December 2021 Funding Landscape: Latest Funding, Awards and Grants

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Scope of Call:

Provides financial support for projects in England in the aquaculture sectors and that enhance and protect the marine environment.

Aim:

Supports sustainable growth in the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors and projects that enhance the marine environment.

Available funding: £unspecified

Project: £1k – £150k; dependent on application.

Grant: 80% fleet, 75% public, 30% SME.

Eligibility:
UK business, public body, university/RTO, individual.

Collaboration: possible.

Dates:
open: rolling deadline, 8 week turnaround, registration closes 31 December 2022

Key Considerations

• There are a range of application areas, each with separate conditions:
• Protecting marine environment
• Supporting coastal communities
• Reform of stock and quota management
• Developing industry infrastructure for sustainable growth
• Separate guidance for each activity in the scheme, check online for information including budgets and dates.
• An Expression of Interest can be submitted to check eligibility of a project before it is formally submitted.
• Funded by DEFRA.

General Recommendations:

• Not all areas of the scheme are open at the same time, so need to check what is relevant and eligible.
• If the MMO consider the applicant could afford to pay for the project without additional funding the application will be rejected, therefore ensure that funding is essential to achieve the objective.
• The bid must include a description of the targets and benefits anticipated, against which the performance will be evaluated.
• The scheme covers a wide range of applicants that could be an individual or business or university, so there is a wide range of opportunity available.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment:

• There are a range of bio-film applications that could be relevant, from efficiency of ships by bio-foul reduction to catch management or environment management for fishery operations.
• This funding could also be relevant for the development of products that support the fishing or aquaculture industries, such as in biocides for catch management and processing or gear maintenance.

Key Collaborators:

• The call does not specify whether collaborations are in scope, although the implication is that a single organisation or individual will make the application. It is possible that a business supported by a university, for example, may be eligible.

NBIC Specific Recommendations:

Relationship to PDME

• Proposed solutions could be relevant to Prevention of biofilm fouling or degradation (for example on fishing gear or processing equipment), Detection of biofilm build-up, Management of biofilms that impair performance/ reduce efficiency, or Engineering of beneficial bio growth or bio-degradation components and surfaces.

Possible application of Biofilms

• It is likely that bio-films are hazards to be managed, such as growth on marine equipment or degradation of catch.
• There might also be applications related to the enhancement of the marine environment through reduction or mitigation of environmental impact.

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Circular economy for SMEs: innovating with the NICER programme Closes: 08 December 2021. closed

• Aim: Enable SMEs to engage with research centres via collaborative R&D activities. The competition supports feasibility studies, industrial research and experimental development to address the challenges of transitioning to a circular economy. Project must align with the following resource flows: chemicals, textiles, metals, technology metals or mineral-based construction materials
• Eligibility: Lead must be a UK registered micro or SME business. Collaborators can be any business, academic or RTO. One of the UKRI Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centres must be included in the project.
• Costs and Duration: duration between 9 and 12 months, costs £50k-£100k.
• Key Dates: closes 8th December 2021
• Further information here.

EUREKA GlobalStars Taiwan Digital Industrial Collaboration Closes: 15 December 2021. closing soon

• Aim: to identify collaborators and collaboration projects between UK and Taiwanese businesses. Looking for high market potential projects developing innovative products, tech-based applications or tech-based services.
• Eligibility: 50% co-investment must be in place. A UK lead business or UK partner can claim funding. Must be collaborative with at least one other independent partner from a EUREKA or Globalstars participating country.
• Costs and Duration: up to £300k grant, duration 3-24 months
• Key Dates: closes 15th December 2021 @16:00
• Further information here. 

Made Smarter Innovation: Sustainable Smart Factory: Closes: 26 January 2022.

• Aim: to develop digital innovations to improve the sustainability of manufacturing processes, resulting in either reduced material or reduced energy consumption. Strand 1: data centric, strand 2: data support of resource or energy efficiency improvements.
• Eligibility: Must be led by a UK business and must involve collaboration with other UK organisations. Both manufacturing and digital technology must be included.
• Costs and Duration: project costs £1M-£8M, duration 12-24 months
• Key Dates: closes 26th January 2022 @11:00am
• Further information here.

NBIC Relevance:

Circular economy for SMEs and the NICER programme:

• This fund could provide support for NBIC SME partners to engage with researchers in investigations of the role of biofilms as hazards or adjuncts to components in the circular economy and materials used. Relevant to P, D, E and M.

EUREKA GlobalStars Taiwan Digital Industrial Collaboration:

• Opportunity for support for an NBIC partner involved with, or seeking to become involved with, a EUREKA collaboration involving a Taiwanese partner. Any of P, D, M or E are relevant themes

Made Smarter Innovation: Sustainable Smart Factory:

• Opportunity to support a project seeking to improve a manufacturing process where bio-films are a significant factor in production, efficiency or energy usage (e.g. in reducing pollution). Either of D or M are relevant themes

UKRI: Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2021 to 2022, round 2 closes 02 February 2022

• Standard KTP scheme. Comprehensive application process.
• Typically project costs are expected to be £75 k per annum, part of this expected to be funded by the business partner; 12 – 36 month projects.
• Technology and Management KTPs possible.
• Opens: 06 December 2021; closes: 02 February 2022.
• Find out more here. 

BEIS: Net Zero Innovation Portfolio: £1Bn Fund

• The Net Zero Innovation Portfolio provides funding for low-carbon technologies and systems to accelerate the commercialisation of low-carbon technology systems and business models in power, buildings and industry, and will help enable the UK to end its contribution to climate change.
• Competitions will be launching throughout 2021, with opportunities to apply offered through the individual competition pages here. 

Clean Growth Fund

• The Clean Growth Fund (CGF) invests in the most promising and ambitious companies to provide commercialisation expertise and access to markets.
• Looking for any company with a clear and significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gases.
• Provides business support to sectors: power, buildings, transport, industry and waste.
• First round investment £500 k – £3 m
• Find out more here. 

DASA: Catch the ChemBio SCENT!

• This is a Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition looking for proposals for novel technologies for screening, collecting and exploiting ChemBio materials, addressing the challenges associated with screening for and the preservation of sample/evidence and the attribution of hazardous chemical and biological materials.
• Proposals requesting up to £100k will be considered in phase 1, with a second phase planned to further develop promising solutions
• Jointly funded by UK MoD and US DoD.
• Find out more here. 

NBIC Relevance:

Knowledge transfer partnerships:

• NBIC partners may find the KTP scheme a useful way to involve a researcher from academia in their business. This route can often lead to a recruitment opportunity, as well as improved working relationship with the researcher’s university.

Net Zero Innovation Portfolio:

• NBIC partners may have a contribution in this programme where the management or exploitation of biofilms could provide a solution to reducing carbon (directly or indirectly) or catalysing a hydrogen production process (for example).

Clean Growth Fund:

• The CGF is a route to investment capital for an early stage business with an exciting and innovative product looking for growth.

DASA: Catch the ChemBio SCENT!

• This competition could be of interest to NBIC partners or researchers with a novel approach to detecting and identifying biological materials present in small quantities for forensic analysis. Aligns with NBIC themes of D and M.

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Scope of Call:

Medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and tier 3a digital health technologies.

Aim: Support translational R&D of medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for NHS use.

Available funding: total £unspecified

Project costs: no upper funding limit; max 36 months.

Grant: 100%;

Eligibility:
Lead: SME, NHS provider or HEI

Must be collaborative between any two eligible organisation types, maximum 7 co-applicants

Dates:
Competition 23: Stage 1 open: 20 Oct 2021, closes 8 Dec 2021

Stage 2: open: 17 Feb 2022, close 13 April 2022

Key Considerations

• This call now closed, but further call for competition 6 expected in 2022
• Project lead applicant must be an SME, NHS provider or HEI based in England.
• Up to 7 co-collaborators allowed
• A designated PPI (Patient and Public Involvement) lead must be identified
• The inclusion of public co-applicants is beneficial, if justified.
• Proof-of-concept must have been shown
• Research proposals may address any disease or health are where there is an unmet need.
• Involvement of patients/service users is expected.
• Two stage application:
• EoI (stage 1)
• Project-focused business plan (stage 2).

General Recommendations:

• Early stage research or discovery is not fundable under this competition, and experimental data should be given to support the case for further development
• A commercial strategy must be given taking into account all aspects including regulatory pathway, IP and health economics
• A plan for future adoption into the NHS must be presented.
• Project could be a feasibility study for application of tech from sector outside health
• Two stage programme: stage 1 applicants will be shortlisted and if successful invited to submit a stage 2 application. Stage 2 assessed and interviewed by a selection committee.
• 8 criteria will be assessed

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment:

• This topic is of relevance to all NBIC themes, P, D, M & E

Sectors and Market Alignment:

• Targeted at the healthcare sector specifically.
• R&D of medical devices and in vitro diagnostic devices, including product design, scale-up, IP, safety and efficacy studies, health economics, CE marking. A novel output of the project must be evidenced.
• The target user is the NHS in the first instance; commercialisation partner could be a provider of services or product to the NHS.
• Target application must be somewhere that a clear clinical need and patient benefit can be shown.
• Project should show how it will change clinical practice, provide patient benefits real clinical impact, cost savings and commercial return.

NBIC Specific Recommendations:

• Relationship to PDME
• P: protection of surfaces, cleaning and re-use of clinical instruments.
• D: sensing of microbial contaminants, in vitro detection and identification of pathogens.
• M: decontamination of surfaces, applying preventative surfaces to reduce cross-contamination, destruction of biofilms for improved healthcare.
• E: laboratory cultures for identifying or developing anti-microbial agents, development of screening processes using bio-film based instrumentation.

Key Collaborators

oNHS providers, patient groups, research institutions.

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Scope of Call:

Medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and tier 3a digital health technologies.

Aim: To support market-ready innovation by addressing the gap between clinical evaluation and adoption through funding assessment in real-world settings

Available funding: total £unspecified

Project costs: £No upper limit: Up to 3 years.

Grant: 100%;

Eligibility:
Lead: England based SME, NHS providers, HEIs Must be collaborative and include an NHS provider (up to 7 co-applicants)

Dates:
Competition 13: Stage 1 open: 4th November 2021, closes 12 January 2022

Stage 2: open: 23 March 2022, closes 11 May 2022

Key Considerations

• Project lead applicant must be based in England.
• Collaborators/subcontractors from elsewhere can be included if justified.
• Collaborators must include NHS Trust or other health provider. Additional collaborators may be included.
• Technologies must have demonstrated safety and efficacy and have obtained, or be in process of obtaining, CE marking
• Timeline for project should be based on need. Up to 5 years can be considered if a strong case is made.
• Applications must be made through the Research Management System, link on NIHR website

General Recommendations:

• This competition is to support the introduction of technologies that have been clinically evaluated, but not demonstrated in a healthcare setting
• Any disruptive medical device or in vitro diagnostic tool with clear and demonstrable benefit for NHS patients.
• A research plan must be included showing involvement of patents/service users, carers, the public and any other key stakeholders.
• Expected impact of the research must be clearly shown.
• Two stage programme: stage 1 applicants will be shortlisted and if successful invited to submit a stage 2 application. Stage 2 assessed and interviewed by a selection committee.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment:

• This topic is of relevance to all NBIC themes, P, D, M & E

Sectors and Market Alignment:

• Targeted at the healthcare sector specifically.
• Demonstration of medical devices (including AI) and in vitro diagnostic devices with, or planning to achieve, CE marking.
• The target user is the NHS and NHS service provider must be a collaborator. Other collaborators (including HEIs) are permitted
• Proposed technology must be disruptive, must have demonstrated safety and efficacy already and must therefore be market-ready, but in need of demonstration in healthcare settings in order to achieve further investment
• Clear clinical need and patient benefit for NHS patients must be shown.

NBIC Specific Recommendations:

• Relationship to PDME
• P: protection of surfaces, cleaning and re-use of clinical instruments.
• D: sensing of microbial contaminants, in vitro detection and identification of pathogens.
• M: decontamination of surfaces, applying preventative surfaces to reduce cross-contamination, destruction of biofilms for improved healthcare.
• E: laboratory cultures for identifying or developing anti-microbial agents, development of screening processes using bio-film based instrumentation.

Key Collaborators

oNHS providers, patient groups, research institutions.

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Scope of Call:

Development of digital biomarkers (DBDs) for dementia, prototypes and clinical evaluation.

Aim: Help SMEs reach the next stage in development and apply for further funding, in particular an i4i development award.

Available funding: total £unspecified

Project costs: up to £2M; up to 60 months, subject to stage gate and milestones achieved

Grant: 100%;

Eligibility:
Lead: SME

Must be a multidisciplinary team to tech developers, data scientists and clinical staff.

Dates:
Dementia Call: open: 10 November 2021, closes 26 January 2022

Stage 2: open: Jan 2022, closes 25 May 2022

Key Considerations

• This competition has opened for dementia-specific detection, diagnosis and stratification
• In-vitro diagnostics are out of scope
• Project lead applicant must be an SME based in England.
• Collaboration is mandatory with e.g. SMEs, NHS providers, PCNs, HEIs
• Specialist services through consultancy or sub-contract if justified
• Research proposals must address identified R&D areas of digital approaches to Dementia
• Existing Proof of Concept must be evidenced in the application.
• Clinical trials are to be included, leading to improved diagnosis and delivery of care.

General Recommendations:

• This competition is for projects that can demonstrate proof of concept and need support to get to next stage.
• Specifically aimed at digital approaches to dementia.
• Projects should include a Research and Development component.
• Target of the funding is to de-risk projects in advance of further investment or grant funding application.
• Collaboration in a multi-disciplinary team is a requirement.
• Digital bio-markers may leverage existing technologies for data collection.
• Data access will be available through Dentias Platform UK (DPUK). Support available from Join Dementia Research (JDR)
• A business plan is necessary, showing potential for commercialisation.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment:

• This topic is of relevance to all NBIC themes, D & M

Sectors and Market Alignment:

• Targeted at the healthcare sector specifically.
• Digital bio-markers and associated technologies may be included as a component of the developed solution.
• The target user is the NHS in the first instance; commercialisation partner could be a provider of services or product to the NHS.
• Target application is a digital approach to identifying early stages of dementia, using existing clinical data sources
• Project should connect with Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) and Join Dementia Research (JDR)

NBIC Specific Recommendations:

• Relationship to PDME.
• D: sensing of microbial contaminants, in vitro detection and identification of pathogens providing data for the lead applicant.
• M: Collection, analysis and management of data arising from detection systems and biomarkers related to dementia.

Key Collaborators

oClinical data analysts, software developers, DPUK, JDR, NHS providers, patient groups, research institutions.

MORE INFORMATION HERE AND HERE

EPSRC: Discipline-hopping in ICT

• Relevant for researchers with non-ICT expertise looking to learn ICT research skills and apply them in their home discipline.
• 3 – 4 month support of salary and T&S at 80% FEC.
• Now open, no closing date
• Find out more here. 

BBSRC standard research grant:

• Funding of up to £2 m for up to 5 years for research projects undertaking biotechnology research in plants, microbes, animals and tools/technology.
• There are a number of priority areas listed. Working with partners is encouraged
• Industrial partners are encouraged through industrial partnership awards, contribution of at least 10% of FEC or collaborative at 50% industry funding
• Open, no closing date
• Find out more here. 

Research England Development (RED) Fund:

• Collaboration between higher education providers and industry/business partners to increase effectiveness of research for societal benefit.
• Quality Related Research (QER) funding in the form of block grant. Contribution expected from collaborating business.
• Open, no closing date
• Find out more here. 

Higher Education Innovation Fund

• This fund supports a broad range of knowledge-based interactions between HEPs and the wider world which might result in economic and societal benefit to the UK.
• There is a review ongoing at present, with a new timetable expected to be published in December 2021, giving the phased plan for implementation. Open now, no closing date
• Find out more here. 

NBIC Relevance:

• There are a number of calls open to researchers from NBIC academic partners that could support development of applications of biofilms in medicine, bioscience and manufacturing, and which might be supported by NBIC industrial partners, which could lead to innovation transfer or to knowledge transfer using one of the KTP instruments.
• The discipline hopping opportunity is an opportunity for researchers to develop their ICT skills, and perhaps become better qualified or able to work with industrial partners, perhaps through a KTP scheme.
• The RED fund may be of interest to researchers looking to collaborate with industry by providing solutions to ongoing challenges.
• There are a number of partnership programmes available through BBSRC that support collaborations with international researchers, which might also be of interest to NBIC Industrial Partners to work with research partners in order to establish international links and opportunities.
• The HE Innovation Fund could be of interest to NBIC industrial and academic partners wishing to explore opportunities to widen application of biofilm research across a broader field and wider international application.

MORE INFORMATION HERE AND HERE

UKRI: Early Ideas to improve the delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics

• Aim: Looking to support a consortium to tackle the barriers to safe and effective delivery of Nucleic Acid Therapies through the development of novel technologies, platforms and resources. Initial requirement is an Expression of Interest. Open to academic organisations, SMEs, other research establishments. Projects must be collaborative.
• Grant funding up to £6M, duration up to 3 years. closes 6th January 2022.
• Find out more here.

EPSRC: Healthcare technologies investigator-led grant

• For researchers in engineering, physical sciences, ICT and mathematical sciences wanting to apply their research to health challenges
• Collaboration with healthcare professional, industry and other relevant partners is strongly encouraged
• Project sie ranges from small short-term grants to multi-million-poiud research programmes. No limit on grant or length of project
• Open now, closes 31st March 2022. NB no pre-registration required.
• Find out more here. 

EPSRC: Manufacturing the future

• Support for engineering and physical sciences research looking at key challenges facing manufacturing in the UK.
• Includes chemistry and materials.
• Up to £2 m.
• Open now, no closing date 
• Find out more here. 

UKRI-SBE lead agency opportunity

• Collaborations between UK and US researchers in any discipline including biotech.
• Submission of EoI to NSF and UKRI for consideration.
• Maximum award £1 m, currently open, no closing date 
• Find out more here. 

Business and Academia Prosperity Partnership

• Aims to support business-led / UK university research partnerships in low TRL programmes to deliver economic, social and cultural prosperity for UK.
• Total fund £20 m, 80% university funding, matched by funding from industrial partner.
• Closes: 11th January 2022 @ 16:00
• Find out more here. 

NBIC Relevance:

• There are some open calls from EPSRC that could be relevant to NBIC academic partners, and that could be supported by NBIC industrial partners. This would give the opportunity for knowledge transfer, development of new collaborations or production of further bids for grant funding.
• The nucleic acid therapeutics call is for collaborations between academic and SME partners with novel ideas that could be developed. It is an expression of interest at present, and could therefore be of interest for any biofilm related therapy delivery method.
• The UKRI-SBE opportunity, whilst it is targeted at researchers from academic partners, is an opportunity for UK industrial partners to form partnerships and extend their networks to US research and industry.
• The Business and Academia Prosperity Partnership supports collaborations between business and academia, that could benefit an NBIC industrial partner looking to pull through research being done by an academic partner.

LEARN MORE. 

Scope of Call:

• Innovation grants to facilitate interactions between Med Tech SMEs and Knowledge Providers during product development. For example, help to develop or test new or improved products, processes and services.
• Applications assessed on novelty of innovation, clinical need, value for money, strength of team.

Available Funding:

• Up to £7,500 grant (50% of total project cost).

Dates:

Open call, 2022 deadlines not yet announced

2021 calls closed: further calls may open early 2022

Key Considerations:

• SME applies for and justifies knowledge collaboration.
• Simple application process with regular awards committee reviews.

Typical projects include:

• Help to develop or test new or improved products, processes and services.
• Access to information and expertise on care pathways and workflows
• Tapping into clinical and scientific expertise.

General Recommendations:

• Health stakeholders should be involved in any bid, such as patient groups, clinicians or NHS organisations.
• Teaming with an NHS Trust or medical device manufacturer would be beneficial.
• University medical departments are also regarded as a knowledge provider.
• The currently open call closes on 29 October 2021, the next call will likely open immediately afterwards, closing tba
• Knowledge sharing and partner discovery/access can be accessed through the MedTech CONNECT portal here.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment:

• Could apply to all NBIC themes, drawing on expertise supportive of SMEs.

Collaboration:

• UK SME led, collaboration with university (or NHS/medical organisation).
• Links with, e.g., the Southampton medical school, would be helpful.
• Could form part of an existing relationship between NBIC and health SME, or help to establish new relationship.
• Any MedTech SME needing expertise to support development or testing can access NBIC as a knowledge provider.

NBIC Specific Recommendations:

Relationship to PDME: The grants facilitate interaction between SMEs and knowledge providers on any aspect of healthcare, therefore any aspect of PDME could come into play.

Possible application of Biofilms

oFund covers any aspect of health and medical technology, and so any of the many health applications of biofilms already in development through NBIC are relevant.

oFund could support an existing link between an SME industry partner and NBIC research institution.

Key Collaborators

oUK SMEs associated with NBIC.

oRTOs or health trusts as knowledge providers.

oUniversities / Research Institutes from NBIC.

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Scope of Call:

• Grants available to scientists in all career stages who are affiliated with any research-based institution, university or company.
• Grants offered to stimulate innovative research in challenging areas of future importance.

Funding:

• Grants of €100k – 500k (depending on topic) per year for up to three years, with the option of an extension.
• Can apply for more than one grant, or more than one focus topic
• Initial non-confidential application; successful ones invited to submit full proposal.
•  

Dates:

• Submission deadline closed
• Deep-dive workshops Nov/Dec 2021
• Now closed – new calls expected in 2022

Key Considerations:

Topic areas of interest 2021 are:

• Drug Discovery
• Real time testing and sensors
• Nanoparticle for nucleic acid delivery
• Digital innovation
• Bioelectronics
• Sustainability
• Media recycling for cultured meat
• organoids

The research topics are looking for new technologies and approaches that will apply to new and emerging challenges in the health and environment sector. Details of the expectations under each of the topics of interest are given on the linked web-page. Knowledge of the commercial expectations of Merck will be important.

General Recommendations:

• Knowledge, competence, access to facilities and innovative ideas will support a bid.
• Connection to, or collaboration with, a clinical or healthcare provider will add credibility and knowledge of the user.
• Innovative thinking, bringing technologies applied to non-health sectors into the health domain will be of interest.
• Applications will be scored on the criteria of: innovativeness; commercial potential; path forward after 3 years; probability of success; team strength; strategic fit.
• Successful applicants will be invited to a ‘deep dive’ workshop with Merck KGaA in Darmstadt, costs paid by Merck.
• Purpose: jointly optimise the submitted proposals.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment:

• Aligns with all NBIC themes, esp. Prevent and Detect, and applies to the improved health sectorial challenge and environmental challenge.
• Research within an NBIC partner institution relevant to vaccine or drug delivery platforms, pathogen control, biosensors or bioprocessing could be proposed.

Sectors and Market Alignment:

• Involvement can create connections between NBIC research and commercial partners, including the pharmaceutical industry.
• Merck are seeking entry to wider markets (e.g., cultured meat production) and research proposals that broaden the application space will be of interest

NBIC Specific Recommendations:

Relationship to PDME

oPrevent: Any application of biofilms that supports identification or categorisation of future health threats.

oDetect: any platform using biofilms for screening or diagnostics of infections in patient management.

oManage: testing, vector control and delivery systems for emerging health threats.

oEngineer: applications of biofilms in drug delivery, monitoring etc..

Possible application of Biofilms

oAppear to be many relevant biofilm applications at PoC level already underway that are relevant and could form the basis of a bid.

Key Collaborators

oThese are research proposals seeking tech solutions towards pandemic preparedness, therefore led by an NBIC researcher or team supported by access to other researchers through NBIC.

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Scope of Call:

A funding opportunity for businesses and organisations in Scotland working in any sector where innovative projects have the ability to deliver carbon savings, leverage investment and create jobs.

Aim: Development and uptake of innovative technologies, products and services to support a circular economy, exploring new markets and developing innovative business models.

Available funding: total £18 m

Project costs: up to £1M

Grant: 25% (large); 35% (med.); 45% (small).

Eligibility:
Lead: SME Business based in Scotland

Dates:
Open competition: information and proposal form available on website. 2022 panel dates not yet available.

Future calls dependent on programme funding

Key Considerations:

This is an opportunity for Scotland-based small businesses working in the circular economy. Topics of interest are:

• Built environment
• Food systems
• Bio-economy
• Energy infrastructure
• Heat and Energy
• Waste

Large companies (non SME) and public sector bodies including academic institutions are not eligible for funding under this scheme. Collaboration is actively encouraged where it strengthens the overall proposal, but note that only SMEs and registered 3rd party organisations are eligible for funding.

General Recommendations:

• Projects need to show how they will benefit the circular economy in Scotland.
• Carbon savings should be presented in terms of tonnes CO2 equivalent.
• The project may show how an innovative technology can add value to a ‘waste’ product or material.
• Projects should be well advanced in development. Early-stage research or basic science projects are not supported under this fund.
• Proposed projects must outline the circular economy benefits of the project, and must plan to take a product, model, service, technology or invention towards commercial scale development.

NBIC Theme (PDME) Alignment:

• Aligns with themes: Manage and Engineer.
• Aligns with NBIC’s activities: Next generation enabling tech; sectorial challenge; Improved Customer Products.

Sectors and Market Alignment:

• Any sector in which carbon savings can be generated, or where industrial waste can be reclaimed and re-used.

Collaboration:

• An opportunity for an SME NBIC member company based in, or operating in Scotland to work with small industrial companies and/or academic researchers or for a UK-based member company to ally with a large industrial concern in Scotland

Other: Demonstration at commercial scale will be necessary.

NBIC Specific Recommendations:

Relationship to PDME

• Manage: New business models to re-use materials usually classed as waste, possibly due to bio-fouling; application of new approaches to manufacturing to reduce or sequester CO2 produced.
• Engineer: Create technologies to reduce bio-degradation of re-usable materials, creation of carbon reduction or sequestration processes or products

Possible application of Biofilms

• Use in carbon sequestration or process modification for carbon reduction or materials re-use

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Latest Update:

• Although Horizon Europe projects are seen as working alongside, or complementing, Innovate UK funded programmes, the fact remains that Horizon Europe bids are far more complicated to assemble with considerably greater administration costs than Innovate UK bids.
• Pulling together an international team can be challenging to manage, especially for a small business.
• However, project scale is greater, as is the time allowed for bids to be prepared.
• Some calls are more competitive than others, and overall budgets are higher.
• Before embarking on an European bid, it makes good sense to take advice on whether the time spent on bidding is likely to prove cost effective.
• During 2021 there was an opportunity to bid for funding under the global cooperation call which aimed to provide UK support for the leading or joining an international collaborative team for a Horizon Europe bid. This call is now closed, but further calls of this type may open in 2022.
• The National Contact Point (NCP) network is available to help and guide those wanting to find out more about opportunities and participation, or lead bids into the Horizon Europe programme. There is a list of NCPs and their sectors here.
• A useful access page for all programmes and calls can be found here. 

Access to calls:

• Cluster 1: Health Cluster – innovative healthcare, digital solutions, tackling disease and staying healthy.
• Various closing dates, 21-April-2022, 06-September-2022. Find out more here. 
• Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society – education, ageing society, green technology in culture, post-pandemic governance, big data
• Closing date 6th April 2022. Find out more here. 
• Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space – human-centred and ethical development of digital and industrial technologies, including space, green technologies and circular economy
• Closing date for currently open calls: 30th March 2022. Find out more here. 
• European Partnerships: Joint actions in which the EU, national authorities and/or the private sector jointly commit to support the development and implementation of a programme of research and innovation activities. Planned for the 2023/24 work programme. Find out more here. 

NBIC Relevance:

• Calls with most relevance to NBIC are likely to be in the health cluster, particularly the calls relating to tackling diseases, health-promoting environment and new tools for a healthy society where Detection, Manage and Engineer topics could be presented.
• There are also opportunities in environmental topics and through the European Partnership programme which includes, food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment that could be addressed by NBIC partners where all topics Prevent, Detect, Manage and Engineer are relevant.
• Collaborators from at least two other European countries are generally required, although there are online partner search portals through which small companies can advertise their skills and technology that might be taken up by other project bids, or conversely relevant partners can be contacted to add skills to a bid.
• Because of the complexity, it is recommended that support is requested early on in the bid process to identify appropriate competitions, discover partners and start the process of planning and assembling a bid.

Financing Innovation for a Sustainable Future:

• A blog from Christian Inglis at Innovate UK discussing finance options, in particular those relating to green technologies and net-zero
• Find out more here. 

Health funding map from KTN and the BioIndustry Association

• Intended to assist in the navigation of the health funding landscape, it also supports engagement between innovators in this sector and the KTN.
• This provides a useful access point for the health funding landscape.
• Find out more here.

Report on UK Catalysis

• This report covers the domestic catalyst market in the UK and reviews opportunities for growth in the UK market and expansion of exports.
• Prepared by the Knowledge Transfer Network on behalf of Innovate UK.
• Find out more here.

Report on UK composites industry, competitiveness and opportunities

• Produced by BEIS, Innovate UK, HVMC (High Value Manufacturing Catapult) and KTN.
• This is a study of the UK market for fibre reinforced polymer composites (FRPs) – it will be used by BEIS to inform future policy making, and would be a useful pointer to future competition themes.
• Find out more here.

Applying for European Funding – A perspective by Scientifica Ltd

• A helpful blog from Dr Christian Wilms of Scientifica describing his experience of applying for European Funding, with support from KTN and the National Contact Points at Innovate UK
• Find out more here.

NBIC Relevance:

• These are some recently published studies and reports that could provide useful background for NBIC members and partners. They cover future planning and will be influential in the formulation of future competitions coming from Innovate UK and other government funding agencies.
• The Health funding map is potentially useful for anyone taking a first overview of the funding schemes and competitions available. Links are provided to current opportunities in the health sector. Other similar maps may appear from the KTN for other competition areas, although nothing is available as yet.
• The blog from KTN is a helpful introduction to the challenges of applying for European funding, with links to support available from KTN and Innovate UK