Your weekly digest of policy news, funding competitions, and calls for evidence.
What’s been in the news?
Pandemics and preparedness
The following is a roundup of news around pandemic preparedness.
The UK has announced £25 million of funding that will fund a new World Bank initiative to prevent future pandemics. The ‘Financial Intermediary Fund’ for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response will support countries with healthcare systems that are not set up for the challenges brought about by a future pandemic.
David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, said: “The fund will provide a dedicated stream of additional, long-term funding to complement the work of existing institutions and operate with high standards of transparency and accountability.”
In similar news, the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) has purchased vaccine doses for treating monkeypox.
Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides said: “As of today, the first deliveries of vaccines in response to the monkeypox outbreak are arriving to the most affected countries. This is a European Health Union that responds in real time to new health threats and protects its citizens. This is the first time that we are, through our Health Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), directly buying and donating vaccines to Member States. With HERA up and running, the EU has significantly reinforced its capacity to respond and address new health threats decisively.”
From India to Australia, new partnerships expand reach of green hydrogen
TotalEnergies and Adani Enterprises Limited are to create a new platform for the production and commercialisation of green hydrogen in India. The new company, Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL) will see the partners producing one million tonne per year of green hydrogen by 2030, which will be underpinned by approximately 30 gigawatts of renewable power generation. ANIL will also be integrated along its value chain, from producing the equipment needed to generate renewable power to the production of the green hydrogen and the transformation into derivative products which includes fertilisers and methanol for the domestic market and export.
TotalEnergies, which holds a 25% stake in ANIL, has said that the formation of the company ‘is a major milestone in implementing our low carbon hydrogen strategy’. Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani added: ‘Our confidence in our ability to produce the world’s least expensive electron is what will drive our ability to produce the world’s least expensive green hydrogen. This partnership will open up a number of exciting downstream pathways.’ ANIL is seeking to invest more than $5 billion over the next 10 years in green hydrogen and associated projects.
Further information on this topic, visit our website to read the full article.
Sustainable Food production
The following is a round up of news related to sustainable food production and farming.
The Canadian Government has announced up to $8.5 million investment for Aspire to support the construction of a facility to produce cricket protein. Global food scarcity has led to a production of edible insects which can be highly nutritious and have a very low environmental footprint.
Francis Frouin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food said “Aspire is re-imagining what it means to sustainably produce food, and how smart technology can turn that vision into a reality. Aspire's innovative facility will help further establish London's reputation as a hub for cutting-edge technology, strongly contributing to Ontario and Canada's position as an innovator in agriculture and agri-food."
He said “Improving farm profitability and tackling environmental challenges requires us to allow the natural cycle of life to operate fully. Rather than seeing farm wastes like slurry as a problem and a cost, we need to start recognising that they are actually a resource that could be monetised to boost farm incomes.”
The UK has also signed up to a global coalition which is focused speeding up the move towards more sustainable food production - the Sustainable Productivity Growth Coalition which was convened by the United States comprises members from different countries, academic and research organisations and trade bodies. The consortia will share best practices and ways to improve agricultural productivity while being environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Consultation on Extending the UK REACH Submission
UK REACH is seeking views on proposed measures to extend the current UK REACH submission deadlines for transitional registrations. The UK REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals).
Deadline: 1 September 2022
Greenhouse gas removals (GGR) business models
The Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy is looking to set out the Government’s initial proposals for a business model to support deployment of engineered GreenhouseGas Removal (GGR) projects. They are seeking views on the early proposals, the main design elements of the business model, and options for developing a market for negative emissions in the UK.
Deadline: 27 September 2022
Further information can be found on the UK Parliament website.
Horizon Europe
To find more on eligibility for Horizon Europe funding for your sector, you can view the national contact points on the Government website as well as search for the European Funding and Tenders. Further information on the UK’s association to Horizon Europe is available in the UK participation in Horizon Europe document.
Further information on the SME and start-up fund can be found on the European Commission website.
Horizon Europe Guarantee
This funding is to deliver the UK government’s Horizon Europe guarantee, open to UK-based organisations successful in the first and second wave of Horizon Europe grant awards.
Deadline: No submission deadline
Faraday Battery Challenge Round 5 Innovation: Feasibility Studies
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £25 million across two strands, for innovation in propulsion battery technologies for electric vehicles. Total costs must be between £100 000 and £750,000 and last up to 12 months.
Deadline: 17 August 2022
Design Foundations July 2022
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £2 million for early-stage, people and planet centred design projects to influence their future R&D activity. This competition is open to single applicants and collaborations. Project leads must be UK registered businesses of any size and public sector, charity or not-for-profit.
Deadline: 31 August 2022
APC22: Industrialising net-zero automotive technology
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of £40 million for late-stage R&D projects based around a net-zero automotive future. Project leads must be UK-registered businesses of any size. Consortia must include a vehicle manufacturer or Tier 1 supplier and must involve at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
Deadline: 7 September 2022
Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2022 to 2023 Round 3
UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £9 million to fund innovation projects with businesses or not for profits. Organisations must be a UK registered higher education or further education institution, research and technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult collaborate.
Deadline: 14 September 2022
You can find further details of the funding calls on the Government website.
Visit Blog