Connected Everything II Network Plus Launches Feasibility Funding Call
Connected Everything II: Accelerating Digital Manufacturing Research Collaboration and Innovation is a Network Plus funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The Network is designed to address the question of: ‘how do we support the future of manufacturing in the UK?’
The Network Plus is funding a round of feasibility studies with a specific focus on industry involvement that reflects one or more of Connected Everything’s seven themes:
The Future Industrial Worker.
Industrial Internet of Things.
Cyber-Physical Production Systems.
Regulation, Standards & Guidance.
Data-Driven Manufacturing.
Creative Manufacturing Design and Customisation.
Resilient Manufacturing.
The aim of the feasibility studies is to enable cross-disciplinary, foresight, speculative and risky early-stage research. The focus is on fundamental ideas that have potential to be developed into future applications or concepts that can be implemented within Digital Manufacturing. Proposals should therefore address challenges at low Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs 1-3) and be aligned with at least one of the above thematic areas.
UK higher education institutions and approved research institutes and Independent Research Organisations are eligible to apply as per standard UKRI eligibility criteria. Applicants must be employed in an eligible UK academic institution.
There are no eligibility rules based on years since PhD or whether the applicant currently holds a permanent/open-ended position or job role. Applications from early career researchers will be particularly encouraged, and projects should include people in the team who are transitioning to or establishing research independence.
All projects will also be asked to collaborate with industry partners where possible. The Network Plus is particularly keen to support collaborations that would otherwise not happen.
The total funding available for this call is £240,000. Individual projects must have a maximum value of £60,000 at 80% full Economic Cost (fEC). The ambition is to fund as many high-quality proposals as possible. Funding may be used for investigator/researcher time, travel and subsistence appropriate to delivery of the project, and consumables.
Projects should be between six and twelve months in length, and must be completed by May 2022.
Applications should be submitted by the 22 February 2021 (17:00) deadline.
More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.