STFC IAA - Guidance

Focus of IAA project or activity

Select a category that applies (there can be overlaps in TRL)

Kickstarter [£2k-£40k]

Impact/Technology Development Funding for small starter projects for early stage innovation (TRL2-3)

Kickstarter [£2k-£40k]

Partnerships/Knowledge Exchange Funding for small starter projects for early stage innovation (TRL2-3), including market research, events, meetings, visits

Accelerator [£30k-£75k]

Impact/Technology Development (applications with costs above £40k are expected, but not required to include overlap with EPSRC research areas). Ambitious, scalable IAA projects (TRL4-TRL6) that will progress outputs closer to commercialisation, or exploitation, or use by non-academic sector.

Accelerator [£30k-£75k

Partnerships/Knowledge Exchange (applications with costs above £40k are expected, but not required to include overlap with EPSRC research areas). Ambitious, scalable IAA projects (TRL4-TRL6) that will progress outputs closer to commercialisation, or exploitation, or use by non-academic sector.

Secondee Information

Provide details IF the project involves visits/ movement of staff between academic and non-academic partners.

STFC research underpinning IAA project and IP.

If applicable - Details of previous STFC-funded grants/awards/support related to the project. Applicants do not need to have STFC funding. Include a concise description of how the project relates to underpinning STFC-remit research.

What are the specific barriers to the application and/or utilisation of research that this project will address.

Details of the current state of development of the innovation and its IP position; is it being managed by Oxford University Innovation (OUI); is it patented; is it owned or jointly owned by another party, etc?

Work Plan: Please detail the objectives, expected outputs and milestones.

(<500 words) Provide:

• Clearly defined objectives
• Specific outputs that will make this project a success
• Around 4-5 clearly defined milestones with a short summary of what will be achieved at each stage, with specified timeline.

Outline potential application areas and the impact the technology / knowledge may have beyond academia

(<200 words)

• Why is the proposed project important?
• What problem is this project trying to address?
• What potential impact(s) will arise if this project is successful?
• Could there be any negative impacts on specific communities or groups in society, if so how could negative impacts be avoided?

Consideration of a Responsible Innovation approach

(<250 words) All applicants are required to plan what they will do to explore a responsible innovation approach for the project in an open, inclusive and timely way. Refer to UKRI’s policy and EPSRC’s Responsible Innovation (RI) - Anticipate, Reflect, Engage and Act (AREA) Framework for this section.

Consider:

• Whether the project, its outcomes or impacts could be potentially controversial;
• How you would identify potentially controversial implications of the project that may arise while the project is ongoing; 
• Explore if there are trust or social acceptability issues for the project;
• Consider if there is a need for broader interactions or early dialogue to explore acceptability and/or minimise future negative responses.

Please explain the rationale for the choice of partner and how the collaboration will be managed.

(<500 words) Clarify:

• Reasons why the partner(s) best suited for this project?
• Why is the partner not funding the project themselves?
• What will the partner be doing/contributing to the project?
• The time spent and frequency of meeting/working with the partner?
• How will progress be monitored?
• How will any IP that is created be managed?
• Is the partner an existing or prospective spinout? If so there must be a strong and clear case that the proposed project is a new stream of work and not additional development of the initial technology that was licenced to the spinout.
• A clear statement of how conflict of interest will be managed must be included.

Please describe the expected project benefits and/or added value to the organisation, the partner and the researcher(s).

(<100 words each) What will be the benefits to

a)       the University and the research area; will it establish new collaborations; bridge the gap with industry; establish Oxford’s position in a particular field.

b)       the user partners; what will the project partner gain from this partnership/secondment and the relationship with the University?

c)       the secondee (if a secondment is involved); how will their professional career benefit, and how it fits in with their plans?

Follow-on work: please detail the next steps after completion of the project. 

• (<250 words) What steps will you take immediately after the conclusion of the STFC IAA project to maximise the likelihood of impact? This may include transferring the IP to OUI for licencing, applying for additional funding, or direct funding from the partner.
• What is your strategy to successfully scale up the project, to deliver impact from the IAA project’s outputs?
• Specify follow on support to be targeted from other sources (e.g. other IAAs; STFC’s Innovations Programme – Early stage research and development scheme, e.g. (i) Early Stage Research and Development or (ii) Late Stage Commercialisation; Challenge-Led calls led by STFC Horizons Programme; Oxford University Innovation (OUI) UCSF)
• Are there any risks associated with your future plans and how will they be mitigated?

Please indicate if discussions have been held with Oxford University Innovation, Innovation and Business Partnerships team (MPLS) / Business Development team (MSD) or Research Services, and if so, who your point of contact is.

Justification of resources.

Please provide a full explanation and justification for all of the resources requested, addressing each cost line in turn. Note contributions/matched support (cash/in kind) from other sources.

Timely start of project.

Provide reassurance about

• Timely appointment/recruitment of staff for the project (have you identified staff, or named researchers)
• Availability of staff to start work without any delays (ensure you have factored in time for recruitment, visa application, relocation)
• Access to/availability of key items of equipment
• Partner’s readiness to collaborate on project

Other Information

Disclosure of related (previous/current) funding applications

If you have submitted a related/similar funding application to an internal or external call (past/present), please provide relevant information, e.g. title of funding scheme, funding outcome, the total value of support applied for, or awarded

Conflict(s) of interest.

Note whether there are any potential conflicts of interest for this proposal, and if so what actions will be taken to manage them.

If there are no conflicts of interest to declare, please make a nil return.

Applicant Check box

Mandatory: All applicants must check the box to confirm the applicant has read and agreed to the terms described on the form.