Deadline: 20-Jan-2026
The Mid-Range Equipment for Biosciences Research: ALERT 2025 program aims to strengthen the UK’s bioscience research infrastructure by supporting the acquisition of advanced, multi-user equipment that enhances research capacity, collaboration, and innovation across sectors.
The focus of this call includes investment in advanced, multi-user equipment that can underpin capability across BBSRC’s remit, encourage lab-to-field translation, promote equipment sharing between research organisations, industry, and the public sector, and catalyse new ways of doing biosciences.
The total available funding is approximately £20 million, with individual grants ranging between £200,000 and £1.5 million in full economic cost. Each grant must start by August 3, 2026, and may run for up to twelve months
Applications must also demonstrate how usage access will be maximised, how long-term sustainability and support for research technical professionals are addressed, and how ethical, responsible research and innovation (RRI) considerations are built in. This opportunity is open to researchers and research technical professionals from UK research organisations normally eligible to apply to the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
The program supports equipment-only grants, and all cost requests must be entered under the ‘Exceptions – equipment’ heading, including eligible one-off costs such as initial service and maintenance contracts. Only one piece of capital equipment may be funded per application, though multiple components forming an integrated “pipeline” or “platform” are permissible. Applications requesting costs for staff, consumables, running costs, estate, or indirect costs will not be accepted.
Through this funding opportunity, the UK Research and Innovation aims to foster a modern, shared, and sustainable research environment that drives bioscience excellence and collaboration across academia, industry, and public sectors.
For more information, visit UK Research and Innovation.