EMERGENCY ROUTE FOR TIME-CRITICAL COVID-19 RESEARCH- FUNDING

1. Title: EMERGENCY ROUTE FOR TIME-CRITICAL COVID-19 RESEARCH- FUNDING2. Awarding Authority: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), GB Email: CV19researchinnovation@ukri.org. Web: 3. Contract type: Service contract4. Description: Emergency Route for Time-critical COVID-19 ResearchApply for funding to support short term time-sensitive collection of data or samples or rapid turn-around research or analysis to either:inform urgent policy or national decision makingsecure data for future research use.This is a rarely awarded emergency route for exceptional circumstances.To apply you must be able to meet strict criteria, including, but not limited to:demonstrating the time-critical nature of the research or data/sample collectiondemonstrating a clear and rapid route to impact through existing partnershipsshowing how a normal grant timeframe is unsuitablejustifying why you did not apply through any of the previously available UKRI COVID-19 funding schemeshaving a clear plan to take this research forward including, if necessary, using normal grant routes.Support can be available for projects lasting 3 to 6 months.Applicants must be based at research organisations eligible for UKRI funding. Business-led proposals are not eligible for this funding.The normal route to apply for support for COVID-19 research is through existing standard funding opportunities.5. CPV Code(s): 73110000, 73100000, 730000006. NUTS code(s): UKK, UKK1, UKK147. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: South West (England), Gloucestershire, Wiltshire And Bristol/Bath Area, Swindon.8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: Not provided.9. Estimated value of requirement: Maximum award: £80,00010. As no deadline date has been specified please contact the awarding authority for further information.11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit:12. Other information: Funding type: GrantWho can applyApplicants must be based at UK research organisations eligible for UKRI funding.Find more information about eligible research organisationsBusiness-led proposals are not eligible for this funding.See Innovate UK opportunities for businesses in the funding finder.What we’re looking forWe expect that this emergency route will only be valid in exceptional situations.There are strict criteria defining what is considered to be urgent. Only proposals that fully meet all of the criteria will pass the expression of interest stage.Therefore, to make sure the internal and external review process is not put under continued pressure, research organisations should actively triage ideas before applications are written.There is no specific funding allocation for this scheme. All applications will be prioritised by research councils and will be tensioned against their existing budgets.The normal route to apply for support for COVID-19 research is through existing standard funding opportunities.ScopeProposals submitted under this route are expected to focus on rapid turnaround research, urgent data or sample collection, and essential initial analysis only.Before applying, you should check the details of projects that are already funded to avoid duplicating existing work. You can also check our current priority areas to see what we think is important.Find UKRI-funded COVID-19 projects and current priority areas.CriteriaTo be considered by a council through this route, your proposed research must meet all of the following criteria:you have evidence that this research will inform urgent policy decisions or secure data for future researchyou can demonstrate the time-critical nature of the research and how a normal grant timeframe is unsuitablethere is a rapid route to impact, for example, you’re already working with the bodies making urgent policy decisions who need your data, samples, or findingsyour project must be able to start within a month of the decisionyou have a clear plan to take this research or data/sample collection forward including, if necessary, through normal grant routes.We will not consider:projects that could have been funded by any previous UKRI COVID-19 funding scheme, for example, the rolling UKRI Agile Research and Innovation Response to COVID-19 scheme that ended 15 December 2020projects that could be funded through a standard funding opportunity from any councilresearch that duplicates existing funded research, check what’s already been fundedfunding to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on specific institutions and businesses and longer-term research that addresses the COVID-19 emergency or future pandemicsbusiness-led projects; instead see Innovate UK opportunities for businesses.Resubmissions of previously submitted proposals.In addition, extensions to current activities (for example, already funded COVID-19 activities) will not normally be accepted through this emergency route.Funding availableThe maximum funding that may be sought is £80,000 (80% full economic cost) and includes any facilities costs. The usual duration will be 3 months, with a maximum of up to 6 months when necessary.# funding opportunity# COVID-19