Around £34 million is available to support innovative businesses and researchers working in priority areas.
The Catalyst is run by Innovate UK, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
It supports research and development for the processing and production of materials, chemicals and bioenergy through sustainable exploitation of biological resources.
The UK is a world leader in research in this area, and it is estimated that the size of the UK industrial biotechnology market could range from £4 billion to £12 billion by 2025.
Key features
The latest funding round opens on 21 May 2015 and there are 5 types of award:
- early stage translation
- early stage technical feasibility studies
- industrial research
- late stage technical feasibility studies
- late stage experimental development
Deadlines
The deadline for registration is noon 5 August 2015 for late stage experimental development, industrial research and early stage: translation applications.
For early and late stage technical feasibility studies applicants must register by noon 25 November.
Project sizes
Total project sizes can range from up to £250k for feasibility studies to up to £10m for experimental development.
Translation awards are led by the academic and while businesses can participate they are not funded. The remaining awards can involve a business working on its own or in collaboration with others.