CfI: Engineering Biology for Defra and FSA Phase 1
UK Research and Innovation's CfI: Engineering Biology for Defra and FSA Phase 1 funds innovative research in engineering biology addressing water quality, veterinary vaccines, ecosystem health, and food diagnostics.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: October 14, 2026 (11:00am UK time)
Funding Amounts: Up to £3 million total; individual contracts up to £200,000 (inclusive of VAT), project duration up to 9 months.
Summary: Supports the development and scaling of innovative engineering biology platforms, products, and services addressing Defra and FSA challenges.
Key Information: Only UK-based organisations may apply; up to 15 contracts expected.
Description
This opportunity, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through Innovate UK, is designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of engineering biology solutions that address challenges relevant to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The competition supports feasibility studies for innovative platforms, products, or services in engineering biology, focusing on four priority areas: real-time water quality monitoring, next-generation veterinary vaccine platforms, ecosystem health prediction via eDNA and AI, and rapid diagnostics for food standards. Selected projects may have the opportunity to progress to a subsequent second phase, contingent on phase 1 outcomes.
