Introduction
BBSRC have launched a pre-announcement for the 2024 round of their ALERT ‘mid-range equipment for biosciences research’ scheme: Mid-range equipment for biosciences research: ALERT 2024 – UKRI
Whilst the pre-announcement does not stipulate a cap on applications, the guidance strongly encourages institutions to discuss and prioritise submissions given the limited budget available. To that end MPLS and MSD will jointly run a light touch process to ensure that multiple bid teams do not submit applications asking for the same capabilities – where duplications are found, bid teams will be asked to work together where possible.
If a cap is not introduced by BBSRC when the full call guidance is launched (16th October), we will not be putting in place our own cap on numbers, simply checking fit to the scheme and ensuring no duplications are submitted to BBSRC.
Internal expression of interest process
Those wishing to apply to BBSRC must submit an expression of interest (EOI) application form through IRAMS (2-page form available in the portal) by midday on Monday 11 November.
Decisions and guidance for applicants will be provided by Friday 22 November (or earlier if the full call guidance does not outline a cap).
Outline of Call
The ALERT 2024 call aims to fund equipment between £200,000 and £1.5 million (including VAT and at 100% FEC) that:
- Is widely used and underpins capability across all scientific areas within BBSRC remit (relevance to the priority areas in BBSRC’s delivery plan is particularly encouraged)
- Enables the use of emerging advanced research technology or utilisation of equipment in new ways of working, specifically ‘lab-to-field’ equipment which enables the translation (or applied use) of laboratory scale experiments to real-world settings or environments
- Promotes collaboration and equipment access between users within industry, public sector and other institutes, for example equipment sharing and access to equipment
Eligibility
- The maximum duration of the grants is 12 months and grants must start by 1 August 2025 at the very latest.
- Only one piece of capital equipment may be requested per application, although this can include equipment that requires assembly or involves several components provided they constitute a single technology platform.
- In a large multi-component application that is otherwise in scope, one or more small components costing under £10,000 can be supported, but these must be from the same supplier so that they can come together as one invoice.
- All equipment must be on the market at the time of the call closing date.
- Host contributions towards the purchase of equipment are not mandatory.
- Costs such as installation or service maintenance contracts can be included if they are one-off costs and part of the manufacturer’s offer.
- Applicants can only be the project lead on one submitted application. As project lead on one application, you can still be project co-lead on a different application, but you cannot lead that application. As applications will be in direct competition, this is not recommended unless the applications are in very different areas.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the full call guidance before submitting an internal EOI (under ‘Further Information’), in particular what BBSRC will not fund through this call.
Further Information
For further information, please click here: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/mid-range-equipment-for-biosciences-research-alert-2024/
