BBSRC EngBio ICURe Discover

BBSRC EngBio ICURe Discover is open to bioscience researchers (including PhD student, research technical professional (RTP), postdoctoral research associates (PDRA), fellowship and group leader positions) in all UK universities, BBSRC-funded institutes, and approved public sector research enterprises (PSREs).

You do not require a full team to be able to participate in BBSRC ICURe Discover. However, we strongly recommend that you are aware of who your technology transfer officer (TTO) is and inform your principal scientific advisor (PSA) or senior researcher. Please also note that your application must have been agreed with your research organisation prior to applying, including that you can commit to the programme. Building on the Technician Commitment UKRI Action Plan and the UKRI people and teams action plan, we particularly encourage applications from research technical professionals (RTPs) as entrepreneurial lead.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to improving diversity across our programmes and are actively seeking applications from under-represented groups, including women, people of colour, those living with disabilities and those from the LGBTQI+ communities.

We also actively encourage applications led by non-Russell Group universities.

The spread across different target market sectors will also be considered when selecting applications to ensure broad portfolio coverage.

Previous applications

Please note that we cannot accept applications based upon a research project that has previously been through the ICURe Discover programme.

• up to £2,500 support for testing assumptions and market discovery activities
• up to £1,200 for business adviser support
• part-time, online market discovery for 10 weeks
• two-day online training bootcamp with commercialisation experts to develop a hypothetical business model, learn how to talk about technology to potential customers, and identify customer pain points
• training on how to gather market feedback that indicates the next steps for your engbio research and potential for commercialisation
• access to our teams of experts; we will proactively connect you to our network of entrepreneurs, investors and funders
• training in commercial viability using tools such as the Business Model Canvas (BMC)
• develop an understanding of existing market offerings and competitive landscape for your sector
• give a reflective presentation to our panel of experts and gain further traction for your commercialisation plans
• opportunity to apply for the ICURe Explore programme and secure up to £35,000 of grant funding to carry out more extensive market exploration and customer discovery

Engineering Biology must be the primary, underpinning technology for the product, process, or service being carried forward for market exploration.

UKRI defines engineering biology as the application of rigorous engineering principles to the design and fabrication of biological components and systems, from modifications of natural systems to new forms of artificial biology.

Please see below an illustrative list of example inclusions and exclusions to demonstrate the boundaries of the scope for this opportunity. Please note this list is not exhaustive.

Examples of inclusions

• Orthogonal biosystems: proposals in engineering cells and organisms which include systems or parts not found in nature to impart new capacities or chemistry
• Regulatory circuits: proposals designing and inserting well-characterised circuits or networks, to generate new functions or responses in cells and organisms
• Protocells: proposals in bottom-up chemical design approaches to produce synthetic or semi-synthetic cells and compartments
• Metabolic engineering: proposals involving using complex modifications informed by predictive models of biosynthetic pathways to allow or enhance production of useful products
• Minimal genomes: proposals involving the understanding of the minimal number of parts (genes) needed for life, to serve as a chassis for engineering minimal cell factories for new functions
• Bio nanoscience: proposals that utilise and exploit synthetic molecular nano machines based on cellular systems

Examples of exclusions

• Applications that focus on the engineering of a system in which biology is embedded, rather than engineering the biological system itself. For example, engineering the scaffold in tissue engineering, while not engineering the biological component
• Applications that are learning from biology, rather than engineering the biological system. For example, design of a purely physical or chemical mechanical construct, taking inspiration from biological systems, rather than engineering an artificial or modified biological system
• Applications focused on the development of an output of pre-existing engineering biology, with no tangible engineering biology being conducted. For example, an experiment using a metabolite of a well-established engineered chassis as an input to a chemical process, with no demonstrable element of engineering biology conducted by the applicants. However, if you are taking pre-existing engineering biology in a new context, such as a novel chemical production using an existing engineered chassis, then you would be eligible for BBSRC EngBio ICURe.
• Applications based on medical/clinical devices and therapeutics being developed solely for a specific end-point clinical utility (including diagnostics). For example, developing a technology specifically for diagnosing or treating a specific disease. However, if you also aim to investigate other market opportunities for this technology outside of the health sector, for example for livestock, or if this technology can be pivoted and used as a platform technology, then you would be eligible for this BBSRC EngBio ICURe.

Applicants are strongly advised to contact us if they are unsure whether their application would fit the scope of this call.

Priority will be given to teams where the research underpinning the bioscience innovation and the products or services being carried forward for market exploration is building on a previous BBSRC or other UKRI grant.

In your application, please specify what UKRI grants have supported this underpinning research to date.

If you are a PhD student and your application is based on your PhD research, please specify the funder of your PhD.

Applications open: 30 July 2025
Applications close: 23 September 2025, 23.59
Welcome call: 17 October 2025 (1.5 hrs)
Bootcamp day 1: 21 October 2025 (5.5hrs)
Bootcamp day 2: 22 October 2025 (5.5 hrs)
Coaching calls: Dates TBC (1.5 hrs)
Pitch training: Date TBC (1.5 hrs)
Practice pitch: Date TBC
Options roundabout: 15 January 2026

The online application form will ask a series of questions about you, your research project and your idea (if you have one). Please note that there is a limited number of spaces on each cohort. We will endeavour to provide support to as many applications as possible; however, if needed, spaces will be offered on a competitive basis.

Please consult the key dates and expectations document as well as the FAQs.