Could biomanufacturing help solve your manufacturing challenge? Apply by 27th November

Funding and Investment News
06 Nov 2026

About the Rapid Biomanufacturing Collaboration Fund

The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC) invites proposals for short, academic-led, industry-informed, collaborative proof of concept projects that demonstrate how biomanufacturing can address defined technical challenges across advanced manufacturing. The Rapid Biomanufacturing Collaboration Fund will support proof-of-concept and feasibility projects capable of starting quickly and delivering useful technical or commercial evidence within two to three months. 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.

Geographical scope

Whilst IBIC is normally a Place-Based Impact Acceleration programme, UKRI have confirmed that for this funding stream the place-based criteria do not apply and, therefore, we welcome applications from academic and industry collaborations from across the UK.

Funding available and project duration

  • Total funding for this call: £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.
  • Industry contribution: meaningful cash and/or in-kind support is expected. No minimum contribution level is specified.

Scope and priority areas

The call for proposals aims to understand and demonstrate how biomanufacturing can address priority challenges across the UKRI’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan frontier industries:

  • 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.

How to apply

  • Online applicant briefing: a webinar for potential applicants will be held on Wednesday 11 November 2026 at 14:30, please register via this online registration form.
  • 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

Submission Checklist:

  • Digital copy of the signed application form
  • Digital copy of the signed letter of support from the collaborating partner
  • Evidence of application approval authorised by your institution (eg snapshot of PURE or Worktribe record or equivalent)
  • Copy of budget costing report (BlackDackel or equivalent)
  • Complete the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Survey: https://www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_78y1ax3V5r6LZtA


Call closes: 23:59 on 27 November 2026.