# Bioimaging Technology Development Awards **Funder:** Wellcome **Budget:** Foundation phase: up to £500k; Scale-up phase: resources as needed **Duration:** Up to 8 years (foundation phase: 1.5 years; scale-up phase: up to 6.5 additional years) **Consortium:** Required — 3–5 applicants (lead + coapplicants) at application; up to 8 for scale-up phase **Application:** 2-stage: foundation phase application → scale-up phase application (invited, 12 months into foundation phase) **Frequency:** One-off **Eligible countries:** GB, IE **Official call:** https://wellcome.org/research-funding/schemes/bioimaging-technology-development-awards **Last verified:** 20 June 2026 ## Eligibility & scope Lead applicant must be based at a not-for-profit organisation in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low/middle-income country (excl. India and mainland China). Teams of 3–5 applicants required; coapplicants can be worldwide except mainland China. Supports novel bioimaging technology development at cell-tissue scale. Lead must contribute ≥20% research time and hold a permanent/open-ended contract. UK/Ireland leads cannot claim salary. ## Summary The Wellcome Bioimaging Technology Development Awards fund novel cell-tissue scale imaging technology development through a two-phase model: a foundation phase (up to £500k, 1.5 years) followed by an invited scale-up phase (up to 6.5 additional years, resources as needed). Applicants must assemble a 3-5 person consortium led by a researcher at a UK, Irish, or low/middle-income country institution, with the lead committing ≥20% research time on a permanent contract. This is a one-off call aimed at building interdisciplinary teams that translate early-stage imaging concepts into real-world tools. ## Who should apply - Lead applicants on a permanent or open-ended contract at a UK, Irish, or eligible low/middle-income country not-for-profit institution - Researchers able to commit ≥20% of their time to the project over its duration - Interdisciplinary teams of 3-5 investigators (lead + coapplicants) with complementary expertise in imaging, engineering, biology, and/or clinical translation - Applicants with a novel, cell-tissue scale bioimaging technology ready to move from concept toward practical implementation - Teams including coapplicants from worldwide institutions (except mainland China) ## Key dates - One-off call; no specific deadline stated - Two-stage evaluation: foundation phase application → scale-up phase application (invited at 12 months into foundation phase) - Up to 8 years total (foundation phase 1.5 years; scale-up phase up to 6.5 additional years) ## Tips for applicants - Assemble your consortium before writing, Wellcome weights team composition and fit heavily; a weak coapplicant damages the bid. - The foundation phase is a proof-of-concept stage; focus on demonstrating technical feasibility and user validation, not scale. Save scaling plans for the scale-up phase application. - Lead applicants at UK/Ireland institutions cannot claim personal salary; budget the £500k foundation award for equipment, postdoctoral support, and coapplicant contributions instead. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the budget for the Wellcome Bioimaging Technology Development Awards? Foundation phase awards up to £500,000 over 1.5 years; scale-up phase funding is determined on a case-by-case basis and is not capped. ### Who can be the lead applicant? A researcher on a permanent or open-ended contract at a not-for-profit organisation in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or an eligible low/middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China). ### Is this a recurring call? No, this is a one-off call with no specific deadline stated; researchers should monitor the Wellcome website for call opening and closing dates. ### Must the team be assembled at application? Yes, the lead applicant must propose a consortium of 3-5 investigators at the time of the foundation phase application; coapplicants can be based anywhere except mainland China. ### What happens after the foundation phase? Successful foundation phase teams are automatically invited to submit a scale-up phase application at 12 months into the foundation phase; scale-up can extend the project to up to 8 years total. --- Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/wellcome-bioimaging-technology-development-awards-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying. **See which EU calls match your profile.** [Preview your matches in 30 seconds, no signup](https://grantsby.eu/demo?ref=llm_grant_md).