# Standard Research Grant

**Funder:** BBSRC
**Budget:** Up to £2 million
**Duration:** Up to 5 years
**Consortium:** Optional — industrial partners encouraged, with formal industrial partnership award or stand-alone LINK options available
**Application:** Single stage, application via UK Research and Innovation Funding Service (previously Je-S)
**Frequency:** Annual
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/standard-research-grant-2024-round-1-responsive-mode/
**Last updated:** 11 Oct 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Investigator-led responsive mode funding for biotechnology and bioscience research (plants, microbes, animals/humans, tools and technology). Applicants must be resident in UK for 183+ days/year and hold a lecturer-equivalent post at an eligible UK organisation; BBSRC funds 80% of full economic costs. Includes a New Investigator scheme for early-career researchers and a joint scheme with FAPESP (Brazil) for collaborative proposals.

## Summary

The BBSRC Standard Research Grant funds investigator-led biotechnology and biological research (covering plants, microbes, animals, humans, and tools/technology) up to £2 million over five years. Applicants must be UK-resident lecturers or equivalent at UK HEIs, research council institutes, or UKRI-approved independent research organisations; a UK, Brazil partnership is mandatory, with UK PI at a BBSRC-eligible institution and Brazilian partners at FAPESP-eligible institutions in São Paulo. BBSRC covers 80% of full economic costs; the host organisation funds the remaining 20%.

## Who should apply

- UK-resident researchers at lecturer-equivalent level or above
- Staff at UK HEIs, research council institutes, or UKRI-approved independent research organisations
- Investigators with active Brazilian collaborators at FAPESP-eligible institutions in São Paulo
- Biotechnology and biological research projects spanning plants, microbes, animals, humans, or research tools
- Teams prepared to establish formal consortium governance and submit in English via UKRI Funding Service

## Key dates

- Annual call with responsive mode deadlines; check UKRI Funding Service for next round dates
- Single-stage written evaluation
- Up to five-year project duration

## Tips for applicants

- The Brazil partnership is gating, confirm your FAPESP contact's institutional eligibility (São Paulo only) before drafting; misaligned partners cause desk rejection.
- Budget for the 20% in-kind or cash co-contribution from your host institution early; late cost-sharing can derail submission.
- BBSRC funds 80% of full economic costs; include transparent costings for staff, equipment, and travel across both countries to avoid post-award negotiation.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the budget cap for the BBSRC Standard Research Grant?

Up to £2 million per project.

### Who can apply for the BBSRC Standard Research Grant?

UK-resident researchers at lecturer-equivalent level or above, hosted at a UK HEI, research council institute, or UKRI-approved independent research organisation, with mandatory Brazilian partners at FAPESP-eligible institutions.

### How long is the BBSRC Standard Research Grant?

Up to five years.

### Is the BBSRC Standard Research Grant annual?

Yes, it runs on an annual cycle with responsive mode deadlines listed in the call timeline on the UKRI Funding Service.

### What percentage of costs does BBSRC fund?

BBSRC funds 80% of full economic costs; the host organisation must contribute or cost-share the remaining 20%.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/bbsrc-standard-research-grant-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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