UK: £7M available for public–private collaborations in food and green chemicals

Funding opportunity

A total of £7 million in funding is available under two public–private collaborations led by the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council on behalf of other research councils. The Diet and Health Research Industry Club will fund research into the relationship between diet and health, while the Integrated Biorefining Research and Technology Club will fund research into technology to help replace petrochemicals with green alternatives.

The partnership between the research councils and industry means world class science can be brought to bear on issues and obstacles to the development of nutritionally enhanced foods and bioactive ingredients, and the development of technology to sustainably produce chemicals and consumer products from non-food crops. Understanding the research needs of these industrial sectors ensures that public funds are being used to maximum effect.

The Integrated Biorefining Research and Technology Club will award around £3 million to projects that bring together the biology, chemistry and engineering communities. Meanwhile, the Diet and Health Research Industry Club is looking to award £4 million for research looking at how the UK food industry can address public health issues such as obesity, as well as looking at the benefits of bioactive ingredients in food.