UKRI: Build a network to promote academic engagement with Catapult Centres

Deadline: 16 November 2021 (EOI); 14 December 2021 (submission)

Apply to the UKRI for funding to build a network that will encourage engagement between academia and the Catapult Centres, and deliver the Researchers in Residence (RiR) awards. The network will need to promote mobility and support knowledge exchange activities. The RiR awards must focus on one of the following themes: net zero carbon emissions; healthcare and wellbeing; resilience.

Funding and Duration
The full economic cost of the network can be up to £2.35 million. The UKRI will offer up to £500,000 to fund the network (at 80% of the full economic cost) and £1.85 million for the RiR awards (at 100% of the full economic cost). The UKRI will fund the network for four years.

Eligibility
Applicants must be resident in the UK, have experience of running large centres or networks, and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Be employed at the submitting research organisation at a level equivalent to lecturer or above.
• Hold a fixed-term contract that extends beyond the duration of the proposed project, and the host research organisation is prepared to give you all the support normal for a permanent employee.
• Hold a UKRI or Royal Society fellowship aimed at later career stages.
• Hold fellowships under other schemes (please contact the UKRI to check eligibility, which is considered on a case-by-case basis).

The UKRI is encouraging applications from cross-UKRI multidisciplinary academic-led teams with expertise in knowledge exchange or knowledge transfer; brokerage and inclusive community building; non-academic programme or project management, including experience of administering funds and light touch peer review; and experience delivering impact from research. PIs should have strong experience of leading knowledge exchange activities, a collaborative mindset, excellent research and impact leadership and management abilities, and ideally also a track record of working with the catapults.

For more details on the particulars of this opportunity, please see the UKRI webpage.

How to Apply
Potential applicants must complete an expression of interest by 16:00 on 16 November 2021 before submission of a full proposal.

Proposals must be submitted using the research councils’ Joint Electronic Submission system (Je-S) and must be received by EPSRC by 16:00 on 14 December 2021.

In addition to the Je-S form, a case for support, workplan, justification of resources, host organisation letter of support, and CVs for named postdoctoral students, co-investigators and visiting researchers engaged on the project must also be submitted as part of the application.