Category: Roundup

Funding Roundup – Sep 18

CORBEL 2nd Open Call for Research Projects

More than 20 facilities from 10 different research infrastructures across Biological and Medical Sciences have joined forces and combine their technologies and scientific expertise to support advanced research projects. Successful applicants will be offered open access to cutting-edge technologies and services available at various research infrastructures. CORBEL funds will not be given to successful applicants directly. Instead, costs for travel to partner sites will be reimbursed (up to €5,000) and access to service providers will be granted without access fee (extra costs for consumables may apply).

See: www.corbel-project.eu/open-call.html

 

Innovate UK and the Knowledge Transfer Network are offering UK-based R&D performing SMEs the opportunity to receive a contribution of up to £500 towards travel and accommodation costs to selected European brokerage events. Looking for collaboration opportunities or to find partners for your Horizon 2020 project in Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, Manufacturing and Processing (NMBP) Deadline: 24th September

See: https://ktn-uk.co.uk/news/apply-for-travel-support-for-non-uk-brokerage-event-in-nmbp-or-ict

 

BBSRC: ‘Stand-alone’ LINK

LINK supports collaborative research projects between at least one company and one academic partner. At least 50% of the full project cost comes from industry. Applications should be for pre-competitive research that would not be undertaken in this form without LINK support. Funding is only available for organisations eligible for BBSRC support.

Deadline: 25th September 2018

See: https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/stand-alone-link/

 

BBSRC: Industrial Partnership Awards (IPAs)

IPAs are academic-led, responsive mode grants that have significant industrial involvement and industry partner(s) contributes in cash at least equivalent to 10% of the full project costs. Additional in-kind contributions from industry are welcome but do not count against the industry contribution.

Deadline: 25th September 2018

See: https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/industrial-partnership-awards/

 

BBSRC: New Investigator Scheme

Assists early-career researchers – newly employed university lecturers, lecturer level equivalent fellows whose awards were secured in open competition, and researchers in Research Council Institutes at the unified Research Council Band E or its equivalent – to secure their first major element of research funding.

Deadline: 25th September 2018

See: https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/new-investigator/

 

GCRF Global Engagement Networks

As part of the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), UK Research and Innovation invites proposals for community building networks focused around research challenges within the six strategic GCRF Challenge portfolios: Up to £150,000 is available per network, over a 2 year period. These funds are to support running costs, events and activities.

The Network Director (Principal Investigator) for each Network must be an academic based at an eligible research organisation in a country on the OECD DAC list.

Deadline:11th October 2018

See: www.ukri.org/research/global-challenges-research-fund/global-engagement-networks/

 

Business: Grants for equipment

The PAPI project help small businesses in York, North Yorkshire and East Riding develop innovative new products by providing grants (up to £20,000) for equipment. See: www.papi.org.uk

 

Scotland: Circular Economy Investment Fund

A funding opportunity for small and medium sized enterprises in Scotland who are helping to create a more circular economy. See: www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/circular-economy/investment-fund

 

NELSA – North of England Life Science Accelerator Programme, Cheshire, 13-14th November 2018

Up to 10 early stage businesses/commercialisation projects will receive support and the potential to secure seed funding. Applications close: 17 Sep 18.  

See: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nelsa-north-of-england-life-science-accelerator-programme-tickets-47549316285


Newton Fund: PhD Placements and Supervisor Mobility Grants China-UK

This programme is a sponsorship opportunity for UK and Chinese PhD students and their supervisors to spend a period of study of three to 12 months (for PhD students) and up to three months (for supervisors) at higher education institutions in China or the UK. The focus is on research areas that reflect the common interests and demands of both countries, including: food and water security; environmental technologies; energy.

Deadline: 20th September 2018

See: www.britishcouncil.cn/en/programmes/education/higher/opportunities/phd 


Women in Innovation Awards 2018

UK business women can apply for one of 8 Women in Innovation Awards: £50,000 funding each and a bespoke package of mentoring, coaching and business support. Deadline: 3rd October 2018

See: https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/204/overview

 

BBSRC Follow on fund

The BBSRC Follow on Fund currently has an Industrial Biotechnology highlight for the upcoming round.

Deadline: 10th October 2018

See: https://bbsrc.ukri.org/funding/filter/follow-on/

 

Energy Catalyst Round 6: Transforming Energy Access

The Department for International Development (DFID) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will invest up to £10 million in innovation projects. These must encourage technology that will help countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia access secure, low cost and low carbon energy. £3 million of the funding is set aside for bioenergy projects.

Deadline: 4th November 2018

See: www.gov.uk/government/publications/competition-guidance-for-energy-catalyst-round-6-transforming-energy-access

 

Roundup of PhD Opportunities – Jan 18

Catalytic Conversion of Organic Acid By-Products from Sustainable Processes,
University of Sheffield
Supervisor: Dr J McGregor
Deadline: 24th January 2018
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

 

Microbial Process Engineering for Bioenergy Generation and Production of Value-Added Chemicals, University of Sheffield
Supervisor: Dr S Vaidyanathan
Deadline 24th January 2018
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

 

Cooking with Gas: Can Anaerobic Digestion Reduce the Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Cow Manures and Slurries?, University of Nottingham
Supervisor: Dr H West Application
Deadline 31st January 31, 2018
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)


Design of microbial cell factories and novel bioreactors for the production of high value natural products, University of Edinburgh
Supervisor: Dr L Rios Solis
Deadline 30th June 2018
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)


Integration of Sustainability Assessment and Global Optimization for Sustainable Production of Biofuels and Chemicals, University of Manchester
Supervisors: Dr R Cuellar-Franca , Dr N Zhang , Dr J Li
Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

 

Energy generation from lignocellulosic wastes, University of Huddersfield
Supervisor: Prof. P Humphreys / Dr S Rout
Deadline:Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

 

 

Integration of Sustainability Assessment and Global Optimization for Sustainable Production of Biofuels and Chemicals, University of Manchester
Supervisor: Dr R Cuellar-Franca / Dr N Zhang / Dr J Li
Deadline: Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

AD Network Event and Training Roundup – Jan 18

Events to Note

Unavoidable food waste in Yorkshire: opportunities to add value. 27 Feb 18, Holiday Inn York, Tadcaster Road YO24 1QF, 10.00-13.00 hrs. Free of charge.

EPSRC: Systems Change Thinking – Creating Value from Unavoidable Food Supply Chain Wastes, Sutton Bonnington, University of Nottingham. 16th January 2018

REA Event – UK Biomethane Day 2018, Birmingham. 2nd May 2018

 

KTN Events

 

KTN: Innovation Funding for Ambitious Businesses in the Midlands Engine, Coventry, Tue, 30 Jan. 

KTN: How to win funds and influence people, Various venues. Wales. Various dates, March 2018. Half day workshops across Wales to explore what a good grant application looks like…and some of the pitfalls to avoid.

KTN: North West Innovation 2018: Unlock Your Business Growth and Productivity, Daresbury. 8th February 2018.

 

NIBB Events

HVCfP: Workshop – Plant cell cultures: production of high value chemicals, Macdonald Hotel Holyrood, Edinburgh. 28th February 2018.

HVCfP: Workshop – Application of IB to to identification and recovery of high value products from plant waste, Colworth Park, Bedfordshire. 10th April 2018.

CBMNet: Biochemical Society Focused Meeting: Structure and mechanism of membrane proteins, Aston University. 2/3rd August 2018.

CBMNet: Biochemical Society Training Event: Experimental techniques for studying proteins and lipids in biological membranes, Aston University. 31st July–1st August 2018. This two-day training event for early career researchers comprise lectures, case study exercises and laboratory-based practical sessions.

C1net Final Conference, East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham 21-23 January 2019.

 

Overseas Events

IMPACT of the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant in industrial biotechnology – towards a sustainable economy, Ghent. 19th February 2018.

The Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) National Conference – Bioenergy Future Ireland 2018, Dublin. 21st February 2018

5th International Conference on Renewable Energy Gas Technology, REGATEC 2018, Toulouse, France. 3-4th May 2018. REGATEC has a technical and industrial focus and is directed towards bio-, electro-, and thermochemical conversion of biomass/waste to biomethane, biomass gasification for CHP production and industrial use as well as cryogenic upgrading/liquefaction.

The 3rd International Conference on Recent Advances in Pollution Control and Resource Recovery for the Livestock Farming Industry” (Livestock Waste 2018), Xiamen, China. 26-28th July 2018. This conference aims to seek solutions for the environmental issues associated with the management of animal manure and wastewater. Deadline for abstracts: 1st March 2018.

Biogas Science, Torino, Italy. 17/19th September 2018. Abstract deadlines: 19th January/27th April 2018.

The International Biomass Congress & Expo & the International Biogas Congress & Expo, Berlin, 10/11th October 2018.

 

Other Events and Courses

3rd N8 Biophysical and Biochemical Symposium, “Dynamics, Kinetics and Thermodynamics“, Manchester. 12th January 2018. The focus of the symposium will be the use of biophysical techniques to determine dynamics, kinetics and thermodynamics of biological processes.

Bio-resources – Getting the most out of sludge, Peterborough. 24th January 2018

Masters & PhD Study Fairs 2018 (Birmingham; Bristol; Sheffield; Liverpool; Edinburgh). Meet representatives from top universities both in the UK and abroad and get Masters & PhD application advice. University of Birmingham – 24 January; Sheffield – 14 February; University of Liverpool – 15 February; University of Edinburgh – 21 February.

Biogas HANDS ON UK, Cambridge. 5th-8th February 2018. IBBK Biogas will run a 4-day Engineering & Operating Course including a biogas plant visit.

Energy Storage and Connected Systems 2018, Olympia Conference Centre, London. 6/7th February 2018

2nd International Conference on Marine Biomass as Renewable Energy, Glasgow. 5/6th March 2018

The Business Of Science Conference, Liverpool. 17th May 2018

Biovale: Innovation Biocamp, Hawkhills, Yorkshire. 3-8th June 2018. Start-up, bio-based businesses can benefit from fully funded, intensive business training for successful innovation. The BioBase4SME project is now providing start-up companies working in the bioeconomy with €7,000 worth of specialist training, fully funded by the project. Deadline for applications: 20th April 2018.

New Scientist Live, ExCeL Centre, London 20-23 September 2018

 

Funding Roundup – Jan 18

This roundup include Research Council, Innovate and EU funding, regional funding, NIBB Network funding and some miscellaneous funding opportunities, as well.

Research Council, Innovate and European Funding

Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (BBSRC NIBB) Phase II

Community meeting: 17.01.18.

Expression of interest deadline: 24.01.18 at 16:00

BBSRC, in association with EPSRC, has announced a call of up to £10 million to fund a second phase of Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (BBSRC NIBB). They intend to fund a number of Networks, of varying scales, focusing on a broad range of fundamental and strategic challenges and questions facing the IBBE area. Networks will operate for up to 5 years and are expected to become self-sustaining beyond this.

See: www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/filter/networks-in-industrial-biotechnology-bioenergy-phase2 .

 

INNOVATE: Open sector competition round 4

Innovate UK’s competition is open to the best business-led cutting-edge or disruptive ideas or concepts with a view to commercialisation. Total eligible project costs must be within the range £25,000 to £1,000,000. Projects may last between 6 and 36 months.

Deadline: 28th February 2018

KTN will be hosting briefing events for Innovate UK’s January 2018 sector competition for Health & Life Sciences and Emerging & enabling Technologies. Deadline: 28th March 2018.

Innovate UK is to invest up to £19 million to support innovation that offers significant changes in productivity and cutting-edge innovation. The competition has 2 strands, strand 1 is for health and life sciences projects and strand 2 is for emerging and enabling technologies projects. A further £12 million is available to fund Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs).

See: www.ktn-uk.co.uk/news/register-now-for-the-briefing-events-for-the-january-2018-sector-competition-for-health-life-sciences-and-emerging-enabling-technologies .

All projects must involve at least one SME, working alone or in collaboration with other organisations. Projects with costs over £100,000 must be collaborative and include a funded partner.  The competition will open on the 22nd January and you must apply before 28th March.  Further details about the scope of the competition will be available shortly.

KTN will be hosting a series of briefing events for the competition throughout January and February.  More information is available below regarding the strands and the briefing events.

 

Science Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Bridging for Innovators (B4I) is a programme to support UK industry in improving productivity . It started in 2017 and will end in March 2021.

See: www.stfc.ac.uk/funding/research-grants/funding-opportunities/closing-calls/bridging-for-innovators-funding-programme/ .

 

ESRC: GCRF New models of sustainable development: Transitions towards sustainable and inclusive societies

See: www.esrc.ac.uk/funding/funding-opportunities/gcrf-new-models-of-sustainable-development/ .

 

NERC Large Grants call

Grants range between £1.2 million and £3.7m at 100 per cent full economic cost, with a duration of up to five years. Deadline 13th March 2018

See: www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/available/researchgrants/large/ .

 

Horizon 2020 Calls

Horizon 2020 is the EU’s €77 billion research and innovation funding scheme running from 2014 to 2020. BEIS has further clarified Horizon 2020 underwrite for UK participants.

  • Blue Growth – aims at sustainably harvesting the potential of resources from seas, oceans and inland waters for different uses and across the range of marine and maritime industries.

Deadline: 13th February 2018

  • Eurostars – Open to all projects in all technology areas and market fields, but projects must have a civilian purpose.

Deadline:  1st March 2018

  • Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for sustainable and competitive agriculture, forestry, agri-food and bio-based sectors – SMEs can play a crucial role in developing resource-efficient and cost-effective solutions to secure sufficient supplies of safe, healthy and high quality food and other bio-based products. Various deadlines.

Regional Funding

Bristol Sustainable Energy Research Fund

There is a fund of £10K available to support researchers wishing to investigate or evaluate the relationship between people and energy. Research should produce insight that contributes to the development of a more sustainable, equitable and democratically accountable energy system in the South West of England. Unusually this is not limited to academic applicants provided there is a demonstrable publication history. Closing date: 31st January 2018. See: www.bserf.org.uk/guidance-for-applicants .

BDC ERDF Funding for bio-based innovation

The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) has secured further ERDF funding to help Yorkshire businesses grow through bio-based innovations. The BDC is offering 120 pre-funded projects, value £1000, for eligible local businesses by 2018.

See: www.biorenewables.org/service/funded-support-for-regional-smes/ .

NIBB Network Funding

C1Net

Final BIV Call Closes 31st May 2018. See: www.c1net.co.uk/Funding.html .

FoodWasteNet

Final BIV call closes on 28th February 2018. There is still funding available for up to 7 projects (of up to £10,000). See: http://www.foodwastenet.org/ .

HVCfP

Final BIV round closes 16th January 2018. See: https://hvcfp.net/ .

PHYCONET Secondment funding

Deadline:  1st February 2018.

It is worth keeping track of various grants and awards available in the sector. For example, Bio-start is an annual competition designed to commercialise the engineering of biology. See: www.bio-start.uk/#competition .

Other Funding

L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women In Science Awards

The Fellowships are tenable at any UK or Irish university or research institute to support a 12-month period of early career research in any area of life, physical and computer sciences, engineering and mathematics. See: www.womeninscience.co.uk .

Deadline: 16th February 2018

Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellowships

These enable early- and mid-career engineering academics to conduct a collaborative research project in an industrial environment. Fellowships are worth up to £30,000 each and are tenable for up to six months full-time or 12 months part-time. Deadline: 5th February 2018

Royal Academy of Engineering: Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships

These aim to strengthen the links between industry and academia by supporting academics in conducting use-inspired research that meets the needs of industrial partners.

Deadline: 6th March 2018

See: www.raeng.org.uk/grants-and-prizes/support-for-research/research-chairs .

Defra Farm Productivity Grants

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has opened a £40 million grants scheme for investment in farm technology and equipment to boost farm productivity. Grants are available under the Countryside Productivity Scheme. See: www.gov.uk/government/news/environment-secretary-opens-40-million-fund-to-boost-farm-productivity .

 

AD Network’s December 2017 Event and training roundup

There are a vast number of great events on offer over the next few months. The AD Network has our “Valorisation of Animal By-Products” event for both researchers and industry who are interested in ways of creating value from such products. The event is at Longleat Forest, Warminster, Wiltshire on 7 Mar 18 and will be followed by an optional visit to Malaby Biogas where they put animal by-products through anaerobic digestion. Register here.

Courses

EMBL COURSE: Microbial Communities: Modelling Meets Experiment,  Heidelberg, Germany 3 – 7th December 2018. See: www.embl.de/training/events/ .

Free on-line courses are gaining in popularity and a great way to get a taster of a related field. Why not check out Futurelearn? Courses include Biochemistry: the Molecules of Life; Energy, the Environment and Our Future; Elements of Renewable Energy; Climate Change: The Science…See: www.futurelearn.com

Funding Roundup – December 2017

APEX Awards

The APEX award scheme offers established independent researchers, with a strong track record in their respective area, an exciting opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary and curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society. See: www.royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/apex-awards/ .

Deadline: 14th December 2017.


Royal Society Research Grants

This scheme provides seed-corn funding for early-career scientists for research within the Society’s remit in the life and physical sciences. Grants are worth up to £20,000 each over one year. Closing Date: 19th December 2017. See: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/research-grants/ .

 

ERC Consolidator Grant

Worth a look whilst they are still available. See: https://erc.europa.eu/funding/consolidator-grants . Deadline: 15th February 2018.

 

David Clarke Fellowship

The David Clarke Fellowship is co-funded by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) and

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). At least one fellowship will

be awarded per year. The research focus of the fellowships must be interdisciplinary across the Energy theme See: www.epsrc.ac.uk/files/skills/david-clarke-fellowship/ .

Don’t forget about the AD Network’s Business Interaction Vouchers (closes: 31 Dec 17) and our final Proof of Concept (closes: 15 Jan 18). More information on our website.

 

The Rank Prize

Are you working in crop science? The Rank Prize offers opportunities for support like their Travel awards £7,500 (Deadline: 29th January 2018) and Vacation Scholarships £2,500 (Deadline: 14th February 2018). See: http://www.rankprize.org/ .