RenewNet: Some good news!
Some good news: we have new funding!
But it does mean our structure is changing a little. We are moving away from a feasibility fund type model and going towards a more secondment based approach.
We want to start creating a culture of cooperation in the Energy and Electrical engineering sectors in Scotland - where companies get access to the most informed knowledge to help them make the best decisions in their research and development.
We wanted to make this process as fluid as possible and easy for companies to get access to the knowledge they need and felt secondment and direct access to this was the best way to do it.
But how will this work?
The process itself will have 3 stages: S1, S2 and S3
S1 Projects: Scoping period
S1 projects involve one of the RenewNet KEFs visiting the company to scope out a project or to evaluate the resource needed for a project. This results in a project brief being produced for the company. The brief will include what a project will involve, what will be delivered, partner contributions, suggested future funding routes and the agreed milestones for the project.The milestone is used to dictate the direction of the S2 project. All S1 projects are subject to RenewNet’s internal review panel th
at meets once a month
S2 projects: Delivery period
The S2 projects can be up to 3 months in length and are guided by the project brief from S1. The aim of the projects is to give confidence to the company about their R&D targets and inform them that this is the most appriate direction to take. It invloves one of the RenewNet KEFs/Engineers working wtih the company on a real technical project up to the milestone agreed in S1. The project will be delivered in collaboration with the companies Engineers/R&D team and inline the companies technical strategic vision. The company are are expected match fund these projects with at least in-kind contributions. If a RenewNet KEF does not have the expertise/skill set needed to deliver this project RenewNet can set up a Secondment process where we will cover up to £5000 of the costs to second a PhD or RA from an relevant research group into the company. The company are expected to contribute at least £7,200 to these projects to cover the remainder of the secondee's costs.S3 projects: Longer term R&D project
All S1 and S2 projects are designed to encourage the R&D projects to continue in the company beyond the RenewNet work, these could take the shape of: University/Science base collaborations:- ETP PhD studenships
- EPSRC Industrial CASE PhD studentships
- KTP
- Direct funding of R&D with a research group or indiviual
Public sector funding
- SMART Scotland
- TSB Grants for R&D
- Scottish Enterprise funds
- Public calls (TSB, FP7, Eurostars,)
The orignal RenewNet project is currently funded by :The Scottish Government SEEKIT, Scottish Enterprise, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde (finishing in December 2011)
The next phase of RenewNet is funded by: Scottish Funding Council, European Regional Development Fund ,University of Edinburgh,University of Glasgow,University of Strathclyde, University of Aberdeen and Heriot Watt University
