Research Ventures Catalyst: open for applications

The Research Ventures Catalyst (RVC) programme is open for initial proposals to establish new organisational models to tackle a research challenge across any discipline.

How to apply

Complete the application form by 23:59pm on 23 October 2023.

See the application guidance for further details of the application process and requirements, and the applicant question and answer (Q&A) document for answers to some frequently asked questions.

We will be hosting an applicant Q&A session on:

• 14 August (1pm to 2pm)
• 13 September (1pm to 2pm)

If you are interested in joining one of these sessions, and have not already registered your interest, please fill out this form before 12 September at the latest. We will make recordings of these sessions available on this page for those that cannot attend.

Key dates

Background information

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is initially inviting bids for up to £100,000 of ‘seed corn’ funding, which is available to support successful applicants in developing full plans for their new research ventures. Only applicants that are successful in receiving seed corn funding will be invited to submit full plans, which will then be assessed and DSIT may ultimately provide up to £25 million of government funding per successful application. Proposals will also need to attract co-investment from partners in industry, philanthropic organisations or other third sector bodies.

Some research efforts can be hindered by the incentive structures of typical research performing organisations like universities, businesses, or public bodies; whether that be because researchers work in disciplinary silos, or chase publications or profit over significant but distant research breakthroughs. The RVC aims to seed, and ultimately back with multi-million-multi-year funding, new ways of performing research.

We are seeking lead applicants with a clear vision to grow a new venture from the ground up and deliver high impact research in a new way. You will need to have an entrepreneurial spirit, proven leadership skills and an aptitude for forging relationships and thinking creatively about organisational design. You must have demonstrable expertise in your research area, and the ability to build consensus and interest in your proposal, bringing together experts and financial backers to invest time and money in your idea.  We encourage applications from individuals at all stages of their career: there is no minimum years of experience required to apply.

Proposals should look to bring together researchers, experts and operators from different scientific and industrial disciplines and sectors, or with complementary forms of technical expertise, to tackle a complex problem in a new organisational setting. A core objective of the programme is to create and stimulate deeper public-private partnerships around a research agenda.

Applicants are expected to provide a clear explanation for why a new organisational model is needed to meet their research aims. This may be because the outcomes would be realised over a longer time horizon than is usual or because the research requires experts from a range of disciplines and sectors to view a problem through a new lens. We expect ventures to be set up as new legal entities, unless applicants can justify why the venture is better hosted within an existing organisation such as a university, research institute, or business.

Project size: applicants can request up to £100,000 ‘seed corn’ funding to develop full technical plans. We expect successful projects will ultimately require up to £25 million of government funding, alongside additional co-investment from other investors and philanthropists.

Funding type: grant.