The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has launched a pilot funding call for Prosperity Partnerships: early-stage collaborations.

This is to support ambitious early-stage academic-business research collaborations which are promising emerging partnerships on the way towards becoming strategic partnerships.

If you are interested in applying to this EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships early-stage collaborations call:

• Complete an internal expression of interest by 23 March

The EoI is required to ensure potential applicants receive adequate support from RIS in developing their proposals as we are expecting a high-level of interest for this call. There will be no selection process at this stage, but we cannot guarantee support unless the EoI is submitted.

The EPSRC call deadline is on 9 May. Following Pre-Award standard practices, applicants must submit their applications by Tuesday 2 May. This is to allow for the necessary checks and timely submission to the funder. Please note that 8 May is a bank holiday and the University will be closed.

About the Call

EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships funding opportunities support business-led research that arises from an industrial need, with the work being co-delivered between the business and academic partners. These ambitious early-stage academic-business research collaborations will be promising emerging partnerships which are on the way towards becoming strategic partnerships. EPSRC expects the collaborative relationship between the academic and industrial partners to be pre-existing, operating for at least a year at least and certainly no more than five years. This will not be the partners’ first collaboration, nor the continuation of a strategic partnership.

Funding available

The full economic cost of your project can be up to £750,000. EPSRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost. Maximum funding duration is 3 years. Industry contribution will be at least 50% of the total grant value. We encourage SME involvement. This could be alone, as part of a consortium, or as part of the supply chain of a larger company. The combined cash contributions from the business partners must at least match the EPSRC funding requested. Studentships are not permissible for this funding opportunity.

Scope

The research challenges to be addressed in your Prosperity Partnerships: early-stage collaboration should:

• be relevant to stimulating innovation aimed at tackling major problems faced by the UK and the world
• drive capability in key technologies and scientific advancements

Partners are committed to the co-creation of a jointly delivered research programme at technology readiness level (TRL) 1 to 3:

• basic principles observed
• technology concept formulated
• experimental proof of concept