BBSRC Brazil Pump-Priming Award (FAPPA)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) · United Kingdom and São Paulo, Brazil
Pump-priming funding to support collaboration between Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funded researchers in the UK and researchers funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) in Brazil. The scheme supports travel, collaborative activities and preliminary research to develop future joint research proposals. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
28 Jul 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Pump-priming funding to support collaboration between Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funded researchers in the UK and researchers funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) in Brazil. The scheme supports travel, collaborative activities and preliminary research to develop future joint research proposals. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Biotechnology and biological sciences research fields supported by BBSRC
Match funding
Brazilian partners must separately apply to FAPESP for equivalent funding support.
Eligible applicants
Researchers currently holding a BBSRC research grant or researchers working in BBSRC strategically supported institutes funded through Institute Core Grant Awards. Applicants must meet standard BBSRC eligibility rules. Students are not eligible. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Up to £35,000
Total fund available
Not specified
Funding intensity
Direct research components are funded at 80% Full Economic Cost (FEC). Travel, subsistence and collaborative activities are funded at 100% FEC. (UK Research and Innovation)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Activities designed to initiate and strengthen international collaboration, including travel, exchanges, workshops and joint research activities aimed at generating preliminary data for future joint research proposals.
Eligible expenses
- Travel and subsistence, collaborative activities such as workshops and exchanges, and limited direct research costs including consumables or access to specialist equipment. Direct research costs cannot exceed 50% of the total BBSRC funding requested. (UK Research and Innovation)
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Not specified
Decision timeline
Decisions are communicated following internal review by BBSRC and FAPESP. Applicants must apply at least 12 weeks before travel. (UK Research and Innovation)
Assessment process
Applications are reviewed internally by BBSRC experts, after which BBSRC contacts FAPESP and a joint funding decision is made. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
- Summary, core team details, Brazil team details, purpose of collaboration, resources and cost justification, ethics and responsible research and innovation, genetic and biological risk considerations, research involving animals, organisation support, project partners, data management and sharing, facilities, and trusted research and innovation considerations.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if eligibility requirements are not met, required documentation is missing, or the proposal does not follow application guidance.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
15 Jul 2025
Project duration
Up to 2 years
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
- São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Collaboration rules
- Projects must involve collaboration between UK BBSRC-funded researchers and researchers in São Paulo funded by FAPESP. A joint application must be submitted to BBSRC while the Brazilian collaborator submits the proposal to FAPESP.
Consortium requirements
- Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-10.
International Collaboration Requirement
Collaboration with researchers based in São Paulo, Brazil, who hold FAPESP funding is required. (UK Research and Innovation)
Research Category
International research collaboration and early-stage exploratory research
Research Organisation Funding
Funding is provided to eligible UK research organisations following the Full Economic Cost model.
Subcontractors
Not specified
Interview Stage
Not specified
Key Requirements
Applicants must hold an active eligible BBSRC grant with at least six months remaining from the start of the award. Applications must demonstrate benefits to both UK and Brazilian research communities and must be submitted at least 12 weeks before travel or project start. (UK Research and Innovation)
Important Notes
The UK applicant submits a joint proposal to BBSRC, while the Brazilian collaborator submits the corresponding proposal to FAPESP through the SAGe system. The opportunity will be replaced and relaunched with updated guidance after the current closing date. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
28 July 2026, 4:00pm UK time
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 28 Jul 2026
- Funding amount
- Up to £35,000
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Biotechnology and biological sciences research fields supported by BBSRC
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 15 Jul 2025