Call for CASE Project Expressions of Interest

Call for CASE Project Expressions of Interest
18th January 2019 CASE Research
A Subhub for Scottish firm QED Naval, which will power tidal turbines in Orkney

Call Closes: Thursday February 28th 2019

Details

Is your company interested in collaborative research and development in the sustainable energy sector? Do you want to lead an Industry / University partnership to find an innovative solution to tackle an energy challenge relevant to your sector? Do you work (or want to work) within the following fields?:

  • Ocean energy – wave, tidal, offshore wind, floating solar
  • Bio-energy – anaerobic digestion, biogas production, upgrading, bio-fuel production,
  • Energy systems – community / local energy, grid stabilisation, ancillary and distribution system operator services, demand side management

The Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE) is reaching out to businesses and/or consortia of business and academia for expressions of interest for research and development projects that will provide solutions to problems in the renewables sector. With Invest NI Competence Centre programme funding, these projects need not be market ready but must have a clear pathway to commercialisation and have an ultimate benefit to the Northern Ireland economy.

Interested organisations should contact Simon Murray ([email protected]) or Sam McCloskey ([email protected]) or on 028 9097 5577 for an initial discussion and/or Expression of Interest Form.

What is CASE?

The Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy is an industry led, collaborative, sustainable energy research centre hosted at Queen’s University Belfast, partnering with Ulster University and the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI). Funded by Invest NI under the competence centre programme, CASE has a role to bridge the gap between academic research offerings and industry research needs. Since establishment in 2013, CASE has allocated £5m to 25 research projects involving Queen’s, Ulster University, AFBI and 60 companies.  The research impact and outcomes will benefit the project consortium and the wider Northern Ireland economy.

The Small Print

  • This is an expression of interest which is subject to continued Invest NI funding of the Competence Centre for a further 3 years until December 2021 (decision expected Spring 2019).
  • Expressions of interest that meet the minimum criteria will be invited to submit a full project proposal that will undergo two rounds of evaluation.
  • Projects MUST be collaborative and include at least three companies and at least one research institution (Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University or the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute). The research will largely be carried out by the academic team but will be in partnership with industry and responding to industry need. The funding will go directly to the academic partner(s) undertaking the research.
  • Industry partners pay a membership fee to CASE of £550 per annum and also contribute to the cost of their project (cash contribution dependent upon company size and an in-kind contribution totalling 25% of total project costs). Additional membership benefits can be found on the CASE website.
  • All partners must sign a collaboration agreement before project work can begin. Copies of the template collaboration agreement are available on request.