Call status: Open
Application deadline: as per next responsive mode

LINK applications involve collaborative research with at least one company and one science-base partner (projects with SMEs are particularly favoured) where at least 50% of the full project cost comes from industry (see FAQs for detailed information and example calculations). Applications should be for pre-competitive research that would not be undertaken in this form without LINK support.

Partners must agree ownership and exploitation of intellectual property arising from the project at the outset. An appropriate management framework must be in place with defined scientific and commercial deliverables.

Benefits for company partners include:

• financial support for the project
• closer relationships with the science base
• possibility of recruiting appropriately trained staff at the end of the project

Essential criteria

• The project involves collaborative research with at least one company and one research-base partner
• Overall Government support for a project is no more than 50%
• The application is for research that is pre-competitive in nature
• Arrangements for ownership and exploitation of intellectual property arising from the project have been agreed by the partners
• The project has an appropriate management framework and both the scientific and commercial deliverables are clearly defined

Before applying

The company partner should be registered in the UK or have a UK R&D or manufacturing site. Where a suitable company cannot be found in the UK, an overseas company may be used. However, such collaborations are judged on a case by case basis, and clear justification must be provided. It is strongly encouraged that you to contact us prior to submission if you wish an overseas company to be an industrial partner under this scheme.

Applicants should describe the value of the partnership and its mutual benefits. Applicants should include a letter from their university's Technology Transfer office stating that should the LINK application be funded, a collaborative agreement will be put in place with the industrial partner before commencement of the project. The letter should:

• describe the expected LINK partnership management and distribution strategy of this collaboration
• be signed off by the industrial partner budget holder (or equivalent) as well as colleagues in the institutions Technology Transfer Office (or equivalent).

If you are interested in submitting an application for a LINK project please contact a Programme Manager to discuss your application.

How to apply

Visit the 'Apply for funding' section to submit your application through the electronic submission system.

For more specific guidance about applying to this scheme, please consult the FAQs (see downloads).

The schemes are dictated when selecting classification as follows:

• Select Council: 'BBSRC'
• Select Document Type: 'Standard Proposal'
• Select Scheme: 'Responsive Mode'
• Select Call/Type Mode: 'Responsive Mode [deadline]'
• In the Document Menu select 'Classifications' and then 'Grant Type'
• Select the appropriate classification (Industrial Partnership Award, LINK etc)

For more information click here