The Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) has recently advised on new funding streams across various challenge areas. In collaboration with company partners, academics can contribute to revolutionising UK industry.
Most relevant to Edinburgh Napier University, they are looking for exciting ideas and inspirational innovations in the challenge areas of Transforming Construction, Digital Security by Design and Healthy Ageing.
Transforming Construction
The Transforming Construction Challenge aims to transform the construction sector – enabling it to produce safe, healthy and efficient buildings using the latest digital manufacturing techniques. This will enable us to meet the UK’s national infrastructure programme target of £650bil worth of projects by 2025. The challenge will support industry in adopting technologies and help buildings to be constructed 50% faster, 33% cheaper and with half the lifetime carbon emissions.
Update: Two new funding streams opened this week which focus on:
1) MMC, digital and whole life performance
2) Demonstrator projects
The Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) are holding a briefing event for these calls on 12 September and you can register here.
There will also be funding released by the Transforming Construction Network Plus in the autumn which is for academic-led projects. You can sign up to their newsletter here and be the first to hear that the funding is live.
Digital Security by Design
The Digital Security by Design Challenge will tackle the most damaging cyber security threats, helping to ensure the UK remains one of the safest places to do business online. It aims to ensure every UK organisation and consumer is as resilient to cyber threats as possible.
Update: An article titled Securing the Future of the Digital Economy outlines this challenge in more detail. The funding stream is opening at the end of September and some projects will be academic-led which offers an excellent opportunity. There will be a briefing and networking event in September and you can register to attend here.
Healthy Ageing
The Healthy Ageing Challenge supports the UK government’s mission to ensure people can enjoy at least 5 extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035, while narrowing the gap between the experiences of the richest and poorest. Through the challenge, government will bring together UK businesses and researchers to support people to stay in their homes for longer, tackle loneliness, and increase independence and well-being.
Update: A new portal allows you to register and find healthy ageing competition consortium partners and explore collaborative opportunities. George MacGiniss is the Challenge Director and has published a blog titled ‘Discover how we’re developing ground-breaking responses to an Ageing Society’. They are currently accepting applications from investors who will then fund SME’s to develop new funding and services. There is an opportunity for academics to collaborate with SME’s on projects funded by investors.
There is an upcoming DHI Healthy Ageing Innovation Cluster (HAIC) Event in September where the Deputy Challenge Director will be providing more information and you can register to attend here.
If you are interested in learning more about any of these exciting upcoming opportunities, please get in touch with RIO’s Knowledge Exchange Manager – Georgina Jamieson (g.jamieson@napier.ac.uk).