TIDAL N+ Launches Final Two Calls Assisted Living Technologies

Funding will support short-term research projects with the potential to solve a clear unmet need for assistive living technology users, with a focus on technologies that will lead to a step-change in the design of a particular design or service.

TIDAL N+ (the Transformative Innovation in the Delivery of Assisted Living products and services Network+) is an EPSRC-funded collaboration between UCL, Strathclyde, Salford and Loughborough Universities. TIDAL N+ aims to build an interdisciplinary network of researchers, assistive technology (AT) users, entrepreneurs and clinical practitioners, to identify and tackle new research challenges that will help to transform AT.

TIDAL N+ is providing funds for short-term research projects to interdisciplinary teams that have an excellent research hypothesis for solving a clear unmet need, with a focus on technologies that will lead to a step-change in the design of a particular design or service.

TIDAL N+ has now launched the final two funding calls on different themes, funding two projects in each call on the following themes:

  • Call 3 – Sensors, Data Science & Comms Aids focuses on using ubiquitous sensing & data science to improve assisted living devices.
  • Call 4 – Another chance to submit projects on the first two themes of ‘Responsible Engineering’ and ‘DMS (Digital Design and Manufacturing Systems) and Physical Devices’

The calls will support projects that are at an early research stage beyond the initial idea stage and in the region of TRLs (Technology Readiness Levels) 2 or 3. Support will be available for six months, after which applicants should be in a position to apply for significantly larger funding. Proposals with a clear plan to subsequently submit a full proposal to a UK funder are particularly encouraged.

To be eligible for funding, the Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Is must be resident in the UK and be academic employees of an organisation that qualifies for EPSRC funding. Employees on a fixed term contract must have a contract that extends beyond the duration of the proposed research project.

Early career researchers are actively encouraged to apply. They may be the PI provided that they:

  • Are employed in an eligible UK academic institution.
  • Hold a contract that lasts until at least the end date of the project.
  • Hold, or are expected to hold, a doctorate by the start date of the funding being awarded, or can demonstrate equivalent research/innovation experience and/or training. There are no eligibility rules based on years since PhD.
  • Have the approval of their own institution before submission.

Projects should have a multidisciplinary, co-creation approach, and involve industry, stakeholders, service providers, service users, clinicians etc as appropriate for the project. Projects must fall within the remit of the EPSRC.

Individual projects can request up to £60,000 at 80% full economic cost (ie a maximum of £48,000 per project). Funding can cover direct costs such as researcher salaries, consumables, research expenses, participant compensation, sub-contracting an individual or service to deliver a specialist service or input, as well as indirect costs such as overheads and estate costs.

Expression of Interest forms should be submitted by the 10 November 2022 deadline.

(This report was the subject of a ResearchConnect Newsflash.)