Spring 2026 BIV Funding Call:
Open 9:00 AM, 16th February – 5:00 PM, 24th April 2026
The Business Interaction Voucher (BIV) funding scheme is designed to support collaborative research that develops new tools or mechanistic processes, focusing on areas like the microbial community, metabolites, or functional end products to support health research.
BIV awards offer funding of between £10,000 and £50,000 to promote collaborations between academia and industry, particularly in diet, health, and nutrition. These short-term projects, lasting up to six months, aim to strengthen partnerships and build trust between academic researchers and industry professionals. While business contributions towards the collaboration are not mandatory, they are encouraged when feasible.
BIV awards will assist proof-of-principle projects in stanol or gut health research, investigating mechanisms that support:
- Recovery from exercise
- Inflammation
- Mental strain
- Managing menopause
- Post-infection illness to promote improved health
Eligible applicants include academics from UK-based research organisations, including higher education institutions and public sector research establishments, who are encouraged to work with industry partners on projects of industrial relevance. Projects prioritising new collaborations are favoured, though existing partnerships that increase technological readiness may also be supported.
Costs are awarded at 100% FEC. While additional in-kind or cash contributions are not mandatory, they are welcome.
Costs that cannot be claimed
Please note you cannot apply for:
- Indirect or estate costs at the research organisation
- Any costs related to intellectual property protection, including but not limited to registration, maintenance, or support for patents or other property rights.
- Equipment with a value of £10,000 or more.
- Undergraduate or postgraduate activities, training, or core PhD training, including tuition or bench fees.
- Impact account funding will not include a provision for inflation based on the GDP Deflators published by HM Government.
Who can apply?
The lead applicant needs to be employed at one of the following
- Higher education institution
- Eligible independent research organisation
- Public sector research establishment
- UKRI-funded labs and facilities.
Only institutes eligible to receive UKRI Research Council funding can be supported. Full details can be found here.
At the time of application, the PI must have either:
- A contract of employment that extends beyond the duration of the proposed grant (or, if not employed by the submitting organisation, a formal non-salaried arrangement that extends beyond the duration of the proposed grant), or
- An assurance from the submitting organisation that, if the proposal is successful, a pre-existing contract of employment (or pre-existing formal commitment to provide support if not employed at the organisation) will be extended beyond the grant’s end date.
- Postdoctoral researchers, research technicians, and other academic and research staff members are eligible to apply.
- We also request an assurance letter from your Head of School, Faculty or Department that their institution supports any ECR applicants who are not normally eligible for a standard UKRI grant.
You do not need to be a member of the INFORM OIRC to apply, but we recommend it. If you are successful, you will need to join. It’s simple to join and lets you hear about our funding calls and events before anyone else. You can also be a member of other OIRC hubs. If you haven’t already, please sign up here.
*Note the application review process can take 8-12 weeks. Please consider this with the potential project start date on your application
Review and assessment
When we receive your application, our Hub Manager will ensure the eligibility criteria are met, the application is complete, and full financial information is included.
BIV applications will be peer-reviewed by four members of our panel.
The proposal should be within the scope and support INFORM’s aims. On passing these requirements, applications will be assessed across the following areas.
- Eligibility
- Status of candidates
- Project in scope
- Quality of the project
- Potential outcomes (benefit to ECR, long-term collaboration, advancing research in the field)
The Hub Management Committee will further assess the applications for the awards.
Reviewers will be expected to adhere to the highest standards of scientific integrity. In the event of a conflict of interest, this must be declared to the hub manager, who will reassign the proposal to an alternative reviewer.
Application Process:
Applications must be submitted in full via the online portal by 5 PM on Friday, 26th April 2026.
You can save your application at any stage. We will email you a login link, but your return code will only be displayed on-screen. Please note it down, as it is required alongside the link to resume your application.
If you are collaborating with others, you may also share the link and the code with them to access the form and update/complete the required information. If you lose your code, contact the Hub Manager for assistance.
A copy of the application form and BIV Guidance document can be downloaded from the links below to assist with your application submission.
BBSRC INFORM Hub – BIV Application Form Template
BBSRC INFORM Hub – BIV Guidance Document Feb-2026 v4.00