IBIC: Rapid Biomanufacturing Collaboration Fund

• aerospace
• advanced materials
• automotive
• batteries
• space

Proposals should clearly demonstrate alignment with one or more of the listed frontier industries by addressing a defined industrial challenge and showing how academic expertise and a biological or bio-enabled approach can contribute to meeting an identified industrial need and generate measurable evidence to inform further development, with activity focused primarily at TRLs 2 to 5.

Projects of two to three months duration will deliver useful technical or commercial evidence. The aim is to strengthen academic–industry partnerships and the wider biomanufacturing community, demonstrate industrial relevance and create a pipeline for follow-on collaboration, investment and impact. This will provide a stronger evidence base for future investment, business cases and sector strategy while demonstrating the difference biomanufacturing can make to UK competitiveness and growth.

This call closes on 23:59 on 27 November 2026.

Applications for this award will be assessed on:

• Readiness to start by early January 2027 and delivery of the project by 31 March 2027; this is a threshold requirement. 
• Industrial relevance and a clearly defined advanced manufacturing challenge addressed by biomanufacturing. 
• Strength of the academic–industry collaboration. 
• Value for money. 
• Potential for measurable impact. 
• A credible route to follow-on development, collaboration or investment.

Funding Available (£285,000)

• Indicative award size: £10,000–£20,000 per project.
• Number of awards: up to 15 within the overall £285,000 allocation, the final number and award values will depend on the selected portfolio.
• Delivery period: January-March 2027, projects may be up to 3 months maximum with a proposed commencement date of 1 January 2027.
• Completion deadline: all project activity and expenditure must be completed by 31 March 2027. There is no provision for extensions.

Application Process

• Online applicant briefing: Wednesday 11 November, 2pm-3.15pm. Please complete the Registration Form to attend the briefing and submit any questions ahead of the session.
• Intention to submit: potential applicants should complete the Intention to Submit form by 13 November 2026.
• Application form: the lead academic partner should complete and submit the application form. 
• Submissions: a signed version of the application and supporting documents should be submitted in digital format by end-of-day on the deadline date to the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst Team: ibic@manchester.ac.uk.
• Call closes: 23:59 on 27 November 2026.

Further Information

More information including scope, partnership and readiness requirements, how to apply, what we won’t fund, and assessment criteria can be found in the call for proposals guidance document.

If you have any questions or queries once you have read the guidance and attended the webinar, ahead of applying, please contact ibic@manchester.ac.uk and one of the team will respond.