th
Summary .......................................................................................................................... 3
Background ...................................................................................................................... 3
The Newton Fund ............................................................................................................. 4
Scope ............................................................................................................................... 4
Technology focus ..................................................................................................................... 4
1. Remote sensing, Earth Observation (EO), Big Data processing and modelling .......................... 4
2. Robotics and autonomous systems ............................................................................................ 5
Application themes .................................................................................................................. 5
Eligibility .......................................................................................................................... 6
UK eligibility ............................................................................................................................. 6
Chinese eligibility ..................................................................................................................... 6
Eligible activities ...................................................................................................................... 6
Application process and assessment ................................................................................. 6
How to apply............................................................................................................................ 6
Assessment criteria .................................................................................................................. 8
Assessment process ................................................................................................................. 9
Additional considerations ................................................................................................. 9
Collaboration Agreement ......................................................................................................... 9
Intellectual Property .............................................................................................................. 10
Data management .................................................................................................................. 10
1

Key Dates ....................................................................................................................... 10
Contacts ......................................................................................................................... 11
Annex 1: Additional guidance for UK Applicants .............................................................. 12
2

The UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) are pleased to announce a call for collaborative proposals in space applications for
Agri-Tech.
STFC has made available a budget of £4m to fund eligible UK researchers, with matched equivalent funding from NSFC. STFC funds will specifically be used to support UK researchers, while NSFC funds will support Chinese researchers. For UK applicants, the maximum budget available per proposal is
£1,000,000. Chinese applicants should contact NSFC regarding their budget allocation. Applicants do not need to request equal amounts from China and the UK, but the amounts should reflect the difference in covered costs and local prices. The funders also expect the costs on each side to accurately reflect the research effort to be carried out.
It is expected that up to 4 projects will be funded, spanning one or more of the research themes listed below. Projects will be up to three years in duration and are expected to start on 1 st April
2016.
This call forms part of STFC’s Newton Fund activities and therefore requires the UK component of projects to meet Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) criteria alongside their scientific objectives. The purpose of the call is to build on the combined strengths of academic research groups within China and the UK to work together on collaborative multi-disciplinary research that will support long-term sustainability of Chinese agriculture.
Applicants are invited to submit collaborative research proposals comprising eligible researchers from the UK and China. Proposals will be required to have at least one Principal Investigator from UK and one Principal Investigator from China.
This call for proposals will require applicants to work together in partnership on research projects where each country’s component is funded by the participating agency in their country. Eligibility to apply is determined by each agency’s eligibility rules and the nature of the resources requested must also adhere to each agency’s guidelines. Further information is presented below.
The deadline for receipt of full proposals is: 17
16:00 CST for Chinese applicants. th December 2015: 16:00 GMT for UK applicants and
Agricultural science and technology is being increasingly driven by the global challenges of rising populations, rapid development of emerging economies and global shortages of land, water and energy. These challenges are made even more difficult in light of the impact of a changing climate and other factors.
The UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) along with the National Natural Science
Foundation of China is launching a call for proposals that will advance scientific research in space applications such as remote sensing, information acquisition, data processing, modelling and simulation, to target challenges faced by the Chinese agricultural sector.
3

Remote sensing from satellites, aerial and high altitude platforms already play a large role in monitoring of the land surface, however trade-offs often have to be made between spectral, spatial and temporal resolution. Satellite positioning and robotic technologies can complement remote sensed measurements through their application in ground based sensors.
Together these technologies have the potential to enable a range of practical applications, under the overall theme of sustainable intensification including:
• Improved detection and monitoring of crop productivity;
• Early identification and monitoring of disease;
• Farm system management and optimisation; and
• Monitoring of farming methods on a regional and national level.
This joint call aims to combine the UK and China’s research strengths in satellite technologies and expertise in satellite-derived data products to solve fundamental scientific and technology barriers and provide research-driven decision making tools for farmers and policy makers.
Many of the issues facing scientists and users alike were explored at a joint UK-China workshop held in Beijing in March 2015.
The Newton Fund is a new initiative intended to strengthen research and innovation partnerships between the UK and emerging knowledge economies. It was launched by the Chancellor in April
2014, and will deliver £375 million of funding over the course of five years.
The Fund forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment that is monitored by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). ODA funded activity focuses on outcomes that promote the long-term sustainable growth of countries on the
OECD Development Assistance Committee list. Newton Fund countries represent a sub-set of this list. More information about the Newton Fund can be found at http://www.newtonfund.ac.uk
.
Sustainable intensification can be realized through the use of a wide range of different technologies, this call focuses on stimulating further innovation in the application of space technologies, either in their primary applications, or as spin offs. The two main technologies to be considered are:
1. Remote sensing, Earth Observation (EO), Big Data processing and modelling
Application of remote sensing and big data technologies should focus on:
• exploiting Chinese, UK and European Earth observation data to provide new information products and services
4

• linking EO-derived with other forms of data from Internet of Things, in-situ monitoring networks and government and/or industry held data
• advanced modelling and data integration techniques
Innovation and advancement from the current state-of-the art could come from:
• novel platforms: such as small satellite constellations, UAVs and airships
• novel instrumentation: such as spectrometers or fluorescence imaging
• novel algorithms for image processing or data integration
2. Robotics and autonomous systems
Application of novel technical solutions that show high potential for addressing any of the themes below. This includes using autonomous systems that were originally developed for space applications:
• Robotic rovers, Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (fixed wing, rotary systems and airships) to help in field monitoring of the crop, soil and micro-climate
• Precision guidance and autonomous navigation
• Imaging, computer vision and advanced in situ sensors
Research proposals must address the overarching themes described below through the innovative use of the space enabled technologies described above.
Proposals are welcomed which address one or more of the application themes described below, utilising any of the technologies described above:
• The use of remote sensing techniques based on satellite and other flight platforms and the modelling of Earth Observation data products for assessing the impact that farming practices have on the climate and the effect that climate change has on agriculture production.
• Management and reduction of the emissions of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SCLPs).
• Developing techniques to improve yield while reducing agricultural inputs and to assess the impact that intensive farming practices have in order to intensify crop production sustainably.
• Using satellite based observations to monitor crop health and as an input to yield modelling to provide an efficient tool to assess and manage crops.
• Fundamental research of forecasting and monitoring in order to deal with emerging pest and disease threats. This includes examples such as exploiting technology to reduce or remove pest and disease risk through use of biopesticides or other novel management techniques.
• Applying advanced navigation, detection, monitoring and sensing systems to help optimise farming practices. This includes in-field, aerial and space based technologies to provide validation and to help utilise resources more effectively.
5

For the UK partners, eligibility for this call is restricted to UK-based researchers normally eligible for funding from a UK Research Council. UK applicants must meet the RCUK eligibility criteria; proposals which include UK applicants who are ineligible will be rejected by STFC and NSFC with no opportunity for appeal. Further information on RCUK’s eligibility can be found in the RCUK Research
Funding Guide: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/funding/eligibilityforrcs .
The Newton Fund requires that the funding be awarded according to Official Development
Assistance (ODA) guidelines. All applications under this call must therefore be compliant with these guidelines, see: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/RCUK- prod/assets/documents/international/ODAguidanceRCUKspecific.pdf
for further information.
Activities eligible for funding under this call include:
• Fundamental research and development
• Innovation and technology transfer or deployment (UK partners only)
• The training of personnel including users
• The exchange of personnel.
For Chinese partners, eligibility rules follow the standard for NSFC but applicants who are not clear on these should contact NSFC to discuss. UK partners should ensure that Chinese partners have established their eligibility. Full Proposals which include Chinese applicants who are ineligible will be rejected by STFC and NSFC with no opportunity for appeal. It is advisable to check with NSFC if there is any doubt.
Both applications should feature an identical case for support written in English . For each collaborative proposal, the UK PI and Chinese lead partner should prepare a single case for support in English that should be submitted to both STFC and NSFC. This common case for support will allow
STFC and NSFC to obtain reviews of the same document, coming together in a single joint panel decision meeting.
6

For each proposal, the lead UK applicant must apply using the Je-S system by completing a STFC
Newton Fund grant application along with the customised, self-contained Joint Case for Support document (see below). All projects must include a UK Research Council eligible UK partner/institution.
To use this system, the applicant's research organisation must be Je-S registered; applicants should leave enough time for their proposal to pass through their organisation’s Je-S submission route before the call closing date. Any proposal that is received after the closing date, is incomplete, or does not meet the eligibility criteria of this call, will be rejected by both NSFC and STFC and will not be considered.
To set up the proposal in Je-S you will need to select the following criteria:
Council: STFC
Document Type: Standard Proposal
Scheme: Newton Fund
Call: NSFC Agritech Open Call
The China lead applicant should submit their proposal to NSFC, along with the customised, selfcontained Joint Case for Support.
Joint Case for Support
The case for support should be completed using: Arial, Helvetica or Verdana typefaces (or an equivalent) and a minimum font size of 11. A minimum of single line spacing and standard character spacing must be used. Margins must not be less than 2cm. In the case of Chinese partners seeking funding from NSFC, a separate application, adhering to the application guidelines for NSFC, should be submitted for those funds. A joint Case for Support must be prepared in English and submitted to each funder.
The Chinese applicants should be included as Project Partners on the Je-S form. A letter of support is not required however applicants will need to upload a dummy document to pass Je-S validation. The total NSFC contribution applied for, and their role should be described in the joint Case for Support.
In addition to the assessment criteria (see below), applicants should carefully demonstrate within the Case for Support that their projects:
• Represent true collaborative partnerships between transnational research teams; the added value of such collaborations should be clearly highlighted within the proposals.
• Contain an integrated work plan and an equal commitment to the project (in terms of hours dedicated to the project rather than project costs). Projects that appear to be working in parallel with little interaction between countries will not be supported.
Projects will be funded for a maximum duration of 3 years, and applicants who receive funding from this call must be prepared to contribute to workshops and/or other dissemination type activities associated with this call.
The joint Case for Support should comprise the following sections:
7

• A common Previous Track Record incorporating all UK and Chinese Research Organisations involved (up to 1sides of A4);
• A Description of the Proposed Project (up to 5 sides of A4 including all necessary tables, references and figures) to include as appropriate: o underlying rationale and scientific issues to be addressed (including current landscape) o specific objectives of the project, including their relevance to objectives of the call o methodology and approach o risks and mitigation strategies o programme and/or plan of research o how the proposal addresses Official Development Assistance (ODA) guidelines.
The description should highlight the scientific excellence and novelty of the proposal and the information provided should relate to the project as a whole and should cover all project components.
Please see Annex 1 for details of other attachments that should be uploaded to Je-S by the UK
applicants.
Equipment costs:
Please note that requests for capital will only be considered if the proposed equipment is to remain in China for use after the project has completed. If equipment is to be returned to the UK, this cannot be funded through Newton and an alternative source of funding should be sought . The threshold for individual items to be classed as equipment is £10,000 (inclusive of VAT). For items of equipment costing between £10,000 and the OJEU threshold value additional information is required in the justification of resources, including evidence of an evaluation of the use of existing relevant capital assets. For items of equipment which cost less than the OJEU threshold but more than £25,000, it is optional to provide quotations and up to three can be uploaded. Proposals requesting single items of equipment costing more than the OJEU threshold value must be accompanied by a business case (up to 2 sides of A4 outlining the strategic need for the equipment).
Further guidance can be found on the RCUK website
The proposals will be assessed on their fit to the call and to key gateway and scoring criteria. Key assessment criteria for the applications include:
A. Gateway criteria
1.
ODA compliancy: All projects must adhere to ODA guidelines;
2.
Eligibility of partners: Partners must demonstrate adherence to eligibility criteria;
B. Scoring criteria
3.
Understanding of need: clear articulation of development challenge in question and relevance to the Call
4.
Scientific merit: potential to advance science and/or technology in one or more disciplines;
8

5.
Application potential: potential to meet development challenge in question and how the proposed solution will contribute to meeting the challenge;
6.
Teaming and collaboration potential: consortia should demonstrate and justify their combination of skills and capabilities and demonstrate clear added value within the partnership;
7.
Management plan: appropriateness of the proposed project structure and management processes (including governance, data and intellectual property management)
8.
Overall value for money: the project is perceived to represent good value for money given the resources requested and the likely scale of application potential.
All proposals will be peer reviewed by representatives from both UK and Chinese science community. The process will run as follows:
1.
All proposals will undergo written peer review by academic experts in both China and the UK
2.
PI response (UK only)
UK PIs will be able to respond to written peer review comments in the normal way.
3.
Joint Review Panel
Proposals passing the gateway criteria then be considered by a single joint STFC- NSFC assessment panel. The reviewers and panel will assess the proposals against the fit to the call and the assessment criteria. The recommendation of the Joint Review Panel will be presented to the STFC/NSFC Funding Committee.
4.
STFC/NSFC Funding decision
The funding recommendations of the joint panel will be subject to approval by each of the national funding agencies. There will be one review process and a single decision on each proposal, however please note that proposals will only be funded if both relevant funding agencies agree. Final funding decisions will be communicated to applicants in March 2016.
The planned start date for successful projects is expected to be from 1 April 2016.
As the research projects will be carried out by multiple research organisations and project partners, the basis of collaboration between the organisations and project partners, including ownership of intellectual property (IP) generated during the project and rights to exploitation, and IP management is expected to be set out in a formal collaboration agreement between the research organisations involved. It is the responsibility of the research organisations to put such an agreement in place before the research begins. The terms of collaboration must not conflict with the funding agencies terms and conditions and national law.
Arrangements for collaboration and/or exploitation must not prevent the future progression of academic research and the dissemination of research results in accordance with academic custom
9

and practise and the requirements of the funding bodies. A temporary delay in publication is acceptable in order to allow commercial and collaborative arrangements to be established.
Details of key issues included in the Collaboration Agreement, for example management of IP, should be detailed in the ‘Project Management’ section of the Case for Support. The full
Collaboration Agreement must be available to be shared with the funders on request.
Additionally, it is the requirement of this call that consortium agreement should make specific arrangements for data sharing and exploitation between research partners in the UK and in China.
The data to be used in the project must be made available to all project partners and the arrangements for achieving this must be detailed in the collaboration agreement.
Ownership of intellectual property (IP) generated during the project and rights to exploitation, as well as any costs regarding management of IP, are expected to be agreed between the collaborating research organisations before the research begins. Details of this agreement should be included in the Collaboration Agreement (as above). Agreements must not conflict with the funding agencies terms and conditions and national law. Any agreements in place between a research organisation and their respective funding organisation must be adhered to, including the sharing of IP costs or benefits. Any IP sharing agreements in place between a research organisation and their national funding body would be expected to apply only to the IP share of that research organisation.
Applicants to this call should give full consideration to the practical requirements for data sharing both within the research teams and to the wider community and describe how this will be conducted. Applicants should ensure that they have requested appropriate resources for data management and data sharing.
Call opens
Closing date to submit proposal:
Joint Panel meets
Successful proposals announced
Grants commencing
13
17 th th
November 2015
December 2015
- 16:00 GMT for UK applicants
- 16:00 local time for Chinese applicants.
March 2016 – UK
March 2016
1 April 2016
10

Any enquiries related to this call should be directed to:
RAL Space, STFC
Hugh Mortimer,
Email: hugh.mortimer@stfc.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1235 446746
Je-S helpdesk
Email: jeshelp@rcuk.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 1793 44 4164
NSFC
Wencong Li
Email: liwc@nsfc.gov.cn
Telephone: +86 10 6232 7014
RCUK China
Gisela Tebbutt
Email: gisela.tebbutt@rcuk.cn
Telephone: +86 10 5192 4424
11

In addition to the common case for support, UK applicants should upload the following documents to Je-S:
• The nature of the collaboration, including whether it is a new or existing collaboration, the complementarity of the partners and how this proposal builds on previous joint work, where applicable (up to 1 side of A4).
• Management Plan (up to 1 side of A4). A description of how the proposed project will be managed across the international project team, including communication strategies, project leadership and decision-making
• Data Management Plan (up to 1 side of A4). A description of the proposed data management and data sharing strategies, including the management of intellectual property
• Justification of Resources (up to 2 sides of A4 for all Research Organisations in the proposed grant) submitted as a separate attachment in the Je-S system and should explain why the requested costs from STFC and NSFC are required. It is not sufficient to list the resources requested, you should explain the necessity and rationale for the costs. Where a cost is inadequately justified it may be cut from any award made. This should include justification for all Directly Incurred Costs, Investigator effort, use of pool staff resources, any access to shared facilities and equipment and for capital costs. No justification for Directly Allocated Estates and
Indirect Costs is required. The Chinese resource requirements needs to be differentiated from the UK’s resources and both need to be clearly identified and justified.
• Pathways to Impact (up to 2 sides of A4).
A statement on the significance and wider impact of the project which describes the likely impacts that will be generated by the proposed project. Applicants should highlight any opportunities for knowledge exchange and transfer and any wider socio-economic and environmental impacts and benefits of the research.
• Partner Applications .
Chinese partners will submit their application to NSFC. However, for completeness, details of the
Chinese partner applications should also be attached to the JeS submission and include staff, and costs requested. Work packages allocated to each partner, and how the UK partners will work with the Chinese partners needs to be clearly highlighted.
• A CV of up to two sides of A4 for each named PI, Co-I, research staff post, visiting researchers and the members of the Chinese research team.
• A Gantt chart , or diagrammatic work plan, for the project including milestones (1 side of A4).
12