BBSRC (UKRI)
BBSRC-STFC DeepTech Catalyst Bio (DTC Bio) 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.
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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.
Details
| Funder | BBSRC (UKRI) |
| Budget | £60,000 (£50k R&D funding + £10k innovation voucher) |
| Deadline | 16 August 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 |
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.
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.
Related on Grantsby
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