The UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (formerly known as the Rainbow Seed Fund) is a £40 million early-stage venture capital fund. Its purpose is to build and grow technology companies stemming from the UK’s research base.
BBSRC is a core partner in the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) which is a key part of our portfolio of enterprise and ventures support.
The fund bridges public sector research and private capital, nurturing new business arising from the world-class science undertaken in the UK in sectors such as:
- biotechnology
- synthetic biology
- agriculture
- healthcare
- environmental technology
- computer science
- engineering.
UKI2S provides long term, patient capital to technology start-ups that spin-out of publicly funded research institutes, are based on a partner’s campus or are involved in very early stage commercialisation of synthetic biology. Beyond seed funding, UKI2S provides strategic advice and support to companies in their early stages.
It aims to make a financial return and assumes risk by investing at an early stage but has a wider role in the commercialisation portfolio of BBSRC and the other partners in:
- enabling impact for economic and public benefit
- helping to build innovative businesses
- leveraging private investment
- growing jobs.