Industry Impact Fund June 2023
I2F aims to support UK industry, through access to technologies and expertise, to solve currently intractable product, material or process performance challenges.
Opportunity Details
When
Registration Opens
01/06/2023
Registration Closes
30/06/2023
Award
The full economic cost of your project may be up to £100,000 with payment going directly to the STFC facility or department concerned. Companies will not be in direct receipt of cash through this scheme but instead are granted access to STFC facilities and expertise up to the value of the proposed project. Match funding of up to 50% may be requested.
Organisation
STFC
I2F is to support UK industry through access to STFC facilities and scientific expertise. STFC operates the UK National Facilities offering X-rays, Neutrons and Lasers alongside High Performance Computing (modelling, AI, ML) enabling the private sector to utilise the expertise and specialist technology generating industrial and societal impact. I2F is themed and seeking applications with interests in the following areas:
- energy
- net zero
- security and defence
- health
In order to be eligible, proposed activities must include a project manager from your organisation who is able to work with an STFC department or facility and have a technical challenge or issue that can be addressed by STFC.
Projects are expected to last for three to nine months, and there will be several rounds addressing different themes during the two-year period between April 2023 and March 2025.
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Your business must be based in the UK and registered at Companies House to be eligible for this funding.
Grant funding in this competition is awarded as Minimal Financial assistance (MFA). This allows public bodies to award up to £315,000 of support to an enterprise in a 3 year rolling financial period.
In your application, you will be asked to declare previous funding received. This will form part of the financial checks ahead of STFC making a formal grant offer.
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The I2F programme is intended to assist companies, through access to advanced analytical technologies and supporting expertise, overcome currently intractable product, material or process performance challenges in manufacturing or services which have a high economic impact. Projects are selected where there is clear evidence that UK economic growth will result from participation in the programme.
Examples include:
- improving energy efficiency in manufacturing processes
- materials development for hydrogen storage
- development of photovoltaics
- aerodynamics of wind turbines
- lubricants to improve engine efficiency
- materials for detectors in hydrogen applications
- development of biofuels
- improving batteries for electrical storage
- data analytics to improve manufacturing or service processes
- modelling and simulation to optimise design
Out of scope:
- fundamental research
- market research
- scoping studies
Applicants are required to clearly describe how solving their problem can result in economic impact to the company.
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We are currently accepting applications from companies that have interests or a product that have applications within the health and net zero themes. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:
- reduction of energy consumption
- alternative energy
- development and testing of materials for energy applications and energy storage
- data usage to promote greener outcomes
- vaccine development
- aerosol particle characterisation
- drug delivery mechanisms
The full economic cost of your project may be up to £100,000 with payment going directly to the STFC facility or department concerned. Companies will not be in direct receipt of cash through this scheme but instead are granted access to STFC facilities and expertise up to the value of the proposed project.
Projects should contribute matched funding for your eligible project costs of:
- minimum of 30% if you are a micro or small organisation
- minimum of 40% if you are a medium sized organisation
- minimum of 50% if you are a large organisation
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The initial application process requires companies to submit a concise (approx. 500 words) challenge statement describing the problem or challenge. Companies are not required to describe the project they want to do; instead, they will need to describe the problem, its nature, any techniques already tried and the value and benefit of solving it.
If approved, companies will work together with STFC business development and scientific and technical staff to develop a fully costed project proposal. Projects will be selected based on the economic and societal impact, the value and benefit to the company and the ability of STFC to address the problem.
We must receive your challenge statement by 30 June 2023 4:00pm.
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Get help with developing your proposal
For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.
Ask about this funding opportunity
Contact Matt Chisholm or Izhar Ul-Haq by emailing: I2F@stfc.ukri.org
Include ‘I2F Scheme’ in the subject line.
We aim to respond within three working days.