Mid-Range Equipment for Biosciences Research: ALERT 2025

The Mid-range Equipment for Biosciences Research: ALERT 2025 funding opportunity has been launched by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) under UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to strengthen the UK’s bioscience research infrastructure. This competition provides a significant investment to support the acquisition of advanced, multi-user research equipment that will enhance capability and collaboration across the UK’s bioscience research community.

A total of £20 million is available in this round, with individual awards ranging from £200,000 to £1.5 million. Successful projects will receive 100% funding of the full economic cost (FEC) for eligible equipment, with grants lasting up to 12 months and starting by 3 August 2026 at the latest.

This funding is designed to address a critical need for mid-range research infrastructure, advanced instruments that are too large or specialised for typical departmental budgets but are essential to enabling high-quality, cutting-edge bioscience research. Investment in shared, multi-user equipment can open new experimental possibilities, support interdisciplinary research, and promote collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector.

The opportunity is open to researchers and research technical professionals employed by eligible UK research organisations with the capacity to manage and deploy the equipment effectively. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how the equipment will maximise access, support broad research benefit and collaboration, and contribute to strategic priorities within BBSRC’s scientific remit.

By enabling the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment, ALERT 2025 aims to accelerate scientific discovery, strengthen research infrastructure resilience, and enhance the UK’s position as a global leader in bioscience.