The BBSRC-STFC DeepTech Catalyst Bio (DTC Bio) is a business incubator programme designed to support early-stage biotechnology start-ups in achieving their commercial potential.
DTC Bio provides:
- £50,000 of R&D funding
- £10,000 innovation voucher for R&D activity
- technical, commercial, business and intellectual property support
- networking opportunities and introductions to investors, customers, and key sector stakeholders
- access to a number of UKRI campuses
Eligibility
DTC Bio is open to UK-registered companies under five years old that are majority-owned by founders and employees and that have one or more of the following:
- received a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) or other UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grant to support the research underpinning the product or service
- received an Innovate UK or other UKRI commercialisation grant to take forward a bioscience innovation to address a market opportunity
- received support from UKRI-supported accelerator or pre-incubation programme
Technology scope
The technology underpinning the products or services developed by the company must be building on a previous support from BBSRC, UKRI or UKRI-supported accelerator or pre-incubation programme. The research must be taking forward a bioscience innovation to address a clear market opportunity.
The technology must be either:
- biological in nature
- interact with a biological entity
- involve a biological process
- address a biological challenge
We will not accept applications based on medical or clinical devices and therapeutics being developed solely for a specific end-point clinical utility, including diagnostics.
Webinar for potential applicants
STFC will hold a webinar on Thursday 18 June 2026 at 2pm to provide more information about the programme and offer a chance to ask questions. Register for the webinar.
This programme was formerly called the BBSRC-STFC Biotechnology Business Incubation Centre (Bio BIC).
How to apply
Companies are strongly encouraged to submit their expressions of interest (EOIs) as early as possible, and no later than 23:59 on 16 August 2026. Each company may submit only one EOI. EOIs will be reviewed in three tranches in June, July and August, so early application is advised.
Following approval of the EOI, successful applicants will be invited to submit a full application by 14 September 2026 and will be provided with the application template.