# BBSRC-STFC DeepTech Catalyst Bio (DTC Bio) 2026

**Funder:** BBSRC (UKRI)
**Budget:** £60,000 (£50k R&D funding + £10k innovation voucher)
**Deadline:** 16 August 2026 (EOI deadline 23:59 on 16 August 2026 (final tranche); earlier tranches: 26 June and 17 July 2026. Full application deadline 14 September 2026.)
**Consortium:** No
**Application:** 2-stage: Expression of Interest (EOI) → Full application by 14 September 2026; in-person evaluation board 20–22 October 2026
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/bbsrc-stfc-deeptech-catalyst-bio-2026/
**Last verified:** 4 July 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Open to UK-registered companies under 5 years old, majority founder/employee-owned, with prior BBSRC/UKRI grant or commercialisation support. Technology must be biological in nature or interact with a biological entity/process. Medical/clinical devices and therapeutics developed solely for a specific clinical end-point (including diagnostics) are excluded. Provides R&D funding, innovation voucher, business support, and access to UKRI campuses.

## Summary

BBSRC-STFC DeepTech Catalyst Bio (DTC Bio) funds UK biotech startups with £60,000 (£50k R&D plus £10k innovation voucher) to develop deep-tech biological solutions. Open to UK-registered companies under five years old that are majority founder/employee-owned and have prior BBSRC or UKRI grant or commercialisation support. The call excludes medical devices and therapeutics developed for a specific clinical endpoint, focusing instead on enabling platform technologies with broader biological application.

## Who should apply

- UK-registered companies under five years old
- Majority founder or employee-owned ventures
- Teams with prior BBSRC, STFC, or UKRI grant or commercialisation support
- Deep-tech companies developing biological or bio-interactive technologies
- Founders excluding medical devices and therapeutics for specific clinical endpoints

## Key dates

- Expression of Interest (EOI) deadline: 23:59 on 16 August 2026 (final tranche; earlier tranches 26 June and 17 July 2026)
- Full application deadline: 14 September 2026
- In-person evaluation board: 20-22 October 2026

## Tips for applicants

- The EOI stage is tiered into three tranches; apply in the earliest round where your company is ready, as selection pools remain competitive across tranches.
- Prior BBSRC or UKRI support is gating eligibility, cite specific prior grant titles and commercialisation milestones to strengthen this claim.
- Avoid clinical framing; reviewers screen out therapeutics and diagnostics designed for a specific clinical endpoint, so position your platform's broader technical and commercial potential instead.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much funding does BBSRC-STFC DeepTech Catalyst Bio offer?

£60,000 per company: £50,000 in R&D funding plus a £10,000 innovation voucher for business support.

### Who can apply for BBSRC-STFC DeepTech Catalyst Bio?

UK-registered companies under five years old, majority founder or employee-owned, with prior BBSRC, STFC, or UKRI grant or commercialisation support experience.

### What types of technology does DTC Bio fund?

Biological or bio-interactive deep-tech solutions, excluding medical devices and therapeutics designed for a specific clinical endpoint or diagnosis.

### Is there a consortium requirement for DTC Bio?

No, this is a single-company grant with no consortium requirement.

### What happens after I submit a full application to DTC Bio?

Shortlisted applicants present to an in-person evaluation board on 20-22 October 2026, where funding decisions are made.

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