UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable research and development (R&D) innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy.
Engineering Biology is a growing industry with excellent opportunities for entrepreneurship. The University of Cambridge, being at the centre of Europe's most dynamic high-technology cluster, is a great place to take forward ideas.
Entrepreneurship Programmes
A range of courses, programmes and facilities is available for actual and would-be entrepreneurs:
Latest events and opportunities
Two new Farming Innovation Competitions are opening for applications on 31 August 2022 : Feasibility Projects and Small R&D Partnership Projects - Round 2. They are for farmers, growers, foresters, businesses and research organisations who want to help increase productivity and environmental sustainability in the agricultural and horticultural sectors in England through collaborative research and development.
£50,000 funding, business coaching, mentoring and training for women entrepreneurs.
Prizes up to £20,000 available for business plan ideas lead by University of Cambridge postdocs.
Young people (aged 18-30 by 27th July 2022) can apply for an award that will help turn their business idea into a reality – including a £5,000 grant, a two days a week living allowance, and tailored business support.
The Forum for Global Challenges are inviting proposals for contributions to their inaugral conference in May 2022. Topics include green economy, restoring nature, future of cities, food and nutrition security and health and wellbeing.
The Trinity Bradfield Prize returns for 2021. Up to £10,000 cash prize for Cambridge students and early career researchers keen commercialize their science and technology research.
The team at Biodesign Challenge, in collaboration with Google are please to announce the first ever Biodesign Sprint, giving participants the opportunity to reimagine the future of biotech in industry
SynBioUK is partnering with Hummingbird Ventures (HV) to offer a nation-wide Venture Fellowship allowing participants to learn more about the synthetic biology and biotechnology market.
eureKAWARDS is a science-based pitch contest aimed at discovering and supporting ambitious synthetic biology projects from accross Europe.
£5,000 plus living allowance for young people (18-30) to develop creative and ground-breaking business ideas.
5 months training programme, lab space and £10,000 cash prise for 5 life science start-ups.
Colloaborator sought to help test and optimise sustainable waste-based alternatives to LB and complex media.
Up to €100,000 funding for science and deep tech entrepreneurs. Areas include: data and AI, digital health and medical devices, energy and environment, food and agriculture, industrial biotech and new materials and medical biotech and pharmaceuticals.
University of Cambridge Awards recognising outstanding achievement, innovation and creativity in devising and implementing ambitious engagement and impact plans.
Business plan competition for University of Cambridge postdocs. Up to £20,000 funding, coaching and support.
Opportunity for post-graduate students, postdocs and staff to join Easter term i-Teams projects exploring bio-inspired robotics, 3D data visualisation and improved cancer treatments.
10-week accelerator programme for early stage (0-3 years) start-ups in the agricultural technology sector.
Solve for Tomorrow is a nationwide competition, empowering the UK’s next generation of innovators to change the world for good. No qualifications required. No existing expertise needed. Just an idea that uses technology and a desire to make a difference.
£10,000 funding for enterpreneurs aged 18-30 in the UK and South Africa to tackle global challenges.
Learn the Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship: a series of 5 masterclasses aimed at students and postdocs in the life sciences.
Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, is offering 10 Women in Innovation Awards to female entrepreneurs across the UK. The winners will receive a £50,000 grant and a bespoke package of mentoring, coaching and business support.
Apply for Development i-Teams by Monday October 12th to help use Cambridge ideas in the developing world.
Opportunity for academics and postdocs to undertake short (up to 6 month) secondments with industry partners. Funds a basic salary and £100 research expenses.
Incubateur Descartes and partners are organising “the Aggregator 2020”, an International Start-Up vs Covid-19 Matchmaking Competition between Europe, Africa and India
1:1 support and training available for innovators and SMEs looking to develop the next wave of technologies that could be deployed in 2030-50 to make a substantive impact in meeting the UK and global Net Zero ambitions. Applications encouraged in areas including synthetic biology and industrial biotechnology.
Competition to win up to £80,000 funding for early-stage, human-centred design projects to reduce plastics’ harm to the environment, increase productivity and grow the UK economy.
Young people (18-30) can apply for an award to make their business idea a reality. The Award includes a £5,000 grant, tailored business support and a living allowance.
Applications open for an 8 month training programe to develop scalable engineering solutions to local challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Prize money of £25,000 for one winner, and £10,000 for three runners-up.
Round 2, Phase 1. Up to £60,000 available for projects that have the potential to transform lives in developing countries. Phase 1 provides funding for discovery: enabling businesses to gain insights into local market feasibility for the innovation prior to prototyping.