John Innes Foundation

Charity Number: 1111527

Annual Expenditure: £5.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £5,646,495 (charitable expenditure, FY 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Applications reviewed 3 times per year
  • Grant Range: £89,000 - £750,000 (based on recent awards)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Norfolk/Norwich Research Park, with international development projects

Contact Details

Website: www.johninnesfoundation.org.uk

Email: finance@johninnesfoundation.org.uk / clerk@johninnesfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 01362 685502

Address: Colney Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UH

Overview

The John Innes Foundation was established in 1910 following a bequest from John Innes, a landowner in the City of London. The Foundation's mission is to “advance the acquisition and application of knowledge about plants and microbes for societal, environmental and commercial benefit.” With total income of £1.5 million (primarily from investments) and charitable expenditure of £5.6 million in FY 2024, the Foundation supports scientific research, education, public engagement, and maintains a historical document collection. The Foundation owns research properties at Norwich Research Park occupied by John Innes Centre, Sainsbury Laboratory, and Earlham Institute. According to Chairman Peter Innes, the Foundation distributed over £1 million to various projects in 2022, emphasizing innovation in agriculture and horticulture through strategic partnerships with institutions like the John Innes Centre and University of East Anglia.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Research and Innovation Grants: £89,000 - £750,000

  • Applications considered three times per year
  • Fixed deadlines: 31 January, 30 May, 30 September
  • Application via email to clerk@johninnesfoundation.org.uk using official application form

PhD Rotation Programme: £350,000 annually

  • Four-year multi-disciplinary programme
  • Up to 5 studentships per year (up to 2 for international candidates)
  • Applications through University of East Anglia (November deadline for October entry)
  • 21 students currently enrolled

Undergraduate Bursary: Full tuition fees (3 years)

  • One student per year
  • Includes mentoring and work experience placements
  • October deadline

Research Fellowships: £161,000 - £333,000 (2-5 year terms)

  • Named fellowships (e.g., Chris Leaver, Sir Ben Gill)
  • Data-driven science and computational biology focus

Priority Areas

  • Plant and microbial science research
  • Education and training in agriculture, crop production, environmental science
  • Enterprise and commercialization of agricultural technologies
  • Public engagement in plant science
  • Sustainable development and climate change adaptation
  • International development (South Asia, East Africa)
  • Genomics and pre-breeding resources
  • Functional health-promoting foods
  • Historical collections preservation

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct funding to individuals for internships, studentships, or pre-doctoral placements (must apply through institutional partners)
  • Projects outside plant and microbial science scope
  • Non-strategic or ad-hoc initiatives without institutional partnership
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Governance and Leadership

Chair: Peter Innes

Great-grandson's uncle of founder John Innes, former army officer and financial services professional, recently completed MSc with distinction at Oxford.

Trustees:

Professor Dame Melanie Welham DBE

Former Executive Chair of BBSRC (2018-2023), awarded DBE in 2023 for services to bioscience, biochemistry graduate from Imperial College.

Professor Tina Barsby

Plant geneticist, CEO of NIAB since 2008, PhD from University of Nottingham, Fellow of Royal Society of Biology.

Dr. David Lawrence

Former Head of R&D at Syngenta (2002-2009), chemistry graduate from Oxford, chairs agricultural/biotech startup boards.

Keith Norman

Agriculture graduate from Newcastle, former Technical Director at Velcourt, independent agricultural consultant since 2018, mentors undergraduate bursary recipients.

David Hill DL

Solicitor and investment banker, Executive Chairman of Jarrold & Sons Ltd, Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

General Research Grants:

  1. Download Grant Application Form and Guidance for Grant Applicants from website
  2. Complete both documents thoroughly
  3. Email to clerk@johninnesfoundation.org.uk
  4. Submit by deadline: 31 January, 30 May, or 30 September

PhD Rotation Programme:

  • Apply via University of East Anglia online application system
  • November deadline for October entry
  • Competitive selection process

Undergraduate Bursary:

  • Written application followed by interview
  • UK nationals only, must demonstrate financial need
  • Evidence of financial need required if shortlisted

Decision Timeline

Applications reviewed three times annually following each deadline. Specific decision timelines not publicly disclosed, but trustees meet regularly to review applications. Notification methods not specified.

Success Rates

Success rates not publicly disclosed. The PhD programme is described as attracting “elite candidates from around the world” with 21 students currently enrolled across the rolling four-year programme. The undergraduate bursary awards one student per year on a competitive basis.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policy not publicly disclosed. Contact clerk@johninnesfoundation.org.uk for guidance on unsuccessful applications.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Institutional Partnerships: The Foundation explicitly states it does not provide direct funding to individuals and prefers “strategic partnerships and programmes” through institutional partners. Successful applicants typically involve established research institutions (John Innes Centre, University of East Anglia, Quadram Institute, NIAB).

Recent Funded Project Examples:

  • Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development: £614,000 (5 years) - real-world impact, farmer support, climate adaptation
  • UEA Development Fellows: £750,000 (5 years) - international development, agricultural technologies in developing countries
  • Pea Genomics Project: £430,000 (5 years) - pre-breeding resources, industry-relevant outcomes
  • Quadram Institute Fellowship: £161,000 (2 years) - high resistant starch, commercialization potential
  • Data Science Fellowship: £333,000 (4 years) - closing computational biology skills gap

Key Success Themes:

  • Multi-year strategic programmes (typically 2-5 years)
  • Clear commercial or societal benefit
  • Training and capacity building components
  • International development focus (Africa, South Asia)
  • Collaboration across Norwich Research Park institutions
  • Climate change adaptation and sustainability
  • Translation of research into practical applications

Language and Terminology: The Foundation emphasizes “acquisition and application of knowledge,” “societal, environmental and commercial benefit,” “strategic partnerships,” “innovation,” and “translation” of research into impact. Applications should demonstrate both scientific excellence and practical relevance to agriculture, environment, or society.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Institutional partnership essential: Do not apply as an individual; applications must come through or involve established institutional partners, particularly those in the Norwich Research Park ecosystem.
  • Think strategically and long-term: Successful grants typically span 2-5 years and support strategic programmes rather than short-term projects; proposals should demonstrate sustained impact.
  • Demonstrate translation pathway: Clearly articulate how research will translate into real-world agricultural, environmental, or societal benefits; commercialization potential strengthens applications.
  • Align with Norwich Research Park: Strong preference for projects involving John Innes Centre, University of East Anglia, Quadram Institute, or other Norwich Research Park partners.
  • Three deadlines annually: Plan submissions for 31 January, 30 May, or 30 September to ensure adequate preparation time.
  • Training and capacity building valued: Projects that include PhD studentships, fellowships, or career development components align well with Foundation priorities.
  • International development opportunities: Projects supporting sustainable agriculture in developing countries (particularly South Asia and East Africa) are within scope and have been funded at substantial levels.

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