Funding – now open
Submit your concept papers by 9 March 2026 (14:00 GMT)
We intend to fund a new interdisciplinary community to develop scalable processes that use proteins to template the assembly of inorganic and composite materials with structures that currently cannot be mass manufactured. This programme is designed to expand the Overton window in this domain – to move from biology into first-principles manufacturing approaches – and as such, we’re looking to fund Creators who are highly iterative and adaptable.
Technical Areas open for funding
In Phase One of this programme, we’ll fund teams to develop protein-enabled materials manufacturing platforms (TA1). We’ve chosen three functions for teams to choose from to prioritise:
TA1.1 | Fibre biomineralisation: Aiming to develop a general templated biomineralisation platform to manufacture high-performance, inorganic 1D materials (fibres), with programmable control of radial geometry and with extreme precision and uniformity over kilometre-scale lengths. This will have diverse applications across photonics, electronics, and fluidic systems.
Example application: hollow-core optical fibres, reducing latency and boosting the speed of data transmission.
TA1.2 | Isoporous, defect-free metal-protein frameworks: Aiming to programme the assembly of isoporous, crystalline protein lattices into mechanically resilient 2D membranes that function as perfectly ordered scaffolds for engineered transport channels. This platform will naturally have applications in separations, but will also sculpt optical, electronic, or magnetic band structures, yielding a new class of deterministic devices like functional lenses, selective molecular sieves, and advanced energy materials.
Example application: ultra-high purity lithium hydroxide extraction membranes, making lithium extraction for batteries more efficient and sustainable.
TA1.3 | Monodisperse nanocrystal templating in anisotropic composites: Aiming to utilise programmed assemblies of engineered proteins as molecularly precise reactors to dictate the nucleation and growth of monodisperse nanocrystals, with exact control over crystalline phase, size, and shape. By organising these building blocks into anisotropic 3D composites, the platform can produce functional bulk solids with unprecedented electromagnetic, energy-transport, and structural properties that bypass traditional thermodynamic processing limits.
Example application: rare-earth free magnets, reducing reliance on volatile supply chains for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and a broad range of electronics.
Full details of what is in and out of scope for each area can be found in the call for proposals.
Who should apply?
We invite applications from interdisciplinary teams bridging fields such as – but not limited to – protein engineering, self assembly, complex matter physics, inorganic materials engineering, process engineering, and reactor design. We welcome applications from those at universities, research institutes, startups, and established companies, as well as from individuals.
We encourage collaborative teams, but solo applicants are also invited to apply and we can assist in forming teams. Applicants can be based in the UK or abroad.
Join a team
We have a live teaming tool that allows applicants to find complementary expertise. After a quick registration, you can browse other researchers and request an introduction from the ARIA team to explore potential collaborations.
How to apply
The first stage of the application process is the submission of a concept paper (3-page maximum), which allows applicants to receive feedback from the programme team.
We’re also hosting a webinar to provide an overview of the programme’s objectives, scope, and application process, and to give potential applicants an opportunity to direct questions to the ARIA team. Register your interest and submit questions in advance below.
Key dates
Webinar: 26 February 2026 (12:30 - 13:30 GMT – register here)
Concept paper submission deadline: 9 March 2026 (14:00 GMT)
Full proposal window opens: 2 April 2026
Full proposal submission deadline: 5 May 2026 (14:00 BST)
You do not have to submit a concept paper in order to submit a full proposal, but it provides an opportunity for guidance and an initial indication of whether we think a full proposal would be competitive.
Read the call for proposals for full details and apply below.
Resources
Clarification questions
If you can’t attend our webinar or have any questions, please use the chat function on this page for the quickest response – you'll find the icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. It can guide you to the right information or connect you with the ARIA team if needed. We’ll update this page regularly with questions and answers.
NB: clarification questions that need to be reviewed by the ARIA team should be submitted via the chat function no later than 4 days prior to the relevant deadline date. Clarification questions received after this date will not be reviewed.