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About DeepTech Catalyst Bio

DeepTech Catalyst Bio is designed to support early-stage biotechnology companies in achieving their commercial potential.

A collaboration between the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), DeepTech Catalyst Bio has the expertise and networks needed to enable growth and de-risk the route to market.

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Macro image of cells beneath a microscope

Our partners

UKRI Biotechnlogy and Biological Sciences Research Council logo

Who can apply

To be eligible for DeepTech Catalyst Bio, you must be:

  • A UK-registered company
  • A new or existing company, less than 5 years old
  • Majority owned by founders and employees
  • Able to demonstrate that you are beyond the concept stage of your product development and/or market penetration

We can also only accept applications from companies that have received one of the following:

  • Received previous UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) research funding
  • Received Innovate UK commercialisation funding
  • Have participated in or received finance from an accelerator or pre-incubation support programme from a UKRI recognised organisation

Support package

DeepTech Catalyst Bio provides an outstanding support package for start-ups. Successful applicants will be provided with:

  • Up to £50,000 targeted R&D funding
  • Claim a £10,000 innovation voucher to support R&D with one of our partners
  • IP protection support
  • Networking and introductions to investors, customers, sector stakeholders and next-stage funders
  • Unlimited business coaching provided by dedicated business experts
Scientist with PPE using equipment

Our locations

AberInnovation

Daresbury Laboratory, Sci-Tech Daresbury

Higgs Centre for Innovation, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh

The Pirbright Institute

*Technical support only, no co-location possible

Rothamsted Enterprises

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire

Latest News

STFC backs 10 pioneering health start-ups at Daresbury Laboratory

From early lung cancer detection to heart failure prediction, businesses at the DeepTech Catalyst Health are developing breakthrough technologies to improve patient outcomes.

Frontier Space Achieves Major Orbital Milestone with First In-Orbit Biotech Mission

Frontier Space, an incubatee of the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre United Kingdom (ESA BIC UK) at Space Park Leicester, has successfully completed its first orbital mission, marking a significant step forward in space-based biomanufacturing and scientific research.

Omanos Analytics: Unveiling Community Impacts of Conflict and Climate

Omanos Analytics combines satellite data with community insights to monitor the social and environmental impacts of infrastructure projects. With support from ESA BIC UK, they developed their data visualisation tool, Askr, and refined their product strategy.

Treeconomy: UK Start-Up Bringing Trust and Traceability to Ecosystem Restoration

Treeconomy is using satellite and drone data to improve transparency in ecosystem restoration. With support from ESA BIC UK, they’ve scaled their tech, grown their team, and secured investment to advance nature-based climate solutions.

Lúnasa: Accelerating the Development of In-Orbit Infrastructure

Lúnasa is developing next-gen technologies and services for enabling the In-Orbit Services, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) industry. The company is focused on building and commercialising its autonomous Rendezvous Proximity Operations (RPO) technology for satellite servicing missions and operates testbeds in orbit to provide affordable tech rideshare for ISAM companies for in-orbit validation purposes.

Finchetto: Sustainably Powering the Future of AI

Finchetto, a pioneering deep-tech startup, is addressing one of the most urgent challenges in AI and data infrastructure: the unsustainable energy demands of data centres.

Celebrating 20 years of the ESA Business Incubation Centre

Senior Startup Award presented to ESA BIC UK Alumni, Open Cosmos at the European Space Agency’s 20 year celebration event. The event in Munich, Germany, brought together entrepreneurs, space companies, investors and policymakers.

Higgs Centre for Innovation celebrates £25 million in investment

Companies based at the Higgs Centre for Innovation in Edinburgh have secured over £25 million in funding since the business incubation centre opened in 2018, creating over 150 jobs, highlighting Higgs’ role in supporting start-ups and fostering growth and innovation.

Our team

Team member

James Mooney

Programme Manager, Bio and Health, NHS Missions

Enquiries

If you’re an entrepreneur working in the deep tech space looking for support to help you scale, get in touch with the team at bio_enquiries@stfc.ac.uk

Team member