BBSRC
Impact Acceleration Account
Industry Engagement and Commercial Proof
of Concept Projects
Deadline 28th August 2015 – 5pm
Following on from the BBSRC “Sparking Impact” funding to the University of Edinburgh in
2013/14, further support has been provided under the BBSRC Impact Acceleration Account
(IAA) to enable industry engagement and commercialisation activities from BBSRC funded
research. The fund aims to increase, advance and accelerate the achievement of impact
from BBSRC investments in excellent bioscience research and capability.
The award will support small scale activities including:
Proof of principle or proof of concept studies (up to £20,000):
o
o
Build on research outcomes and allow development of novel ideas with the aim of
generating commercialisable and potentially protectable IP
Enable potential users to understand the benefits of the ideas / technology e.g.
provide key data, initiate product design, develop virtual demonstrations, mock-up
and models etc.
Projects which combine expertise across disciplines and departments at UoE are encouraged as well
as those that allow researchers to work with a company on a project.
Market research (up to £10,000)
o
to build an understanding of the commercial opportunity, regulatory landscape, or
to establish freedom to operate
Secondments, placements and people exchange (up to £5,000)
o
o
o
Working in an industry setting, use of industry data & equipment and creation and
development of new contacts
Visit to industry sector trade show or industry targeted conferences and events
Development of contribution to public policy
Please note that exchanges could be in either direction with University researchers visiting a
stakeholder or alternatively University staff hosting a visitor from industry, policy making bodies or
other stakeholders.
Proposal Criteria



Projects should have a clear knowledge exchange or commercialisation focus
Projects must be for work that has clear links to previous/current BBSRC funding
All proposals should be discussed with your local Business Development/Technology Transfer
contact prior to submission (see below for contact details)
The award will fund 100% of all direct costs incurred. The funds are managed by Edinburgh
Research and Innovation and projects will be evaluated by a panel with scientific and commercial
backgrounds.
The award will not support:



New basic research activity such as that covered by responsive mode grants from the BBSRC
Patent filing or similar costs associated directly to registering intellectual property rights
Public Engagement activities
Award Conditions
Successful applicants will be required to:


report on progress with a summary report upon completion of the project
work with their Business Development/Technology Transfer Executive to ensure knowledge
exchange and commercialisation opportunities are maximised and IP protected/managed
where appropriate
Applicants must ensure that applications are properly costed (with only direct costs allowed) and
have received approval through their usual departmental systems.
The submission deadline for this call is 5pm on the 28th August 2015
Please submit your application form as a PDF and Word Document to Adam
Irvine (Adam.Irvine@ed.ac.uk) and cc the Business Development/Technology
Transfer contact supporting the application.
School of
Biological
Sciences
Royal (Dick)
School of
Veterinary
Studies (including
The Roslin
Institute)
School of
Chemistry
School of
Engineering
School of
Informatics
Technology
Transfer Team
Technology
Transfer Team
BioQuarter
Adam Irvine
adam.irvine@ed.ac.uk
0131 6507024
Keith Finlayson
Alice Barrier
keith.finlayson@ed.ac.uk
alice.barrier@ed.ac.uk
0131 6505408
0131 6519184
Helen Dundas
helen.dundas@ed.ac.uk
0131 6519183
Stuart Duncan
stuart.duncan@ed.ac.uk
0131 6513429
Keith Finlayson
John Jeffrey
keith.finlayson@ed.ac.uk
john.jeffrey@ed.ac.uk
0131 6517124
0131 6514060
Keith Edwards
kedwards@inf.ed.ac.uk
0131 6509995
Shona
Cunningham
Pete Deakin
Shona.cunningham@ed.ac.uk
0131 650 6430
Peter.deakin@ed.ac.uk
0131 6503430
Amy Lam
amy.lam@ed.ac.uk
0131 242 9441
If an appropriate contact is not listed please contact Adam Irvine or Alice Barrier