EUREKA – UK-Canada Joint Grant Funding Competition
The UK and Canada have launched a joint grant funding competition under the EUREKA framework. This bilateral Call is managed by Innovate UK and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), including the NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).
Funding is available to support collaborative research and development projects, which should result in a new product, industrial process or service. Projects must be innovative, involve a technological risk and target large global markets.
The Call is organised under the following two themes:
Theme 1: Enabling technologies
Enabling technology projects are focused on the development of pre-commercial technologies that address an identified need in the area of food quality and processing, or advanced manufacturing (including clean energy). The technology must incorporate the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) in addressing a performance limiting problem. Projects can focus on:
AI for Design
AI and supply chain / internet of things (IoT) (could include cybersecurity focus)
Applying AI and vision for inspection
Theme 2: Enhanced productivity
Enhanced productivity projects are focused on de-risking and integrating technologies into operationally ready pre-commercial solutions that address an identified business need in the area of advanced manufacturing or food production. (While solutions that include AI or ML are welcome under the enhanced productivity theme, there is no requirement or expectation that enhanced productivity projects include either AI or ML.)
Projects under either of these themes must have applications in one of two sectors:
Sector 1: Food processing
Enhancing nutritional value of foods
Novel ingredient development
Sustainable protein development
Food safety solutions
Authenticity and traceability systems (e.g. blockchain)
Processes for improved shelf life and reducing food waste
Smart packaging
Improved manufacturing efficiency
Lean manufacturing
Sector 2: Advanced manufacturing, including clean energy materials
Clean energy technologies for industrial applications, including development of novel materials
Additive manufacturing processes, materials and machinery
AI, machine learning, robotics and IoT for advanced manufacturing
Advanced materials, composites design and manufacturing solutions
Biorefinery including circular economy waste solutions
Digital manufacturing platform and data exchange integration for Industry 4.0
Research institutes, universities, SMEs and larger companies are eligible to participate. Proposals will be accepted from advanced manufacturing businesses, food and drink processers, and automation and artificial intelligence (AI) innovators, including those applying ‘AI for design’ techniques. Project consortia must include, as a minimum:
Enabling technologies – four participants including one UK SME and one UK research and technology organisation, one researcher from the National Research Council of Canada who will be undertaking project research activities through the NRC’s AI for Design Program, and one Canadian small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), research and technology organisation (RTO), or academic research organisation.
Enhanced productivity – two participants including one UK SME and one Canadian SME.
UK participants in a supported project may share funding of up to £200,000 over 24 months; and Canadian participants in a supported project may share funding of up to approximately $300,000 over 24 months. Although the type and value of individual contributions allocated to the project may vary, one country cannot represent more than 75% of the total eligible project costs.
In order to be eligible for support, interested partners must contact their local funding agency before starting a project application.
The deadline for International Consortium Project Proposal submissions is 9 May 2019 (17:00 BST/12:00 EDT/09:00 PDT).
There is also an Expression of Interest deadline for Canadian partners only of 15 March 2019.
More information about this funding opportunity and the application process is available on the GRANTfinder funding information platform. GRANTfinder provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on funding news and policy. To find out more about how GRANTfinder can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.
