Purple and dark blue pattern, with the logo of seed corn funding displayed on top.

 

EBIC’s Seed Corn Fund, made possible by a funding injection from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will accelerate the commercialisation of new engineering biology ventures and bridge the gap between research and market-ready products and technologies, with comprehensive support and resources for researchers.

The new funding will help move technologies from early-stage development (TRL 2-3) through prototyping and scale-up (TRL 5-6), with a strong focus on business model development and commercialisation strategy.

The initiative will include:

  • Commercial Viability Assessments: Early-stage ideas will be evaluated to determine their potential for market success. Researchers will receive bespoke market validation support to ensure their technologies have a clear path to commercialisation.
  • Prototyping and Scale-up Support: Researchers will gain access to resources for prototype development, testing, and scale-up, helping to overcome technical and manufacturing challenges as they bring their innovations closer to market.
  • Commercialisation Training and Mentorship: EBIC will offer tailored training and mentorship to its researchers, including guidance on business planning, market entry strategies, and navigating the complexities of spinning out new ventures.

The fund is comprised of Targeted Initiatives (TI’s), as follows:

Targeted initiative 1: developing sustainable business models and strategies
This activity focuses on fostering innovative approaches to create resilient and sustainable business models that align with long-term environmental, social, and economic goals. The objective is to empower businesses to adopt strategies that support sustainability while remaining competitive in the evolving market landscape.

Targeted initiative 3: facilitating access to prototype development, testing, validation, and scale-up infrastructure

This activity provides critical support for prototype development, testing, validation, and access to scale-up infrastructure.

Who can apply?

Funding applications are welcomed from EBIC-affiliated consortium members from our 10 partner universities.

Applications open 20th January 2025. Submission deadline: 7th March 2025.

Contact Us

Email the Seed Corn Fund Team

Documents

TI-1 Guidance for Applicants
TI-1 Application form
TI-3 Guidance for Applicants
TI-3 Application Slide Deck

Applications should be submitted, following the guidance documents, to EBICseedcorn@cranfield.ac.uk. Submission deadline: 7th March 2025