Project Research and Development (PRD) scheme

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This funding scheme is intended to develop the capabilities needed to underpin UK science and technology leadership in future Science and Technology Facility Council projects and includes a new opportunity for industry to apply directly to the Research Councils for funding for research and development.

It applies to the pre-construction phase of projects and seeks to pave the way for more:

• UK intellectual leadership in key work packages in international projects
  
  
• UK industrial return on construction phase contracts
  
  
• Knowledge transfer through collaborative developments, spin-out formation, skills transfer and intellectual property licensing

It will:

• Allow flexibility and responsiveness to new initiatives from astronomy, particle astrophysics particle physics and solar system on a small scale
  
  
• Replaces two previous R&D funding routes, namely the Innovative Technology Fund (ITF) and the Particle Physics PPRP (Projects Peer Review Panel) Seedcorn Fund

Proposals are welcome from consortia comprising industrial and academic collaborations or from individual UK institutions. Proposals are invited for novel research projects that will enable STFC to deliver the science programme objectives. Resources are aimed towards:

• Developing novel technologies to underpin the science programme and to place UK scientists in leading positions in future projects
  
  
• Demonstrating the link between the proposed projects and the science programme
  
  
• Building upon the existing STFC and wider UK science programme, instigating proof-of-concept studies necessary to support the future science programme
  
  
• Supporting applications that lead towards the exploitation of STFC technology infrastructure for high priority scientific projects
  
  
• Exploratory development work prior to starting or joining a new project
  
  
• R&D initiatives and small upgrades to existing projects

Bids to support in scientific exploitation of existing projects should be made to the appropriate grants panel (Astronomy Grants Panel, Particle Physics Grants Panel) and not via the PRD scheme.

Confidentiality

All papers sent to referees and Panel members are marked as 'In Confidence'. This marking is intended to ensure that the contents of the application are not made known more widely than is necessary for the proper consideration of the application.

Referees

Proposals will normally be assessed by up to three external referees, one of whom may be nominated by the applicant. Nominated referees must not be collaborators, neither should they be from the applicants or collaborators home institution. The Science and Technology Facilities Council reserves the right not to use nominated referees.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council may decide to approach overseas referees. Applicants will be given the opportunity to identify overseas referees that the Science and Technology Facilities Council should not approach.

Knowledge Transfer

All successful proposals will be evaluated to establish whether they should be encouraged to apply for additional Knowledge Transfer funding through the PIPSS route to support actions (e.g. prototyping, technical feasibility or demonstration of the technology for a non-STFC application). The PIPSS panel will be aware of this route for enhancing the knowledge transfer potential of projects and will be prepared to consider funding such applications.