Academic research, industrial R&D and the UK economy benefit from the increasing scientific activity across the globe. Through standard research grants, BBSRC can increase our impact by working with overseas partners and by recognising and harnessing the mutual benefit that comes from collaborative international research.
Here are some examples of how research applications to BBSRC can address this overarching priority.
Encourage the movement of researchers, particularly at the start of their postdoctoral careers, between the UK and overseas
If justified within the delivery of the grant, you can seek funds for visits or periods of collaborative work overseas by staff associated with the grant. Typical visits may be to access unique facilities, databases or training opportunities.
Provide the UK participation in joint research activity with partners outside the UK
BBSRC grants may cover the UK costs of joint research in larger projects that involve more than one country. If you are submitting parallel applications in another country, please contact the relevant committee contact before submitting. We can usually (with sufficient advance information) liaise with partner funding organisations to make sure our review mechanisms are complementary, for example shared referees and timescales.
We see benefit in how such research levers resources in other countries, reduces fragmentation of research effort and draws from a larger skills and resource base.
Access world-class infrastructure and information
Bioscience advances depend on new research tools, technologies and datasets, using informatics and other computational resources. Many of the facilities needed are complex and costly and may be provided on an international basis or in another country. We remain alert to the development of these kinds of facilities and monitor their potential benefit to UK bioscience.
Where justified BBSRC grants can cover the costs of accessing facilities and technologies overseas or training overseas in the use of new technologies.
Contribute to strategies to realise Millennium Development Goals
UK bioscience contributes to strategies for tackling major global challenges such as the impacts of climate change, adequacy of food supply and the threat of pandemics from livestock-to-human diseases. Much of the research we support has the potential to reduce hardship and promote prosperity in the developing world.
If relevant, please show in your grant application how the proposed activity, including any international aspects such as those described above, might contribute to realising Millennium Development Goals.