Switzerland expelled from coordination body for European research infrastructure
Switzerland is expelled from the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) since it is not associated with Horizon Europe, the European Union's (EU) research and innovation initiative. Under ESFRI rules, members must be EU states, associated to Horizon, or an EU candidate country to be the part of it.
Switzerland is deeply ingrained in the landscape of European research infrastructures. Additionally, it participates actively in associations like the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, the European Southern Observatory, and the European Space Agency. Switzerland hosts one of the world's largest scientific infrastructures, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), its exclusion is particularly problematic.
ESFRI, which was established in 2002, publishes roadmaps for research infrastructure in Europe to ensure that nations don't build identical facilities and that development complies with scientific goals. Swiss researchers participated in a number of ESFRI working groups for its most recent strategy in 2021. But the Swiss Academy of Sciences has announced that these experts would no longer be permitted to participate in these groups.
Researcher commissioner, Mariya Gabriel, said in a statement. “We are looking forward to renewing Switzerland's participation and re-engage at all levels as soon as possible, to allow for closer cooperation.” ESFRI is currently having “a general reflection on its cooperation with third countries,” she said. The outcome, which could include changes to the rules that exclude the Swiss, is expected this year. But any rule change to allow Switzerland back into ESFRI “also needs to take into consideration the exploratory talks on the future of our relationship,” Gabriel added, referring to the wider EU-Swiss negotiations.
Jana Kolar, ESFRI’s chair, acknowledged that research and innovation cooperation between the EU and Switzerland was part of “international relations” and so any return of Switzerland to ESFRI, even as an observer, “depends on the outcome of political decisions on the highest levels”.
If long-term affiliation is impossible, Switzerland is considering alternative measures that would begin in 2024 at the earliest.
How to Write a Successful Innovate UK Grant Application
It takes a significant amount of time, effort, and (possibly) frustration to prepare and submit a high quality Innovate UK application. In order to be successful, you must ensure you present the strongest possible case for why your technology is more valuable and stronger than all other applications being considered. This blog post intends to assist you in creating the best possible application for Innovate UK competitions. Below are some Do’s and Don’ts you should consider to make your application stand out from the crowd.
Do’s
- Keep it structured - Tell a compelling story that is gripping and has a theme running through it. Make it simple for the assessors to grasp your idea by putting yourself in their position, and read the assessor criteria to understand what they are looking for.
- Information is key - Your project will have been created to solve a problem, fill a market gap, or meet the need of a target audience. You will need to provide strong proof, facts, and figures to back up your claims.
- Be truthful and reasonable - Especially if your proposal is very technical, make sure it is sensible and believable. Assessors that have some expertise or knowledge of your field will evaluate your application, and they will understand what is realistic and what is merely imaginative.
- Give yourself time - at least two months' notice and 12–15 days to work on your application if you want to do it justice, especially if you've had little to no prior experience writing funding applications.
- Proofread, again, and again - Before submitting your application, get it proofread by another person (e.g. bid writing professional, colleague, academic). Preferably somebody with bid writing experience who can assess the technical, market and management aspects of your project, as well as the language, grammar and spelling.
Don’ts
- Leave any questions unanswered- Read every question, including the sub-questions, very carefully. The most common reasons for low scores is where a response is incomplete, inconsistent, or hasty.
- Forget to submit all the needed documentation - List all the supporting materials you must supply. Once you have prepared them, cross reference the information with the application narrative to ensure they are consistent.
- Submitting your application at the last minute - It is important to know the competition closing date and time and submit the application as early as possible, in case of technical issues with the portal at the last minute.
Download our step-by-step guide on How to Write Successful Innovate UK Grant Application
RedKnight has a strong track record of securing Innovate UK Smart Grants and can help you develop a competitive application! If you would like help putting together a competitive proposal, please contact us today.
Farming Futures: automation and robotics, industrial research
Farming Futures: automation and robotics, industrial research funding is a part of Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs' (Defra) Farming Innovation Programme, which is delivered in partnership with UKRI’s Transforming Food Production Challenge. UK-registered companies can submit applications for a share of up to £12.5 million across the two prongs of this competition to develop cutting-edge robotics and automation solutions. These funds are provided by Farming Futures R&D Fund.
This competition aims to provide funding for cooperative development projects with innovative robotics and automation solutions in horticulture and agriculture solutions.
- Support specific recommendations from recent Defra reviews and the Government Food Strategy for automation innovation funding.
- Address key issues facing the sector, where automation and robotics can reduce labour challenges and enhance productivity.
You need to be able to show in your proposal how the project will benefit English farmers or growers.
This competition is split into 2 strands:
- Strand 1 - Farming Futures: automation and robotics industrial research; accelerating collaboration with the UK's world-class research base, agri-tech businesses, SMEs and UK agriculture to develop new agricultural and horticulture innovations.
- Strand 2 - Accelerating the deployment and uptake of innovations in robotics and automation in agriculture and horticulture that are almost commercially viable.
Your project must:
- have total costs between £500,000 and £1 million
- start by 1 September 2023
- end by 31 August 2026 for 36 month duration projects
- end by 31 August 2027 for 48 month duration projects
- be able to demonstrate how the project will benefit farmers or growers in England
Competition opens: Monday 9 January 2023
Competition closes: Wednesday 15 March 2023 11:00am
More Information:
The applications are open until Wednesday 1 March 2023 11:00am. For more information and registration, please check here.
RedKnight has a strong track record of securing Innovate UK Smart Grants and can help you develop a competitive application! If you would like help putting together a competitive proposal, please contact us today.
Biomedical Catalyst 2023 Round 1: Industry-led R&D Funding Competition
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is providing a share of up to £25 million in grant funding for UK registered SMEs to develop innovative solutions to health and healthcare challenges.
Your project can focus on:
- proactive health and chronic condition management and disease prevention
- earlier and more accurate disease identification and diagnosis results in better patient outcomes
- customised medical interventions that either alter the underlying illness or offer potential remedies
- transforming of healthcare delivery
- the advancement of technologies for digital health.
To be eligible for this funding competition your project must:
- have total project costs between £150,000 and £4 million
- not exceed a grant request of £2 million
- have at least 50% of the total project costs shared by the SMEs, if collaborative
- start by 1 October 2023
- end by 30 September 2026
- last between 6 months and 36 months
- carry out all of its project work in the UK
- intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
More Information:
The applications are open until Wednesday 1 March 2023 11:00am. For more information and registration, please check here.
RedKnight has a strong track record of securing Innovate UK Smart Grants and can help you develop a competitive application! If you would like help putting together a competitive proposal, please contact us today.
European Innovation Council 2023 Work Programme
The 2023 work programme for the European Innovation Council has been adopted by the European Commission. It opens up funding opportunities for breakthrough entrepreneurs to scale up and explore new markets valued over €1.6 billion in 2023.
The support and funding in 2023:
EIC Pathfinder (€343 million) for multidisciplinary research teams to conduct innovative work that could result in technological breakthroughs
- Grants of up to €3 or €4 million are available to research teams. On December 7 (Pathfinder Open) and June 20, calls will go live (Pathfinder Challenges).
- While €163.5 million is allotted to address five challenges, the majority of the cash is distributed through open calls without any established thematic goals. Precision nutrition, responsible electronics, digital construction, clean and efficient cooling, and in-space solar energy
For more information download infographic for EIC Pathfinder
EIC Transition (€128.3 million) to transform research results into innovation opportunities.
- Calls focused on the outcomes of ERC Proof of Concept and EIC Pathfinder projects to mature the innovations and create a business case for particular applications. Apply whenever (Deadlines: 12 April and 27 September).
- €60.5 million is granted to address and tackle three Transition Challenges: micro-nano-bio devices, environmental intelligence, chip-scale optical frequency combs.
For more information download infographic for EIC Transition
EIC Accelerator (€1.13 billion) for start-ups and SMEs to produce and expand high-impact ideas that have the potential to open up new markets or disrupt ones that already exist.
- Grants of less than €2.5 million and equity investments from €0.5 up to to €15 million are available. A pplication can be submitted at any time (the deadlines are 11 January 2023 (Accelerator Open only), 22 March 2023, 7 June 2023, and 4 October 2023)).
- The New European Bauhaus, quantum or semiconductor components, resilient agriculture, space technologies and services, as well as biomarkers for cancer, decontamination for pandemic management, energy storage, and are just a few of the next-generation technologies that have €525 million set aside for them in strategic areas for Europe.
For more information download infographic for EIC Accelerator
Access to Business Acceleration Services, which offers coaches, mentors, and expertise, as well as collaboration opportunities with businesses, investors, and others, as well as a variety of additional services and events, is available to all projects of the European Innovation Council.
For more information on how RedKnight can work with you to develop a competitive application, contact us today.
Software Enabled Quantum Computation
Apply for software enabled quantum computation funds to develop the theoretical capabilities required to construct superior quantum computing architectures. This investment will form part of EPSRC’s contribution to the National Quantum Technologies Programme.
The National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and EPSRC are looking to finance projects that will enhance the necessary improvements in theory, benchmarking, error correction, and algorithms. The following areas of research are encouraged:
- algorithms independent of hardware.
- creation of error-correcting codes that conserve resources while addressing various types of errors.
- creation of data embedding techniques to speed up problem resolution.
- building knowledge of the classes of potential system vulnerabilities and including quantum-enabled components for assurance and to "bake security in"
- development of theoretical knowledge to address unanswered issues in quantum computing.
- the creation of techniques for rewriting or reworking quantum algorithms to lower hardware requirements.
- create quantum computing verification and assurance techniques.
Eligibility:
Who can apply for research grants:
- UK higher education institutions.
- research council institutes.
- independent research organisations with UKRI approval qualified public sector researc.
- institutions qualified research and technology organisations.
- NHS organisations with research capabilities.
More Information:
The applications are open until 1st February 2023. For more information and registration, please check here.
RedKnight has a strong track record of securing Innovate UK Smart Grants and can help you develop a competitive application! If you would like help putting together a competitive proposal, please contact us today.
Sustainable Bio-Based Materials and Manufacture- Feasibility Study
Innovate UK, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), all part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £2 million for sustainable bio-based materials and manufacture: feasibility study competition.
The aim of this competition is to create and implement innovative, disruptive, sustainable biomanufacturing by 2050. enhancing the UK's ability to compete internationally by funding feasibility studies and encouraging cross-sector growth.
This can be achieved through creative uses of renewable feedstocks and technologies for manufacturing sustainable and circular goods that are based on biotechnology. Businesses and academic researchers will be able to collaborate on projects to create more sustainable bio-based goods, biotechnology innovations, and processes.
Eligibility:
Your project must:
- have total costs between £50,000 and £100,000
- start by 1 July 2023
- end by 31 December 2023
- last between 3 and 6 months
- carry out all of its project work in the UK
- intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
You must only include eligible project costs in your application.
A Russian or Belarusian organisation cannot serve as the lead, partner, or subcontractor in any procurement, commercial, business development, or supply chain activity funded by this competition due to current prohibitions. All products and services coming from Russian or Belarusian sources fall under this category.
A company, academic institution, RTO, charity, not-for-profit organisation, or public sector organisation can lead only one application but may be a partner on up to two other applications.
If a company isn't in charge of any particular application, it can collaborate on any number of them.
More Information:
The applications are open until 1st February 2023. For more information and registration, please check here.
RedKnight has a strong track record of securing Innovate UK Smart Grants and can help you develop a competitive application! If you would like help putting together a competitive proposal, please contact us today.
Future flight: closing the skills gaps
The Future flight challenge for Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation. It would put up to £500,000 towards initiatives to fill skills shortfalls in the aviation sector. The "Future Flight" challenge will revolutionise how we connect people, carry commodities, and offer services by utilising new classes of electric, hydrogen, and autonomous air vehicles. It will encourage firms to share their knowledge and resources, hastening the introduction of these vehicles into service.
The objective of this competition is to develop and supply instructional materials and course content that will promote knowledge, abilities, and training in the field of future flight. This will increase public awareness of developing markets for future flights and close significant skills and training gaps in the UK workforce.
Eligibility:
Your project must:
- have a total grant funding request between £5,000 and £50,000
- start by 1 July 2023
- last between 3 and 6 months
- carry out all of its project work in the UK
You must only include eligible project costs in your application.
A Russian or Belarusian organisation cannot serve as the lead, partner, or subcontractor in any procurement, commercial, business development, or supply chain activity funded by this competition due to current prohibitions. All products and services coming from Russian or Belarusian sources fall under this category.
A company, academic institution, RTO, charity, not-for-profit organisation, or public sector organisation can lead only one application but may be a partner on up to two other applications.
If a company isn't in charge of any particular application, it can collaborate on any number of them.
More Information:
The applications are open until 19th December 2022. For more information and registration, please visit Innovate UK KTN
RedKnight has a strong track record of securing funding for transnational innovation projects and can help you develop a competitive application! Contact us to arrange a free consultation.
Opportunity to mentor pioneering women in innovation by Innovate UK KNI
Innovate UK KNI is looking for leaders from across a range of sectors to partner with who can mentor and guide the UK’s most pioneering women in innovation to accelerate the business ambitions of the next Women in Innovation Award Winners.
Applications are welcome from a wide spectrum of people from all backgrounds and genders who have strategic business perspective, industry knowledge, and provide professional expertise. This role will complement the assistance offered by Innovate UK Edge's Innovation & Growth Specialists, who will assist the award winners with business coaching and networking.
KTN and Innovate UK partner to build a strong network of female role models who share knowledge and support the growth of female entrepreneurs across the country through the Women in Innovation programme.
You will gain as a mentor from:
- Participation in a dynamic, welcoming, diverse, inclusive and avant-garde community.
- An opportunity to advance your career by participating in UK innovation at the forefront and helping outstanding female innovators along the way.
- Media and engagement opportunities to boost your profile.
- Recognition of your involvement on social media.
The abilities that the community will value:
- Experience with start-ups and business expansion.
- Managing investor partnerships and attracting investment.
- Establishing or managing company boards or managing teams within the organization.
- Marketing, branding and engagement.
As a mentor, we will need you to:
- Make a commitment to collaborating with one of the 2022–23 Women in Innovation Award winners (for 12 months from April 2023).
- Attend a one-hour online session on the function of a mentor and how you may help a mentee on their journey.
- Plan regular appointments with your mentee, ideally once a month (online or in-person).
- Attend spontaneous networking events with the complete group of award winners (where possible).
More Information:
The applications are open until 19th December 2022. For more information and registration, please visit Innovate UK KTN
RedKnight has a strong track record of securing funding for transnational innovation projects and can help you develop a competitive application! Contact us to arrange a free consultation.
Year in Review 2022
As 2022 draws to a close, we are looking back on what has been another busy year at RedKnight Consultancy. Here are some of our highlights:
We welcomed some new faces…
RedKnight is growing! It’s been great to welcome three new team members this year: Dr Oliver Buckley as Associate Bid Writer, Kaleigh Waine as Associate Claims Manager, and Suma Jena as Marketing and Business Development Intern. Get to know our new team members here.
We moved into our new home
Back in March, RedKnight left James William House and moved into the new sbarc|spark building on Cardiff University’s Innovation Campus. This move has already provided us with excellent opportunities to meet and collaborate with innovative start-ups, SMEs, and spinouts. We look forward to building on these relationships in 2023.
RedKnight hit new milestones
RedKnight has now submitted over 200 grant applications, securing a total of £10.6m for our clients to develop their innovative products, processes, and services. This includes a successful application to Innovate UK Smart Grants, securing £347,449 for the development of a next-generation hybrid office visualiser platform, Focos-HOV. Plus, we have a further £2.3m in the pipeline that we can’t wait to share more about next year!
The client list kept growing…
The best part of our job is getting to work with some of the most cutting-edge companies in the UK. And we’ve been so happy to welcome a host of new clients on board in 2022, as well as some returning clients too! It’s been great to hear all about their innovative projects and support them on their grant funding journeys. We would like to say a huge well done to all our clients on their fantastic successes and achievements this year, of which there have been so many.
And we won some awards along the way!
RedKnight has also received several industry awards, including ‘Funding Specialists of the Year’ in the Wales Prestige Awards (pictured above) and ‘Grant Writing Agency of the Year’ in the Corporate LiveWire Global Awards. We are extremely proud to be recognised as one of the UK's leading grant funding consultancies and will continue working hard to maintain this high standard next year.
What a year! Thank you to all our clients for your support. We look forward to seeing your projects progress in 2023 and working with you again in the future.