RAEng Research Fellowships 2019 – Big Pitch Form
Please see below for the latest research funding related information and event updates. In summary, these include:
Item 1: Changes to EPSRC Fellowship Areas
Item 2: FINAL REMINDER Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships 2019/20 – Internal selection process
Item 3: UKRI Workshop Report – Circular Economy
Item 4: Multidisciplinary Cancer Research UK-EPSRC Early Detection Innovation Sandpit and Award
Item 5: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) New Generation Thinkers Information Dissemination Session
Item 6: Funding opportunities from The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA)
If you have any questions about the items below please contact a member of the Research Funding Development Team.
Item 1: Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPSRC) Refresh of Fellowship Priority Areas
A biannual process has been in place since 2013 to publicize the on-going refresh of EPSRC’s thematic priority areas for fellowships. The following announcements have recently been made:
- Energy: As of 30 October 2019 the Energy portfolio will undergo a re-organisation of priority areas. To be removed at all career stages on 30 October 2019: Bioenergy, End-Use Energy Demand, Carbon Capture and Storage, Energy Networks, Energy Storage, Nuclear Fission, Solar Energy, Energy Systems Integration, Offshore renewable energy, Hydrogen and Alternative Energy Vectors. Additions at all career stages in advance of 30 October 2019: Future Electricity generation, Energy for transport, Energy for heat, Energy for industry.
- Mathematical Sciences: To be removed at all career stages: Statistics and Applied Probability effective from 30 October 2019. Addition at all career stages: Statistics and its Interfaces
- Healthcare Technologies: To be removed, effective from 30 October 2019: Developing Future Therapies (Established Career), Frontiers of Physical Intervention (Established Career), Optimising Treatment (Established Career), Transforming Community Health and Care (Established Career)
Please note any related applications in process at the time that advance notice is given will continue to be assessed in good faith. More information can be found here.
Item 2: FINAL REMINDER Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships 2019/20 – Internal selection process
If you wish to be considered for selection to submit to The Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships, and Engineering for Development Fellowships 2020 (https://www.raeng.org.uk/grants-and-prizes/grants/support-for-research/raeng-research-fellowship) the internal deadline for submitting your ‘Big Pitch’ form (please find attached) and CV for the internal selection process is midday on Thursday 1 August 2019. Any queries may be addressed to Jarlath McKenna <Jarlath.mckenna@newcastle.ac.uk>.
Item 3: UKRI Workshop Report – Circular Economy
The circular economy is an area of interest to UK Research and Innovation due to its multidisciplinary nature and potential for impact. In June 2019 UKRI held two workshops focusing on the Circular Economy, which brought together stakeholders and facilitated transdisciplinary partnerships. For those interested in the circular economy and EPSRC’s and Defra’s priorities in this area, the report can be found here: https://epsrc.ukri.org/newsevents/pubs/ukri-circular-economy-workshops-june-2019/
Item 4: Multidisciplinary Cancer Research UK-EPSRC Early Detection Innovation Sandpit and Award
This award aims to catalyse new multidisciplinary collaborations to generate novel and innovative ideas that will lead to earlier detection of cancer. In partnership with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Cancer Research UK administers the Early Detection Innovation Sandpit and Award which aims to catalyse new multidisciplinary collaborations to drive forward earlier detection of cancer. Applicants attend an intensive and interactive three-day residential workshop where they have the opportunity to:
- Network and form new collaborations spanning diverse research areas and organisations.
- Work in broad, multidisciplinary teams to generate new and innovative research ideas.
- Pitch projects for seed funding to test the feasibility of their ideas.
The aim of this workshop is to bring in innovative computational approaches from outside of cancer research, and to direct these efforts towards cancer early detection. Developing tools with the potential to translate into a diagnostic and/or surveillance pathway, that can bridge pathology and imaging, are of particular interest. The theme for the November 2019 workshop is applying artificial intelligence techniques to digital pathology images for cancer early detection. Research ideas developed at the workshop could investigate some or a combination of challenges, as outlined here.
Applicants from a wide range of disciplines are eligible including those working in the fields of cancer biology, healthcare professionals, computer scientists, mathematicians and statisticians, engineers, physical scientists, and those working in the digital and technology space.
Teams who successfully pitch proposals at the workshop will receive seed funding for one year to cover the costs of pilot/feasibility studies. Awards of up to £100,000 can be made. Applications must be submitted by the closing date of 30 September 2019. More information can be found here. If you are interested in applying and would like to support with your application please contact Holly Davidson holly.davidson@ncl.ac.uk.
Item 5: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) New Generation Thinkers Information Dissemination Session
The AHRC’s New Generation Thinkers scheme is a development opportunity for early career researchers who wish to cultivate their skills to communicate their research findings to those outside the academic community. This informal session will be Chaired by the Dean of Research and Innovation for the HaSS Faculty, Professor Matthew Grenby. Its purpose is to provide attendees with an opportunity to discuss their ideas, find out what constitutes a good application, and to find out more about the application process.
At the end of the session, attendees will:
- Understand what the AHRC are looking for from applications to their New Generation Thinkers scheme
- Know how the application process works
- Have discussed and refined ideas for potential applications
This informal session offers:
- An overview of the AHRC New Generation Thinkers scheme
- Insight into how to prepare an application
- An opportunity for potential applicants to discuss their application ideas
The session will be held on 4th September 2019, 12.30pm – 2.00pm in Great North House, Meeting Room 2. If you’d like to attend please register here.
Item 6: Funding opportunities from The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA)
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) finds and funds exploitable innovation to support UK defence and security quickly and effectively. The vision is for the UK to maintain its strategic advantage over its adversaries through the most innovative defence and security capabilities in the world. DASA is a cross-Government organisation, launched in December 2016 by the Secretary of State for Defence.
Funding for DASA comes from the £800M Defence Innovation Fund and is worth around £36M per year. University Academics can apply into DASA via Calls. There are two types of calls; those that are published and those that are open at any time.
There is a Regional Business Partner, Anna Taylor who is based in Newcastle and is extremely keen to develop applications from Newcastle University. She is available to talk with small groups and also to work individually with staff to advise on applications. A small number of Universities throughout the UK have been involved so far. Funding is 100% of FEC and the success rate is high with around 25-30% of applications being funded.
Themed calls are circulated via the Business Development and enterprise team or staff can sign up for alerts HERE.
Within Business Development and Enterprise contacts to discuss ideas or applications with are as follows:
School of Engineering; sheena.shields@ncl.ac.uk luke.judd@ncl.ac.uk
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences; Jayshree.johnsone@ncl.ac.uk
School of Computing and Maths, Stats, Physics graeme.young@ncl.ac.uk
DASA Presentation and Clinic
Anna Taylor the North East Business Partner will be making a presentation and holding short clinics with individual academics in later September / early October (TBC). Please look out for this date when it becomes available.