The call for applications is now closed. The next call opens 16th February 2009. Click here to view existing applications.
Applied Research funding of up to £500,000** for business and academia
The Carbon Trust is doubling the size of grants available under its flagship Applied Research Scheme from £250k to £500k. The announcement should provide a boost to low carbon entrepreneurs and academics seeking to develop carbon saving technologies.
The decision to increase the maximum grant size follows a market assessment of the funding landscape which found that £500k grants would enable the development of more ambitious projects with potential for even greater carbon savings.
**Subject to funding and eligibility.
Aims of the Applied Research Grant
Applied Research Grant funding is available to businesses, research institutions and other organisations and aims to support the development and commercialisation of technologies which have the potential to reduce UK carbon emissions. As such we are endeavoring to encourage and support the progress of low carbon technologies towards large-scale deployment. An introduction to the scheme can be found here.
When a call-for-proposals is open you can apply on-line for a grant of up to £500,000 towards the cost of your project. A minimum 40% match funding is required, subject to state aid legislation. To be successful your project must demonstrate:
- Genuine innovation and the potential to contribute to substantial reductions in UK greenhouse gas emissions
- That the work is a well planned and builds on previous work in the area
- That the results of the work will allow a clear step forward on the path towards commercialisation
- That it represents good value for money
- Provides demonstrative benefit to the UK.
- We are endeavouring to encourage and support the progress of low carbon technologies towards large scale deployment.
- We aim to support activities that contribute to the development and commercialisation of technology with the potential to reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions. – “the path to commercialisation”.
- We offer grant funding up to £500,000 for applied research leading to low carbon products or services – we are unlikely to fund projects with total value of less than £50,000.
- We expect all the partners to make a minimum 40% contribution to the cost of the work – cash or “in-kind” - in-kind contributions have to be ‘fair and reasonable’.
- Open to all organisations including businesses, universities and local authorities.
Genuine innovation and the potential to contribute to substantial reductions in UK greenhouse gas emissions must be demonstrated and the work is well planned and builds on previous work in the area.
We operate a two-stage application process, with a competitive element at both stages. To date all of our calls have been substantially over-subscribed and competition has been intense. Successful projects closely match our selection criteria and only those proposals that make a strong case against all of the criteria have the prospect of progressing to the next stage in the process.
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The Application process
Forthcoming calls for proposals:
Winter 2009: 16th February - 16th April
Summer 2009: 22nd June - 20th August
There are two stages to the application process: an initial online application form, followed by a full proposal. We use independent, external assessors to help inform our decisions and selection for funding is extremely competitive. The final decision rests with the Carbon Trust and is not subject to appeal.
Contracts:
There is a single standard contract for all Applied Research Projects. Contracts need to be signed by all project partners and the terms of the contract are not negotiable. An example standard contract (168 KB pdf) is available for information.
Application form:
An example application form (79 KB pdf) is available for information.
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