Royce Industrial Collaboration Programme
Universities, research and technology organisations and companies can apply for funding up to total project costs of £125,000 for exploring innovative ideas with a focus on technology translation. These projects will be supported by the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials through its research, development, and innovation industrial collaboration programme.
These projects will be supported by the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials through its research, development, and innovation industrial collaboration programme.
Academic organisations and research and technology organisations undertaking non-economic activity can obtain the following funding:
- Up to 80% of full economic costs (FEC) for UK Je-S registered institutions or
- 100% of project costs for RTO, charity and not-for-profit organisations
Access to Royce facilities will be funded at 100% for academic and RTOs and should be included in their project costs.
Fundamental research projects are ineligible for funding.
Projects are expected to start from 1 October 2024 and Royce-funded project expenditure must be completed by 28 February 2025.
The Royce Research and Business Engagement team is available to discuss potential project ideas, particularly from businesses unfamiliar with expertise and capabilities across Royce. Get in touch via grants@royce.ac.uk.
The application deadline is 17:00 Monday 13 May 2024.
Further details can be found in the guidance document.
An intro webinar for the funding call was held on 20 March 2024. Watch the recording here.
Eligibility
Your project is expected to:
- Include at least one business and at least one university or RTO
- Start from the 1 October 2024
- Complete all Royce-funded activity by 28 February 2025
- Carry out its project work in the UK
- Intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
- Incur costs within the project’s duration
- Be a new project or activity that has not already started
Participation of either Royce partners or facilities in projects is optional but strongly encouraged and looked upon favourably.
To collaborate or lead, you must be one of the following:
- Higher Educational Institutes and Universities (HEI)
- Research and technology organisation (RTO)
- Charity or not for profit organisation
- Business of any size
UK registered companies may participate and claim funding. International companies are eligible for participation but cannot claim funding.
How to apply
Pre-application discussion
Applicants are encouraged to start exploratory discussions on proposed projects, identifying collaborators, specifying the scope of a proposed project and identifying resources required for delivery.
We would also advise applicants who are interested in using Royce facilities as part of their project to contact the Research and Business Engagement Team to check costs and availability grants@royce.ac.uk.
Submitting your application
You must apply using the online application form and we recommend you start your application early. Before completing this application form, please ensure you have had confirmation from your institution of the project costings. If a project partner does not wish to claim grant funding or wishes to provide in-kind or cash contribution towards the total project costs, it should outline this on a company letterhead document signed by a senior company official. These additional in-kind or cash costs do not count towards the total £125,000 project costs limit and will be required to be included in the contractual collaboration agreement, which must be signed between project partners. There must be at least one HEI/RTO and one industry partner collaborating to be eligible for funding.
A text version of the form can be downloaded here for reference.
Consortia that are awarded funding must agree to have a collaboration agreement in place prior to the project commencing. Although these need to be agreed between the project partners, our expectation is that each party will own IP developed within its respective work packages. Deviation from this clause may result in delay or withdrawal of your grant. No project funds will be released until a collaboration agreement is in place.
Deadline
Royce must receive applications by 13 May 2024 at 17:00. You will not be able to apply after this time.
How we will assess your application
Your application will be confidentially shared with, and assessed by a combination of experts in the field from both industry and academia.
Any applications deemed out of scope will be rejected. Royce will provide unsuccessful applicants with feedback.
Timeline
- 18 March 2024: Call opens
- 20 March 2024: Briefing and Q&A session – Watch the recording
- 13 May 2024: Deadline for application at 17.00
- 19 July 2024: Announcement of outcome
- 01 October 2024: Projects start
- 28 February 2025: Project funding ends
- 28 March 2025: Cost log
- 28 March 2025: Final report/case study
- 28th March 2025: Independent accountant’s report/Director’s Statement.