Elemental Launches Round 3 of Business Interaction Voucher Funding
The Elemental Engineering Biology Mission Hub is inviting applications for Round 3 of its Business Interaction Voucher (BIV) scheme, offering up to £50,000 to support collaborative projects between businesses and academic researchers working in engineering biology for environmental processing of metals.
The funding is designed to help organisations tackle technical challenges, explore innovation opportunities, develop new technologies, and build partnerships that can lead to longer-term research and commercialisation activities. Projects can run for up to 12 months and are assessed on a rolling basis, with applications accepted until 27 November 2026. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
Bringing Industry Challenges and Research Expertise Together
The Business Interaction Voucher scheme enables businesses to access leading academic expertise while providing researchers with opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world industrial challenges. The programme supports projects that support innovation, technology transfer, feasibility testing, proof-of-concept studies, and collaborative research with clear industrial relevance.
Funding is available for projects aligned with the Elemental mission, including:
- Environmental metal recovery and sustainable metal processing
- Contaminated land remediation and environmental management
- Industrial biotechnology and bioprocessing technologies
- Circular economy and resource recovery solutions
- Feasibility studies and proof-of-concept projects
- Testing and validation of biological approaches for metal recovery
- Data analysis, modelling, and technical assessments
Who Should Apply?
Applications are welcomed from businesses working in partnership with eligible academic researchers. Both industry and academic applicants must be members of the Elemental Hub (membership is free and easy to join). Researchers from UK institutions, including early career researchers, are encouraged to apply.
The scheme is particularly suited to:
- Companies seeking innovative solutions to technical or environmental challenges
- SMEs looking to access specialist expertise and facilities
- Researchers interested in translating research into industrial impact
- Existing industry-academic partnerships looking to advance technologies towards deployment
- New collaborations seeking to establish proof-of-concept data and future funding opportunities
Funding Details
Successful projects can receive up to £50,000, with industry partners providing a contribution of between 20% and 50% of the grant value through cash and/or in-kind support, depending on the maturity and scale of the project. Funding is awarded at 100% full economic cost and is paid directly to the academic partner undertaking the research.
Building the Future of Sustainable Metal Recovery
Elemental is one of six UKRI-funded Engineering Biology Mission Hubs and is focused on developing sustainable, biology-based solutions for the sourcing, recovery, processing, and reuse of critical metals. The Business Interaction Voucher scheme plays a key role in accelerating innovation by connecting researchers and businesses to address challenges in critical minerals, environmental remediation, industrial biotechnology, and the circular economy.
Apply Now
Applications are reviewed as they are received, allowing successful projects to begin quickly. Organisations interested in applying are encouraged to discuss potential projects and partnerships with the Elemental team before submission.
For full guidance, eligibility criteria, and application information, visit the Business Interaction Voucher (Round 3) funding page: https://elementalhub.org/funding/biv-round-3/.
Final Application deadline: 5:00pm, 27 November 2026.