations, including UK higher education institutions, research council institutes, UKRI-approved independent research organisations, public sector research establishments and NHS bodies with research capacity) can act as the project lead or co-lead if they are eligible to receive research council funding. Applications must have industry support and contributions, which can be either in cash, in-kind or both as part of their submission. Businesses may be a contributor to IKC applications as a project partner and can be named on multiple IKC applications, but will be expected to specify how they will tailor their support in each application. Businesses can act as a project partner if they are a UK-based business or have UK-based research activity, a business in the private sector driven by profit or from an organisation with a commercial arm which generates independent revenue, or are able to contribute to the UK national prosperity through increasing their investment in research and development activities and subsequent product, service, or technology development in the UK.