UKABCS Open-Access Publication Support Grant

IJBTCS Journal — Open Call

📌 Application Deadline for Support: 20 September 2026 

UK Association for Biotechnology and Computational Science (UKABCS) 

Programme: Open-Access Publication Support Grant 

Journal: International Journal of Biotechnology and Computational Science (IJBTCS) 

Grant Type: Rolling — Reviewed Quarterly 

Contact: Programmes-Grants@ukabcs.co.uk

1. Introduction

Publishing in open-access journals is one of the most powerful ways to ensure scientific work reaches the global community. Yet for many researchers — particularly those at early career stages or in institutions with limited research budgets — Article Processing Charges (APCs) remain a significant financial barrier.The UK Association for Biotechnology and Computational Science (UKABCS) is proud to offer the Open-Access Publication Support Grant — a competitive programme that provides full or partial APC waivers for researchers submitting to the International Journal of Biotechnology and Computational Science (IJBTCS), the official peer-reviewed journal of UKABCS.This grant reflects UKABCS's commitment to open science, equitable access to publication, and the global dissemination of high-quality scientific research.

2. Scope — What This Grant Covers

[!IMPORTANT] This grant is exclusively for publication in the IJBTCS (International Journal of Biotechnology and Computational Science) — the official UKABCS journal. It does not cover APCs for any other journal, regardless of impact factor or open-access status.

Not covered under this grant:

• APCs for journals other than IJBTCS.
• Publication costs in conference proceedings (separate conference grant available).
• Editing, proofreading, or translation services.
• Submission fees where applicable.

3. About IJBTCS

The International Journal of Biotechnology and Computational Science (IJBTCS) is the official peer-reviewed, open-access journal of UKABCS. It publishes Original Research Articles / Papers, review articles, Preprints, and Posters / short communications in the fields of:

• Biotechnology and Life Sciences
• Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
• Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Research
• Data Science and Scientific Computing
• Applied Computational Methods in Medicine and Biology

🌐 Journal website: ijbtcs

4. Grant Decisions — Three Possible Outcomes

[!IMPORTANT] This is a competitive grant. Submitting an application does not guarantee any form of support. The UKABCS Grants Committee independently reviews each application and issues one of three decisions:

The Grants Committee's decision is final. Applicants may request brief written feedback to support a stronger reapplication.

5. Eligibility Criteria

The grant is open to:

[!IMPORTANT] UKABCS Membership is a mandatory prerequisite. Only current UKABCS members are eligible to apply for this grant. Applicants who are not UKABCS members at the time of application will not be considered, regardless of the scientific merit of their manuscript.

UKABCS Membership Tiers

Any of the following active membership plans qualifies the holder to apply:

Membership can be obtained at any career stage and from any country. All three membership tiers confer equal eligibility for this grant programme. For membership details, visit: https://www.ukabcs.co.uk/memberships

Additional eligibility conditions:

• Applicants must be affiliated with a recognised university, research institution, or scientific organisation.
• Applicants' research must be within the scope of IJBTCS — biotechnology, computational science, bioinformatics, applied AI in science, life sciences, and related fields.
• Applicants may be at any career stage — undergraduate, postgraduate, postdoctoral, or faculty.

Not eligible:

• Applicants who are not current UKABCS members at the time of application.
• Applicants submitting to journals other than IJBTCS.
• Manuscripts that do not meet IJBTCS's scope, quality standards, or submission guidelines.
• Applicants who have already received a full institutional or external APC waiver for the same manuscript.
• Manuscripts that have been previously published or accepted elsewhere.

6. Selection Criteria

Applications are reviewed competitively by the UKABCS Grants Committee based on:

1. Scientific Merit — quality, originality, and contribution of the research to the field.
2. Alignment with IJBTCS Scope — relevance to biotechnology, computational science, and allied disciplines.
3. Financial Need & Justification — clear evidence of financial barriers and limited institutional APC funding.
4. Manuscript Readiness — stage of completion of the manuscript (near-submission drafts are given preference).
5. Completeness of Application — all required documents submitted correctly and in full.

[!WARNING]Meeting the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding. A significant proportion of applications in each quarterly cycle will not be funded. Applicants are encouraged to submit strong, well-justified applications and to apply early.

7. Required Documents

8. Application Process

Applications are submitted directly by email to:📧 Programmes-Grants@ukabcs.co.uk

Subject line format: [Publication Grant Application] – [Your Full Name] – [Institution] – [Country]

Mandatory:

Important: After sending your email application, you must complete the online registration form to finalize your application and enable automated tracking by the Grants Committee. Applications without a corresponding form submission will not be processed.

Submit your application

Application Window

This grant operates on a rolling, year-round basis, with applications reviewed quarterly:

Applications received after a cycle deadline are automatically carried forward to the next quarterly review.

Response Timeline: The Grants Committee typically provides a decision within 8 working days of receiving a complete application.

9. After the Award — Manuscript Submission to IJBTCS

Successful grant recipients will:

1. Receive a formal award notification by email specifying the waiver amount (full or partial).
2. Receive a unique UKABCS Grant Code to be used during the IJBTCS submission process.
3. Sign the UKABCS Grant Agreement before the waiver is activated.
4. Submit their manuscript to IJBTCS through the official submission portal, applying the grant code to activate the waiver.

The grant covers only the APC. The manuscript must still pass IJBTCS's standard peer review process. Grant approval does not guarantee manuscript acceptance.

10. Post-Award Obligations

Successful grant recipients must:

1. Acknowledge UKABCS support in the published article using the statement:

"This work was supported by the UKABCS Open-Access Publication Support Grant, UK Association for Biotechnology and Computational Science (UKABCS). Published in the International Journal of Biotechnology and Computational Science (IJBTCS)."

2. Submit a brief post-publication report within 30 days of article publication, including the DOI/link to the published article and a short summary of the research.

3. Share the published article with UKABCS for inclusion in the association's research dissemination channels.

11. Governance & Compliance

All grant activities comply with:

• _{UKRI Policy and Guidelines on the Governance of Good Research Conduct.}
• _{UK Data Protection Act 2018.}
• _{UKABCS Research Integrity and Ethical Conduct Policy.}
• _{Responsible open-access publication and fair authorship standards.}

No application fees, administrative charges, or hidden costs are associated with this programme at any stage.

     Apply now 

12. Contact

📧 Email: Programmes-Grants@ukabcs.co.uk 

🌐 IJBTCS Journal: ijbtcs.com 

🌐 UKABCS Website: www.ukabcs.co.uk/publications-conferences-support 

📍 Address: 10 Portal Way, London W3 6RT, England, UK 📞 Phone: +44-7848180477 

🕐 Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 08:00–19:00 (GMT)