Lloyd’s Register Foundation has a strategic goal to accelerate the application of the research it funds. Our strategy states:
Our driver is to maximise the uptake and application of the fundamental research we are engaged in. This is one way of providing us with the practical evidence that we are delivering clear benefits to society and achieving our objectives. Our aims are to enhance safety benefits rather than any requirement to generate a financial return, enabling us to focus on the most promising opportunities for the wider benefit of society.
However if a suitable opportunity arises to benefit from the commercialisation of intellectual property then, on a case-by-case basis, we may pursue this if the proceeds enable us to subsequently fund further research for greater public benefit.
The strategy provides three further objectives:
- Accelerating technology uptake
- Informing codes, standards and policy
- Facilitating the mobility of researchers
Whilst future grants will increasingly integrate funding for accelerating the application of research, the Foundation recognises that useful results generated by past and current grants may be languishing with no clear route to exploitation. The Foundation is inviting applications from its researchers addressing our goal to accelerate uptake of previously-funded Foundation research. Examples of grant actions might include support:
- To propose ideas for new technologies or improvements to existing technologies that have come out of previously-funded foundation research, with a specific, tangible application or benefit in mind. This may involve, for example, ideas for proof of concept or demonstration studies to advance such ideas to higher-technology readiness levels.
- To publicise or share research findings in innovative ways (ie beyond academic publishing and conferences)
- To provide input to or to build partnerships with policy and standards setting organisations leading to improved national or international safety-related policies and standards.
- To facilitate staff interchange between research and end user organisations with targeted outputs/benefits in mind
The Foundation is open to any other innovative ideas of how to accelerate or remove barriers to the uptake of Foundation-funded research for public benefit.
Eligibility
This call is open to past (ex LRET) and current Foundation grant-holders. This funding is primarily aimed at accelerating the application of research and research skills funded by the Foundation, but it is recognised that useful impact might also draw on skills and knowledge funded by others.
Timings
This is an open call and we invite applications at any time. However we will assess the applications at meetings to be held in March, June, September and December. The call will run for two years from January 2015 to December 2016.
Assessment criteria and process
This fund is intended to provide modest grants. If any ideas come forward that require significant investment, then the possibility exists to consider them separately on a case by case basis outside of this call.
Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:
- potential for significant impact (including achievability) against the Foundation’s charitable aims*
- value for money
The Foundation will draw on review from external experts which may include employees of the Lloyd’s Register group.
Any grants awarded will be in line with the Foundation’s published IP policy.
Proposals should be submitted using the application form that can be found on the Foundation website and supported by supplementary material as you see fit.
If you have any questions about the call for proposals please contact Melanie Collins or Ruth Boumphrey at info@lrfoundation.org.uk
*The Foundation’s mission is to enhance the safety of life and property (for example through high technical standards for design, manufacture, construction, maintenance and performance) and to advance education. The proposals should clearly demonstrate how the proposed work will do this.