In 2025, Instruct-ERIC is launching a new call seeking to further develop the relationships between Instruct scientists/Centres, and industrial partners. It is expected that proposals receiving funding will result in: 

• Improved interactions between Instruct Scientists and industrial partners 
• Future opportunities for collaboration 
• Development of structural biology instruments/software/approaches for structural biology applications that could eventually be used by Instruct Centres or benefit the aims of Instruct. 

Potential examples based on previous R&D applications include the development of processing software for structural biology techniques, the adaptation/optimisation of instruments for novel applications, the generation of proof-of-concept data in high-impact contexts, and solutions to current experimental issues affecting structural biologists. 

Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Instruct Hub (support@instruct-eric.org) if they have any questions about this call. 

Call Submission Guidelines

Eligibility 

• The Lead applicant must be the academic partner, and should either be a scientist at an Instruct Centre/Research Site, or a scientist collaborating with scientists at an Instruct Centre/Research Site, where they will carry out their work. We would encourage scientists from Instruct Member countries without Research Sites or Centres to contact us for more information on how to apply for this call.  
• The home institution of the applicant must provide a letter of support, which can be attached to the application. Contact support@instruct-eric.org for a template. 
• Applicants must be registered with Instruct-ERIC through ARIA. 
• Industrial partners can consist of spin-outs, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), or larger industrial companies. 
• The Industrial partner may be based anywhere globally, though for logistical reasons it is expected that they will have a base in Europe.  
• A representative of the industrial partner should also register with Instruct-ERIC through ARIA and should be included as a team-member on the application. 
• A signed letter of support from the industrial partner detailing their financial contribution, and the information relating to the project they can make available, must also be attached to the application. Contact support@instruct-eric.org for a template. 

Funding arrangements  

Funding for successful projects will be made up of a contribution from Instruct-ERIC which is matched by an equal contribution from the industrial partner. For example, the maximum amount of funding requested from Instruct-ERIC (€30,000.00), matched with €30,000.00 from an Industrial partner (provided either in cash or in kind), to a total award value of €60,000.00. Contributions from Industrial partners may exceed that provided by Instruct-ERIC if so desired, and Instruct leaves this at the discretion of the Industrial partner. We foresee that two projects will be funded. Depending on the level of funding applied for it may be possible for Instruct to contribute funding for more than two projects, up to a maximum total contribution from Instruct-ERIC to €60,000 across the funded projects.  

Funds will be awarded to the academic partner, not the industrial partner. The award of funds is contingent on: 

• The work being clearly defined from the outset and completed within 2 years. 
• The background of the academic partner and industrial partner should be aligned with the goals of the project, and the evaluation of the proposal will consider the previous academic track record in methods and technology development of the applicant, as well as the expertise of the industrial partner in the proposal area. 
• The work within the project must be relevant to the aims of the call, and by extension Instruct-ERIC and the integrated structural biology community. 

Successful applicants will receive the 2/3 of the Instruct project funds at the onset of the project. The remaining 1/3 will be received at the end of the project following submission of a progress report at the end of the first year of the project, and a final report submitted within 3 months of the end of the project. Industry funding may be received at any time during the project, providing justification is given.  

Costs relating to overheads at Instruct centres/research sites, and the filing of patents/IP related activities are not eligible for use of Instruct funding: 

Application and review process. 

To be considered for this call, applications must satisfy the criteria set out in the eligibility section above. If you have questions relating to your application contact support@instuct-eric.org 

The review process will occur over three stages: 

1. The Instruct Hub initially assess each submitted proposal to ensure the eligibility of applicants, and that the proposals are within the scope of the call. 

1. Two external reviewers will evaluate the proposals according to the assessment criteria, and a shortlist of proposals will be produced by the Instruct Hub based on these reviews.  

1. Shortlisted applications will be reviewed by the R&D panel, who will recommend awards of up to €30,000 per proposal (plus the industry contribution. 

Only applications submitted online before the deadline on 22nd September 2025 (14 CEST) will be considered. 

Industry co-fund applications – Evaluation criteria:  

Proposals will be peer reviewed and reviewers’ comments on the proposal will be available to the applicant.   

Assessment criteria  

The criteria that Instruct will use to determine successful applications are:    

• Feasibility of proposed work: Is it likely that something impactful will result from supporting this proposal. Note to score on feasibility, rather than impact (score 0-5) 
• Impact of proposed work: Would the proposed work have a high impact. High risk and novel projects with a high reward score high here, whilst trivial projects score low. (score 0-5) 
• Value to Industrial Partner: Does the proposed work through the collaboration benefit the industrial partner in a way that otherwise would not be possible? (score 0-3) 
• Value to Instruct-ERIC and the wider structural biology community: Does the proposed project align with the aims and goals of Instruct-ERIC? Will there be tangible benefits to the Instruct community, or structural biology community, following the completion of this project (score 0-3). 
• Benefit towards a partnership between academic and industrial partner: Is there scope for a longer term collaboration between the two parties? Are the next steps obvious? (score 0-3) 
• Value for money: Is the proposal costed appropriately, and will the funding be used for impactful research. (score 0-3) 
• Applicant and Industrial partner expertise: Do the applicants possess the background and track record of impactful research in this area. Are they suited to a longer term partnership? (score 0-5) 

For the elements above: 0=low; 3=high (question 3-6); 0=low, 5=high (questions 1,2,7) 

 Application Conditions if Successful 

Applicants will be informed of the result of their application via the ARIA access management portal (email notification). Successful applicants will then receive a letter confirming the award, which may request additional documentation including confirmation of a collaboration agreement between academic and industrial partners (if not already received), and relevant details for payment of the awarded funds. 

Collaboration agreements are the responsibility of the project partners, and will set out the relative contributions to the proposal, as well as the approach to any IP related issues that may arise during the project. 

Before the Instruct financial officer transfers the funds to the awardee, a letter from the applicant’s institution supporting the project as described in the proposal is required. The award is sent to the applicant’s department upon receiving an invoice from the department for 2/3 of the awarded funds. A year after the project begins, the lead applicant should submit a report on the research activities undertook during this first period. Within 3 months of the conclusion of the project, the researcher must submit a final report. The final 1/3 of Instruct funding will be received following the completion of this report. On the basis of this report the researcher may exceptionally seek to extend the study. The approval decision will rest with the Executive Committee. Additionally, all publications must include this acknowledgement "The authors acknowledge the support and the use of resources of Instruct-ERIC through the R&D Industry co-fund scheme APPID xxx.".  

We will use the photo and information in the applicant’s Instruct profile to publish the result of this award on our website and through other modes of communication, e.g. social media profiles. The name and logo of the Industrial partner, and the title of the project, will also be shared alongside the proposal’s public summary.