From: Melanie.Illsley@stfc.ac.uk

CLASP Challenge Led Knowledge Exchange call to meet Challenges in the Medical Sector

STFC is building on Challenge-led activities to maximize Knowledge Exchange (KE) and Impact.

The concept of developing technology demonstrators and industry-ready prototype systems is at the heart of this scheme and is aimed at de-risking the R&D process for industry. It is intended that industry representatives will be involved in all aspects of the scheme from proposal selection to product decision making.

Outline proposals are invited through JeS, from within STFC research community which can provide a solution to one of the many challenges associated with the Medical Sector and for which there would be a demonstrable potential market. It would be expected that any IP generated would reside with the host institution.

The closing date for Outline proposals is 16:00 on 27th April 2010.

This should be two pages maximum and contain:

* Technical outline – explain the technical background to the proposal and its link with STFC funded research.

* Impact to Medical Sector – describe the ultimate goal of the project and detail the way in which development of this technology will address the sectorial challenge identified as relevant to your proposal.

* Timescale and outline work plan – Use this section to describe briefly the steps that will be taken to develop the technology in the course of the project. Include in this the justification for any collaborations (with experts external to the main proposers) that you will develop in the course of the project to support the work.

Proposals should aim to take advantage of the existing effort and skills within the STFC research community, but may include collaborations with other research groups, industry or end users. They will be assessed, in confidence, by a Steering Group with representatives from industry, academia and other stakeholder organizations for relevance to the sectors identified, technological feasibility and the potential for Knowledge Exchange.

Following the assessment of Outline proposals, shortlisted applicants will be invited to develop full proposals with assistance and advice from STFC Innovations staff and panel members. The closing date for full applications will be 16:00 on 8th July 2010. Applicants will be invited to present their final proposals to the Steering Group for consideration in early September. The anticipated start date for successful proposals will be October 2010.

The total funds available for this call will be approximately ?1.5M. It is expected that this will fund a small number of projects ranging from short feasibility studies to larger developmental projects against key milestones, in the case of the latter this may lead to funding being awarded against initial stages only in the first instance.

Membership

All CLASP Panel members have signed standard STFC Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). If applicants require a higher level of confidentiality then please clearly indicate this when you submit your Outline Application.

Chair

* Prof Jenny Thomas – STFC Science Board

Panel

* Dr Tim Bestwick – STFC Director of Innovations
* Dr Trevor Cross – e2v
* Mr. Chris Dorn – QinetiQ
* Dr Bryan Edwards ? STFC Futures Security Champion
* Dr Catherine Ewart- STFC Head of Futures Programme
* Dr Dick Lacey – Home Office
* Prof Dewi Lewis – GE Healthcare
* Dr Val O’Shea – University of Glasgow

Secretary

* Mrs Penny Woodman – Head of External Programmes, STFC