Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre

IBioIC Feasibility Programme July 2020

Call for Projects

IBioIC Feasibility Programme July 2020

Call for Projects

Table of ContentsSummary...............................................................................................................................................3

Introduction...........................................................................................................................................3

Feasibility project funding criteria.........................................................................................................3

Funding and State Aid............................................................................................................................4

How to enter.........................................................................................................................................5

Projected Timelines...............................................................................................................................5

Project Selection Criteria.......................................................................................................................6

Guide to completing the application form.............................................................................................7

Word limits........................................................................................................................................7

1. Project Details...............................................................................................................................7

2. Project Costs.................................................................................................................................8

3. Project Impact...............................................................................................................................8

Appendix - Glossary of Terms................................................................................................................9

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SummaryThe Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) invites applications for industry-led

collaborative research projects from businesses with a foothold in Scotland or those who can

deliver inward investment to help stimulate Scotland’s Economy.

Feasibility projects should focus on innovative applications to industrial biotechnology and

address a real market need or commercial opportunity through collaborative knowledge

exchange and research between Industry Members and at least one of Scotland’s talented

HEI research teams. Successful projects will demonstrate a route to follow on funding or

commercial application.

IntroductionTo date, the IBioIC Industry Led Programme has supported >60 collaborative research

projects with a total project value of over £12 million and an application success rate close to

50%. This call invites applications from companies addressing challenges in the IB sector,

to head up projects alongside at least one of the Centre’s Academic Partners. This is a

unique opportunity for Industry to tap into the world class skills of Scotland’s HEIs in areas

directly relevant to exploitation in the field. IBioIC expects to run a quarterly Feasibility call,

subject to funding.

Projects should be aligned to achieving Scotland’s National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology

and provide innovative solutions to an industrial issue.

This paper sets out the processes and guidelines on how this competition will be operated.

Appendix 1 includes the Glossary of Terms used throughout the document.

Feasibility project funding criteria

Feasibility projects are expected to be small (IBioIC funding <£15k) and short term

(<1year).

Applications will be assessed by IBioIC Scientific and Commercial advisors according

to defined criteria.

The project must have the potential to lead onto larger scale work e.g. onto a

Scottish Enterprise SMART award, Innovate UK KTP, BBSRC IPA or LINK.

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SMEs must match the project funding with an equal value of in kind contributions.

Large companies must match the project funding an equal value of cash to be paid to

the academic partners. In kind contributions will also be expected.

The project must demonstrate a clear market need / commercial opportunity through

the innovative use or application of biotechnology

The project must include at least one of IBioIC’s HEI Partners. The project may

consist of any number of Industrial Members and HEI Partners.

The project must demonstrate an economic, societal and/or reputational benefit to

Scotland.

Where an application for funding is successful, companies must become Members of

IBioIC prior to the project start date and remain members for the duration of the

project. Under the IBioIC membership scheme, projects incur a supplementary

member benefit charge on the value of the award. Membership fees and additional

charges are outlined in the table below and are tiered according to company size.

Company size AnnualMembership Fee

Additional Fee as Percentage of

Funding

Fee for £15,000 funding

Large £1,500 9% £1,350Small/Medium £1,000 6% £900Micro £500 3% £450

Funding and State AidIBioIC will contribute a maximum of £15K towards HEI Partner costs.

HEI Partner costs should be calculated on the basis of Full Economic Costing (fEC). The

IBioIC funding is awarded to Higher Education Institute Partners and will constitute a

maximum of 80% of calculated fEC, with the remaining portion provided by the HEI as an

in-kind contribution.

A maximum of 20% of the IBioIC costs can be used towards subcontract costs at another

HEI.

The parties to a project application must ensure that the HEI Partner budget and

involvement in the project has been calculated and approved in accordance with the HEI

Partner’s internal rules and procedures.

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Aid granted by the Scottish Funding Council funded Innovation Centres constitutes State Aid

and is provided under SFC’s Innovation Centre Programme 2014-2020 General Block

Exemption Regulations Scheme reference Number SA. 43342. Further details can be found

here. Aid granted by IBioIC will be made under Article 25.

In the event that a project is approved for funding and the Industrial Collaborator’s resource

allocations change, this may have an impact on the IBioIC funding that can be made

available (considering permitted aid intensities).

How to enterFeasibility applications follow a 2-step process.

1. An expression of interest must be submitted to projects@ibioic.com detailing the

scope of the project. This will normally be one paragraph on the scientific work to be

undertaken and one paragraph on the commercial benefits to the Industrial Partner.

Following internal review, applications deemed to be within the scope of IBioIC

funding guidelines will be invited to submit a full application.

2. The Lead Industry Partner should then complete the Feasibility Project Application

Form and submit via email to projects@ibioic.com.

Full applications will be reviewed for technical and commercial merit by members of IBioIC’s

Commercial and Scientific boards. Feedback from this process is available on request.

Applications can be made at any time, but each round will have a closing date. Upcoming

closing dates are:

July 17th 2020 at 5pm

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and the call may close early if all funding

has been allocated.

Projected TimelinesIBioIC aim to review Expressions of Interest within one week of receipt and to obtain

technical and commercial reviews of full applications within three weeks of receipt.

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It is anticipated that successful project applications turn around within a month of

submission with award letters issued shortly afterwards. It is expected that all projects will

commence within 3 months of project approval.

Project Selection CriteriaProjects will be selected on their technical and commercial merits. The criteria by which all

projects will be judged are set out below.

Technical Merits will include:

a. Technical Viability

b. Technical Ambition

c. Non-commercial scientific benefit to the project

d. Innovation

e. Collaborative working

f. Project Timelines and Resources

Commercial Merits will include:

a. Breadth of applicability

b. Path to Market

c. Benefit versus cost

d. Time to market and market appraisal

e. Economic impact on project partners

f. Governance, Management Processes and Risk appraisal

g. Funding profile

h. Track record of success

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Guide to completing the application form

Word limitsSuggested maximum word limits have been used throughout the application form. Due to the

volume of applications received, judges appreciate concise answers to each question.

Supporting material can be submitted in a separate document but should be clearly marked

with the relevant section number(s). Please note that any additional information provided is

reviewed at the judge’s discretion.

Project Title: Should be descriptive but brief

Industrial Partners: Details of the main company applying for funding

HEI: The HEI where the lead academic partners are based

Lead Industrial Partner Name: The staff member leading the project at the company

Academic Partner Name(s): The academic staff member(s) on the project

Other Project Collaborator(s): Details of additional industry partner’s and HEIs

collaborating on the project

Proposed Start Date: Proposed start date should take into account recruitment time and

contractual negotiations

Duration in Months: The total time expected for the project to reach completion.

IBioIC Grant Value Requested: Up to the value of £15,000

Total Project Value: Including HEI and Industry Partner’s contributions as well as any other

funding.

Social Media Handles: If you provide your social media details then IBioIC will promote the

non-confidential aspects of the project on various social media platforms.

Non Confidential Lay Project Abstract (<150 words): This information will appear on the

IBioIC website on award of the project

Project Objectives: A few brief statements of the scientific and commercial objectives of the

project

1. Project Details1.1. Scientific OverviewInclude in response:

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Concise details of the science that will be applied within this project at a level appropriate

to first year science undergraduates. Diagrams can be used to complement text.

Successful project outputs, both technical and commercial

1.2. Project Plan Detail how the work will be broken down into work packages to meet the objectives. Include

details of the equipment required for each work package to take place.

Detail expected timeframes for each task (T), deliverable (D) and milestone (M) to be met

with due dates (e.g. month 3) and the responsible person (Ind/HEI and owner) for ensuring

the milestone is met.

2. Project Costs2.1 Summary of Costs Please complete the proposed contribution values for the project from each partner. Add

more partners if these are required.

2.2. Detail of CostsProvide details of costs in each of the detailed categories for each project partner. Add extra

columns if required.

2.3. Other Sources of Funding

Please detail any other third party funding sources contributing to this project

2.4. Please indicate whether you are happy for us to share your application with our partners. Occasionally we feel that another innovation centre or funding body would be

suited to supporting the project. If you are happy for us to share your application with other

funding bodies then please indicate your agreement.

3. Project ImpactWhen responding to the questions in this section please include figures to complement

information provided.

3.1. Commercial Benefits (<250 words, Diagrams can be used to complement text.)What are the commercial benefits of the technology to the company, society and to

Scotland?

3.2. What is your route to exploitation after successful project completion? (<100 words)How will you turn the results of this project into a commercial product/service. Include any

detail you can on potential customers and pricing points. If the data generated from this

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project is required to feed into another funding application, then please detail the anticipated

sources of funding and any associated deadlines.

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Appendix - Glossary of Terms

IBioIC Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre

IB Industrial Biotechnology

Feasibility

ProgrammeThe IBioIC programme of funding to support feasibility projects

HEI Higher Education Institute

HEI PartnerHEI that has signed the IBioIC HEI Membership Agreement before being

awarded funding

Lead PartnerAn Industry Partner that leads the Project Team and the application for

funding

Industry PartnerA company that is either a Core or Leading Member of IBioIC having signed a

Membership Agreement with the University of Strathclyde on behalf of IBioIC

SAB IBioIC Scientific Advisory Board

CAB IBioIC Commercial Advisory Board

Governing Board IBioIC Governing Board

FundingAny funding to be awarded by IBioIC under the Feasibility Project Call and

subject to the Funding Terms

Funding Terms The terms and conditions of funding

Project Any project that has received funding

Project TeamA combination of at least one Industrial Member and one HEI Partner that has

formed a collaborative team to submit an application for funding

Collaboration

Agreement

The collaboration agreement entered into by the relevant HEI Partners and

Industrial Members on the project.

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