Category / Funding opportunities

SBRI competition open for registration – Long term care revolution

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Transfer

The long-term care revolution national challenge, an SBRI competition run by Innovate UK, is now open for registration. 

The aim of this competition to stimulate the development of innovative new products, services and systems that disrupt the current long-term care model, have a clear and viable route to market as well as the potential to be commercialised at scale. 

More information on this funding opportunity.

Applications from consortia that include companies outside the long-term care sector  are encourage to apply bringing  fresh and innovative ideas to the challenges of this competition.

Competition Briefing event, 14 April 2015.

This event is an excellent opportunity  receive first hand information about the competition – its scope, application process, key dates etc. as well as meet and network with peers, potential partners, market leaders & innovators in the industry

More information on the briefing event.

For queries about this competition, please contact support@innovateuk.gov.uk

KTP Surgery – Next week!

Business Engagement, Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Transfer

Do you have a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) query?  Or perhaps need some advice on how to start off a KTP discussion with a business?  Neil Grice, our local KTP Adviser from Innovate UK will be on Talbot Campus from 9.30am – 11.30am on Tuesday 14th April for a series of one-to-ones with academics who would like dedicated KTP support.

To book one of these 20 minute slots, please contact Rachel Clarke, KE Adviser (KTP) on 61347 or email clarker@bournemouth.ac.uk

Click here to find out more about KTP.

Biotechnology YES 2015 is open for applications

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Transfer

 Biotechnology YES, now in its 20th year, is an innovative competition developed to raise awareness of the commercialisation of ideas among early career researchers. The competition is funded by sponsorship and aims to encourage an entrepreneurial culture in the UK postgraduate and postdoctoral base for the benefit of the UK bioeconomy.

 6 workshops are being held across the UK in the autumn and three of these are to be hosted by industry:

  • Plant, microbial and environment workshop hosted for the fifth year by Syngenta at Jealott’s Hill
  • Biomedical YES workshop again hosted by GSK and the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst
  • Food, Nutrition and Wellbeing workshop hosted for the first time by Unilever at Colworth

The Royal Society of Chemistry is once again sponsoring teams to compete in Chemistry YES to be run in conjunction with the Biotechnology YES workshops.

 Environment YES, now in its 10th year, will once again be run alongside Biotechnology YES.

This competition is open to all bioscience early career researchers not just those funded by BBSRC.

For further information and how to apply please visit:

www.biotechnologyyes.co.uk   

 

Creative Business Development Briefing for April 2015 is out now!

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Transfer

 

The April edition of our monthly business briefing for the UK’s creative industries is now live! This is a monthly publication that provides a digest of useful information about funding, financing, support and events to assist creative entrepreneurs with their innovation and growth agendas. This month’s edition offers edited highlights of a number of public funding programmes from leading organisations supporting our sector including: Innovate UK, Nesta, British Film Institute, Creative England, Creative Scotland, Horizon 2020 & more.

 Creative Business Development Briefing – April 2015

Latest Funding Opportunities

Funding opportunities

The following funding opportunities have been announced. Please follow the links for more information:

Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council

Training & Skills Hubs

Quantum technologies are those that enable the creation, control and manipulation of sensitive and fragile quantum effects within single systems. Training and Skills Hubs will act as nodes within the national network of Quantum Technology Hubs, whose aim is to harness and exploit the research and training strengths that exist across the UK academic landscape, facilitate partnering with industry, and tackle the key technological challenges that need to be overcome to realise the promise of quantum technologies.

Award amount max: £15 million to support 3 – 5 Hubs for 5 years
Closing date: 2/06/2015

Royal Society

International Scientific Seminars

This scheme is for Royal Society Research Fellows who want to organise a small two-day scientific seminar at the Royal Society at Chicheley Hall.

Award amount max: £5000 for travel plus costs for up to 20 delegates
Closing date: 4/06/2015

Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council

Quantum Technologies Strategic Capital Investment Call

Funding is available for individual or consortia of institutions that demonstrate how their proposal will augment existing capabilities in the UK and that bring together a suitable support package that enhances this capital funding and enables delivery of new capabilities for the national network.

Proposals should clearly articulate the industrial contribution and leverage supporting this investment and how the investment would strengthen industrial engagement

Award amount max: Up to £25 million in total
Closing date: 2/06/2015

Innovate UK

Spearheading future electric vehicle battery production

Innovate UK and the Office for low emission Vehicles (OleV) are to invest up to £10 million in a single consortium to develop a pilot line to understand how to produce high-voltage electric vehicle batteries at a rate that can later be scaled up for commercial production.

Award amount max: Up to £10 million
Closing date: 3/06/2015

Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council

Future Leader Fellowship

The Future Leader Fellowship (FLF) will provide support for researchers wishing to undertake independent research and gain leadership skills. The FLF will support the transition of early stage researchers to fully independent research leaders. As such FLFs represent part of our commitment to the supply of highly skilled professional scientists to the UK.

Award amount max: Unspecified
Closing date: 4/06/2015

Economic & Social Research Council

Training Bursaries

The ESRC wishes to improve the standards of research methods and to stimulate the uptake of high quality training courses in research methods across the UK social science community.

Each year there are bursaries for up to £1,000 each to enable staff in the UK social science community engaged in research, teaching research methods or supervising research to update their research skills. Contract researchers working in HEIs are also eligible for the bursaries.

Award amount max: £1000
Closing date: 15/4/2015

Innovate UK

Game-changing technologies for aerospace – collaborative R&D

Innovate UK is to invest up to £10 million in collaborative research and development and feasibility studies to accelerate the commercialisation of highly innovative technologies for civil aerospace

Award amount max: Up to £10 million
Closing date: 9/09/2015

Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council

Living with Environmental Change Challenge Fellowships

EPSRC’s Living With Environmental Change theme is keen to support the next generation of leaders in adapting to and mitigating climate change. This is a strategic activity focusing on a key challenge within the EPSRC LWEC theme and on bringing new thinking into the area.

The research required to answer this challenge requires a broad based, problem-directed and multidisciplinary approach. Applicants can come from any discipline area but we will not fund fellowships across councils therefore the balance of the research described in the application should be within the remit of EPSRC.

Award amount max: Unspecified
Closing date: 10/06/2015

Please note that some funders specify a time for submission as well as a date. Please confirm this with your  RKEO Funding Development Officer

You can set up your own personalised alerts on Research Professional. If you need help setting these up, just ask your School’s/Faculty’s Funding Development Officer in  RKEO or view the recent blog post here.

If thinking of applying, why not add notification of your interest on Research Professional’s record of the bid so that BU colleagues can see your intention to bid and contact you to collaborate.

EU Radar – Societal Challenges – Secure societies – protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens

Funding opportunities

The following EU Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges’ calls are all closing after April 2015. If you are thinking of applying to any of these calls, please contact RKEO Funding Development Team as soon as you are able, so that we can help you with your submission.

The date given is the funder’s deadline with all closing at 17:00 Brussels local time, unless stated otherwise

Secure societies – protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens
Digital security,: Cyber security, privacy and trust – please check the specific topics – 27/8/15
Fight against terrorism and crime – please check the specific topics – 27/8/15
Border security and external security – please check the specific topics – 27/8/15

 

General / Multiple Topics

Horizon 2020 dedicated SME instrument phase 1 and phase 2 –  deadlines – 17/6/15, 17/9/15 and 25/11/15

Please check the specific topics within this call which may meet your research funding needs.

For more information on EU funding opportunities, contact Paul Lynch or Emily Cieciura, in the RKEO Funding Development Team.

EU Radar – Societal Challenges – Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy

Funding opportunities

The following EU Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges’ calls  are all closing after April 2015. If you are thinking of applying to any of these calls, please contact RKEO Funding Development Team as soon as you are able, so that we can help you with your submission.

The date given is the deadline with all closing at 17:00 Brussels local time unless stated otherwise

Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy

 Innovative, sustainable  and inclusive  bioeconomy – 11/06/15

Sustainable food security – 11/6/15

Blue Growth: unlocking the potential of the seas and oceans – 11/6/15

 

General / Multiple Topics

Horizon 2020 dedicated SME instrument phase 1 and phase 2 –  deadlines – 17/6/15, 17/9/15 and 25/11/15

Please check the specific topics within this call which may meet your research funding needs.

 

For more information on EU funding opportunities, contact Paul Lynch or Emily Cieciura, in the RKEO Funding Development Team.

ESRC Changes to Research Grants funding thresholds

Funding opportunities, Guidance

ESRC are introducing changes to the funding thresholds for their Research Grants scheme. They currently accept applications between £200,000 and £2 million. Under the new arrangements the lower threshold will rise to £350,000 and the upper threshold will be reduced to £1 million at Full Economic Costs. These changes will come into effect from 1 July 2015. Current thresholds will continue to operate for any application submitted up to 30 June 2015.

To find out more about why these changes have been introduced, click here.

The ESRC has not withdrawn from the funding of projects under £350,000. They remain committed to schemes with projects below this threshold, such as the Secondary Data Analysis Initiative, the Transformative Research scheme, and – for Early Career Researchers – their Future Research Leaders scheme, where there is no lower limit on funding. All these schemes are essentially responsive mode, like the Research Grants Scheme.

They also remain committed to the funding of longer, larger responsive grants. They intend to introduce an annual open competition for grants between £1 million and £2.5 million and are currently considering how this will operate alongside our existing Centres and the Large Grants Competition.

They anticipate that these changes will reduce the volume of applications they receive through the Research Grants scheme. This will increase overall success rates for those who do apply as well as reducing the peer review requirements they need to place on the social science community.

If you are thinking of applying to the ESRC then please contact the Funding Development Team.

ESRC have updated their Research Data policy

Funding opportunities, Guidance

The ESRC has updated its research data policy .

The key points are:

  • it is the grant holder’s responsibility to incorporate data management as an integral part of the research project, and
  • data must be made available for re-use or archiving with the ESRC data service providers within three months of the end of the grant.

Please click on the link above for further information.

Research, Innovate, Grow – RCUK’s vision for future investment in the UK research base

Funding opportunities

Research Councils UK  (RCUK) has articulated its vision for future investment in the UK research base, adopting the slogan “Research, Innovate, Grow” as an encapsulation of its current and future purpose.

RCUK, the UK’s biggest investors in public sector research, are committed to ensuring the UK remains the best place in the world to do research, innovate and grow business.  “Strong, sustained investment in the UK research base is essential to strengthen and let fly the excellence, creativity and impact of the UK’s world leading researchers, innovators and businesses. Only by doing this will we be able to address the challenges facing our society today and create the opportunities for business growth in the future,” said Professor Rick Rylance, Chair of RCUK.

Going forward RCUK will:

  • shape a world-leading research base with strength across disciplines
  • accelerate innovation and impact from this excellent research base
  • collaborate and co-invest with Innovate UK and other partners in the research and innovation ecosystem
  • drive new multidisciplinary research programmes
  • work together to maximise impact and further drive efficiency

“The world-leading UK research base attracts and retains global businesses in the UK and establishes the positive environment to generate new businesses and enable them to grow. This drives industrial sectors and enables national and regional economic growth,” Prof  Rylance said. “The breadth, quality and richness of the UK research base is unique. It enables us to address society’s challenges and business opportunities across the spectrum. It is a very precious resource and a superb advantage for the UK. We need to invest now to secure its future. We will be investing not just for now but for our children.”

RCUK is determined to build on this position through: 

  • sustained long-term investment in the research base
  • leveraging the UK’s position at the centre of the global research network
  • realising the full potential of the UK innovation ecosystem

“RCUK will continue to invest in the creation of new knowledge and drive innovation,” said Professor  Jackie Hunter, RCUK Impact Champion. “The collective ambition of the Research Councils is to maintain and further enhance the UK’s leading position as THE best place in the world to do research, innovate and grow a business. Only by doing this can the benefits of the research investment already made be secured, maximizing the UK research base’s contribution towards the creation of a strong economy and societal benefit now and in the future.”

The UK has 1% of the global population and only 3% of global funding for research yet produces 16% of the world’s most highly cited papers. Almost half of research articles published by UK researchers have international co-authors. Four of the world’s top 10 universities are in the UK. The Research Councils drive and enable researchers, business and partners to create knowledge and innovation for society, industry, Government and the third sector. RCUK funded researchers are more likely to collaborate with business than those funded through any other route.  The Research Councils co-deliver research and innovation with more than 2,500 businesses.

If you would like to contribute to the Nurse review of research councils, please see the blog post setting out BU procedure and deadlines.

£7m funding competition open for registration

Business Engagement, Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange

 

Wave Energy Scotland (WES) is launching four new SBRI funding competitions with up to £7m funding available.

The aim of this funding competition is the development of new innovative energy conversion solutions that are applicable to the wave energy sector. More information on this funding opportunity.

Competition Briefing event, 31 March 2015.

This event is an excellent opportunity for you to receive first hand information about the competition – its scope, application process, key dates etc. More information on the briefing event.

£4m collaborative R&D funding now open ! – Protecting data in industry

Business Engagement, Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Transfer

£4m collaborative R&D funding now open ! – 23 March 2015

Innovate UK is to invest up to £4 million in collaborative research and development (R&D) projects that tackle the growing risks of disruption to internet-enabled businesses and their digital supply. More information on this competition.

Competition Briefing Events – 25 March onwards at several locations

The event is an excellent opportunity for you to receive first hand information about the competition – its scope, application process, key dates etc. as well as meet and network with peers, potential partners, market leaders & innovators in the industry. More information & event registration page.

For queries about this competition, please contact support@innovateuk.gov.uk

MRC removes PhD eligibility criteria for fellowships and launches career framework

Funding opportunities, Guidance

Until now, the period within which someone could apply for an MRC fellowship has been different for different fellowships. The restrictions will be removed on 18 March, coincident with the launch of the career framework.

The MRC Interactive Career Framework was constructed following broad consultation with medical research groups and a review of medical research careers comprising interviews with nearly 400 non-clinical medical researchers, the MRC said. 

The interviews were conducted with MRC award winners, and focused on the ten to 20 years following their receipt of funding. One finding of the review was that 44 per cent of interviewees finished their PhD “with either no idea or only a general idea of what they wanted to do next”, the MRC said. In addition, 60 per cent said they had not received enough careers advice. 

The removal of the restriction on when researchers can apply for a fellowship was an outcome of the review. “Many of those who contributed to the review spoke of the lack of flexibility in making research career choices resulting from the fact that researchers have only a certain number of years after their PhD in which to apply for fellowships, after which point they’re ineligible,” the MRC said. 

The MRC is seeking feedback on the framework, which it says will be developed further with additional career routes, case studies and tools.

EPSRC launches a science and engineering blog

Funding opportunities

A new science and engineering blog will provide debate and opinion pieces from leading thinkers on research, innovation and science funding policy.

The blog, launched by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will seek contributions from scientists and engineers as well as EPSRC staff.

Announcing the launch, Professor Philip Nelson, Chief Executive of EPSRC says; ‘We want the EPSRC blog to host debate, share thinking and provide different perspectives on topics affecting the engineering and physical sciences community.  It is vital that as a community we remain engaged on developments and issues. I hope the EPSRC blog will prove an additional and very useful tool in doing just that.’

Within the first blog post Professor Nelson sets out EPSRC’s strategic plan and outlines discussions around how research is best supported, the university eco-system and opportunities to support innovation.

Dr Nick Hawes, from the University of Birmingham, argues why scientists working in robotics and artificial intelligence need to engage with the public. His blog post sets out tips for public engagement, gives examples of robot demonstrations and tweeting robots, with data to demonstrate the worldwide online impact.