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Your weekly digest of policy news, funding competitions, and calls for evidence.
What’s been in the news?
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EU Member State climate change plans not enough to reach 2030 targets
Draft national plans to meet the EU’s agreed 2030 energy and climate change targets fall short of requirements, says an assessment by the European Commission. The assessment includes an increased estimate of the annual investment needed each year collectively from its Member States to achieve these targets – expected to be €180bn annually last October and is now estimated at €260bn.
Vice-President for the Energy Union, Maroš Šefčovič said: ‘Member States have all produced impressive drafts in a relatively short time, but no draft is perfect. Final plans are due by the end of the year and our recommendations show where more effort is needed: for example, stronger ambition, more policy detail, better specified investment needs, or more work on social fairness. Clarity and predictability are a real competitive advantage for the European energy and climate policy. So, let's make the best of this opportunity and give the national plans a solid final push.’
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Aerospace SMEs receive £24m in collaborative R&D funding
A new £12m government fund – matched by industry – has been announced for aerospace SMEs to help keep UK aerospace suppliers at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing. The funding will be available through the Open Collaborative Research and Development competition that will open in October 2019. Its focus will be finding high-risk, high-impact projects that will provide disruptive solutions to the sector.
‘The UK’s successful Aerospace Industrial Strategy is helping companies in this innovative sector to develop advanced new technology, raise their productivity and create high value jobs in every part of the country,’ said ADS CEO, Paul Everitt. ‘Programmes like these are generating new R&D investment at every level of the industry. This investment is vital to boosting our international competitiveness and to developing the technologies of the future that will deliver improved fuel efficiency and significant reductions in the environmental impact of aviation worldwide.’
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Government-academic relationships get three-year funding boost
An initiative that brings together government officials and academics to help develop new policies for science and innovation has secured a further three years of funding. The Open Innovation Team was launched in 2016 and has since connected government with over 500 academics to deliver 30 projects in key policy areas, including mental health and economic growth. A deal worth £1m has extended the programme to 2022.
‘Working with academics in this way has brought expertise and fresh thinking into how government officials are approaching some of the most challenging policy issues,’ said Minister for Implementation, Oliver Dowden. ‘I am delighted to see the project extended for another three years and look forward to what we can achieve through these new partnerships.’
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Deadline: 4 July 2019
Deadline: 12 July 2019
Deadline: 3 July 2019
A share of £1m is available for proposals that can reduce the risk of common chemicals used in household and personal care products.
Deadline: 3 July 2019
UK-based SMEs can apply for a share of £1.5m to develop innovative medical devices, diagnostics and regulated digital technology to evaluate their product in a real-world clinical setting.
Deadline: 10 July 2019
Up to £25m of collaborative match funding is available to support late-stage R&D in advanced low carbon propulsion capability in the automotive sector.
Deadline: 15 July 2019
A £2m pool of funding is available to UK businesses developing photonic technologies in partnership with organisations from EUREKA countries.
Deadline: 24 July 2019
Companies can apply for a share of this £240,000 Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition to develop innovative AI solutions for radiological diagnosis.
Deadline: 24 July 2019
A share of £25m is available to deliver ambitious or disruptive R&D innovations with significant potential for impact on the UK economy.
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