The TSB has allocated an indicative amount of £7 million to invest in highly innovative collaborative research in the application of digital technologies - for creation, preservation, interaction, personalization and increasing the competitive advantage of creative industry products, services and experiences.
In addition, running alongside this traditional collaborative R&D call the TSB is piloting two new initiatives in recognition of the significant contribution that small companies make in driving innovation and the challenges they face in finding the time and resources to explore and develop new ideas:
Feasibility Studies: available only to SMEs the aim is to encourage small creative companies to explore initial ideas to develop them into something more tangible that can be used to secure further development investment, particularly where the company needs to access resources or skills outside their organization to take the idea forward.
Fast-track projects: available only to SMEs, fast-track projects are essentially a 'lite' version of the larger collaborative R&D projects, but for smaller and shorter projects.
Second collaborative R&D competition
‘Accessing and commercialising digital content in a digitally networked world’ TSB March 2009 competition for funding
The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is to invest an indicative £5M in a programme to help digital content creators and rights holders realise and maximise the commercial return potential from their intellectual property (IP). AHRC will co-fund successful applications under this programme that have a significant arts and humanities academic research element. Details of the funding call including a Key Dates timetable are available on the TSB web pages at http://www.innovateuk.org/_assets/pdf/competition-documents/accessing%20and%20commercialising%20content%20in%20a%20digitally%20networked%20world_071008.pdf
Please see table below or appropriate website.
The timetable and application process is different for each of the three schemes (Feasibility, Fast-track and Collaborative R&D) therefore interested applicants should consult the full TSB Guidance Document on the TSB's web pages.
The AHRC, ESRC and EPSRC are all partners in this competition. AHRC would like to encourage proposals involving its research community and will contribute additional funding towards feasibility and fast-track projects. Funding from the research councils may also be available to support collaborative R&D projects where there is a significantly high quality academic component, and in particular for those projects that demonstrate added value; by building or being complementary to their existing portfolio.
Summary of key features of each TSB funding strand:
| |
Allocation |
Target |
TSB Grant available |
Typical Duration |
Theme |
Application Deadline |
|
Feasibility |
£1.5m - £1.75m |
SMEs only |
Up to £15k |
3-6 months |
Technology and sector neutral |
Monthly 17/3/08 to 18/8/08 |
|
Fast-track |
£1.5m - £1.75m |
SMEs only |
Up to £50k |
2-18 months |
Technology and sector neutral |
Monthly 16/6/08 to 17/11/08 |
|
Collaborative R&D |
£7m + Research Council contribution |
All |
Above £50k |
2-3 years |
Exploitation of digital technologies |
Closed to applications |
For more information you can go to http://www.technologyprogramme.org.uk/ please note it is necessary to sign-up/sign-in for some of this information
Creative Industries Technology and Innovation Network (CITIN): The UK’s national Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) for the Creative Industries
This KTN brings together a wealth of diverse skills, resources and contacts to provide a catalyst for innovation in the Creative Industries. CITIN will provide accessible resources for all types of creative industries, business and organisations (including AHRC) regardless of their location or size. Further information about CITIN’s activities and how to register with the network is available at http://www.citin.org/
Sue Amor, Head of Knowledge Transfer
s.amor@ahrc.ac.uk