Monthly Archives: March 2015

EPSRC New Strategy for Healthcare Technologies

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Over the last year, EPSRC’s Healthcare Technologies Theme has engaged with the UK’s research and user communities to develop a new long-term strategy. This strategy has now been published on the EPSRC website.

The strategy was developed in collaboration with the Strategic Advisory Team and through engagement with the research community, users and other funders. The strategy has three elements which form an interconnected matrix and provide a framework for the activities of the theme:

  • Grand Challenges – these are healthcare focussed challenges to which computational, engineering, mathematical and physical scientists can make a significant contribution
  • Cross-cutting research capabilities – these are areas of research which are essential for delivering the grand challenges;
  • Impact and translation toolkit – these are specific topics and issues that we encourage researchers to consider in order to make it more likely that impact will arise, that it will arise more quickly and that it will bring benefit to the UK.

NERC Changes to Funding and Grant Procedure

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NERC is implementing new measures designed to raise discovery science standard grant success rates. This is to reduce the number and size of applications from research organisations for NERC’s discovery science standard grant scheme, and ensure research excellence, efficiency and value for money for the taxpayer.

From the July 2015 standard grants scheme, there will be a reduction in the maximum standard grant award size, from the current £1·2m to £800k at Full Economic Cost.

At the same time, demand management measures in the form of a new institutional-level submission policy will take effect. This will be based on historic application and award data and will limit the number of applications an individual research organisation can make, where that organisation fails to meet a 20 per cent success rate quality threshold. For the 2015 assessment, this will use the grant rounds with the closing dates July 2011 to January 2014 (inclusive).

To find out more – Click Here

ESRC Changes to Funding

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ESRC are introducing changes to the funding thresholds for our Standard Grants scheme. Currently, applications are accepted between £200,000 and £2 million, however under the new arrangements, the lower threshold will rise to £350,000 and the upper threshold will be reduced to £1 million at Full Economic Costs. These changes will come into effect from the 1st July 2015.

The changes are for two reasons. Firstly, the change is a response to the pattern of demand, with the average value of a standard grant application having steadily increased to close to £500,000, so adjusting the centre of gravity of the scheme is a method to reflect applicant behaviour.

Secondly, the changes are also a response to feedback from our Grant Assessment Panels who have found it increasingly difficult to assess and compare the value of applications ranging from £200,000 to £2 million, where there is variable level of detail on project design, costs and deliverables. Narrowing the funding range of the scheme will help to maintain the robustness of the assessment process, ensuring all applications get a fair hearing.

In order to continue funding for larger scale projects, there is also likely to be the introduction of a single, annual open competition for grants between £1 million and £2.5 million, with more details to follow.

To find out more – Click Here

Ulf Aberg Award in Human Factors – Student Competition

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The Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF) is offering a prize for the best post graduate student project in ergonomics/humans factors for the academic year 2014/15 as part of the Ulf Aberg Award.

Ulf Aberg was born in 1920 and graduated in electrical engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm in 1945, gaining a Doctorate in 1961. For 14 years he worked with Ericsson, and later with the National Defence Research Institute, on acoustics, speech transmission and information theory.

The application is submitted by the supervisor or course director, and which was usually marked and evaluated by the home university during the immediately preceding academic year. The winner will be presented with £100 and a certificate, and attendance at the IEHF’s Ergonomics & Human Factors Conference.

The closing date for applications is the 31st October 2015

To find out more and apply – Click Here

UK ICT Pioneers 2015 – EOI Call

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UK ICT Pioneers is a unique partnership between Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and key stakeholders that aims to recognise the most exceptional UK doctoral students in ICT-related topics who are able to communicate and demonstrate the excellence and exploitation potential of their research.

You may submit your application in up to two of the competition categories, listed below:
— Technology Everywhere
— Transforming Society
— Information Overload
— Future ICT

This exciting competition is open to all UK students in the final two years of their doctoral training. The prizes, like last year, will consist of the top 15 applicants showcasing their research potential in London, followed by a selection of 3 finalists gaining awards of £2000. After the final 3 are selected, an “Elevator Pitch” will take place to find a single winner, who will in turn gain an additional £1000.

The closing date for EOI submission is Thursday 16th April at 12pm.

To find out more – Click Here (PDF)
To send in the EOI – Click Here
To view the dedicated Facebook page – Click Here