Internal funding opportunities

BBSRC Sparking Impact Fund (EoI deadline EXTENDED to 9 am, 9 September 2013)

The The Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC) has established a small pilot fund to support partners that are strategically aligned with BBSRC, in accelerating and increasing the achievement of optimal impact from BBSRC investments. The University has been awarded funding to support small scale and diverse knowledge exchange and commercialisation activities designed to ‘spark’ impact. The activities must be related to a specific BBSRC investment.

The Expressions of Interest deadline has been extended to 9 am, 9 September 2013 from BBSRC-funded academics, researchers and BBSRC-funded research students at Oxford for:

  • small scale knowledge exchange and commercialisation activities such as
  • developing ways to enable potential users to understand the benefits of the ideas / technology e.g. initiate product design, develop virtual demonstrations, mock-up and models etc.buying-in relevant expertise such as those relating to market intelligence, understanding the regulatory landscape, establishing early stage freedom to operate
  • undertaking initial desk based market research, and early stage user intelligence activities (i.e. pre BBSRC Follow-on Fund Pathfinder
  • enabling academics / PDRAs to engage for small amounts of time with a potential user (i.e. pre BBSRC supported schemes such as Flexible Interchange Programme - FLIP  and KTP)

Initiatives involving the protection and commercialisation of intellectual property should be jointly developed with specialists from Isis Innovation Technology Transfer Group. 

Patent filing or similar costs related to registering intellectual property rights, public engagement activities or new research activity will not be eligible for support.

The awards will normally be in the region of £5,000-£10,000.

Proposals will be assessed by a panel with expertise in research and impact, including academics and external colleagues and the programme will be administered by Research Services.

Award holders will be expected to produce a brief report at the end of the activity and work with colleagues in Research Services and Public Affairs Division to develop case studies on outcomes from the activities undertaken.

If you would like to discuss your ideas before submitting your proposal, please contact Caroline Bucklow, Knowledge Exchange Officer, Research Services, Wellington Square, in the first instance. Caroline.bucklow@admin.ox.ac.uk or tel. 01865-280441.

 Brief Expressions of Interest are due by 9am, Monday, 9 September 2013, using the relevant Internal EOI form below.

Document:

EIO Form - BBSRC Sparking Impact Fund (19kb)

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Career Support and Bridging Support Schemes

In certain circumstances, the University can provide continuing support for the employment by the University of contract research staff where outside funding is not immediately available.

The purpose of the Bridging Support Scheme is to enable continued employment of academic-related research staff between fixed-term contracts at the University.

The purpose of the Career Support Scheme is to enable continued employment of long-serving academic-related contract researchers whose research contribution is of particular value to the University.

Both schemes are administered by Personnel Services and further information can be found at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/ps/staff/codes/cssbss.shtml.

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CNRS - Oxford Collaboration Scheme

The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the University of Oxford have established the CNRS-Oxford Collaboration Scheme to enhance existing collaborations, and to facilitate the development of new collaborations, between researchers at the two organisations.

The Scheme provides small grants to support

  1. joint research workshops between researchers from CNRS-affiliated units and Oxford to identify and develop new collaborative opportunities; and
  2. short research visits as part of a collaborative activity that researchers from CNRS-affiliated units and Oxford wish to pursue together

The Scheme is open to researchers across all disciplines at CNRS and Oxford.

For application forms and guidelines, as well as further information (including a list of projects funded under the 2012 Round), please see the programme overview.

The previous call for applications for the 2013 Round opened on 13 March 2013. The deadline closed at 5 pm, on Friday 31 May 2013.

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Departmental Funds

Departments usually have some funds available to held fund travel to conferences and for collaborative visits, short-term emergency support etc. Please contact your Departmental Administrator for further information.

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Erasmus funding for academic teaching staff

Erasmus is the European Commission's flagship educational programme for Higher Education students, teachers, and institutions and was introduced with the aim of increasing student mobility within Europe. Erasmus funding is not only available for students but for staff as well. Members of academic teaching staff employed by the University of Oxford may be eligible for funding to undertake a short period of teaching at another institution that participates in Erasmus.

Details about the Erasmus Staff Mobility Scheme can be found at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/personnel/staffinfo/academic/erasmus.  Please note that an agreement between two institutions holding an Erasmus University Charter needs to be in place by the summer before the academic year in which the staff mobility is due to take place.

Further information can be obtained from the Erasmus Co-ordinator (Erasmus@ox.ac.uk).

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EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account Funding

Funding is available to support activities that are intended to speed up or amplify the impact arising from EPSRC funded research. Grants are available as part of Oxford’s £3.6M EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account grant, which runs until 30 September 2015. Support is offered in two areas:

Secondment Grants

  • Secondment grants are responsive mode. If you would like to apply for secondment funding then please complete an application form (below) and email to martin.edmunds@mpls.ox.ac.uk
  • The IAA secondment grants are very flexible, offering support for different secondment types. Please see the Scheme Guide below for details.
  • The application process is light touch: applicants should simply provide concise answers to the questions in the application form. No other attachments are required.

Technology Fund Grants

  • IAA Technology Fund grants are intended to bridge the gap between the end of EPSRC support for research and the point at which a technology is sufficiently robust to attract venture funding.
  • Calls for applications will be announced at regular intervals over the next 18 months. The next round will be announced in late October.
  • The application process is light touch: applicants should simply provide concise answers to the questions in the application form. No other attachments are required.
  • Out-of-round bids can also be considered for projects which are time critical.
  • Please note that the IAA cannot fund further research or projects that result in a research tool.

Scheme Guide and Application forms

Further Information

  • The deadline for spending the grant is 30 September 2015.
  • There is no maximum limit of grant money per proposal.
  • For Technology fund grants, applicants are required to identify specific barriers they need to address, and make the case for the funds they require in order to do that.
  • For Secondment grants, secondments are not normally expected to last more than 6 - 12 months.
  • Speculative projects should be avoided, e.g. a production of a video or animation without a clear strategy for what comes next.
  • It is possible that for bids over a certain amount, some stage-gate checks will be incorporated.

Contact

Please contact martin.edmunds@mpls.ox.ac.uk for more information.


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Institutional Strategic Support Fund

The Institutional Strategic Support Fund (ISSF) is a block grant provided to the University, which is managed by a small central committee. The ISSF Committee receives applications for funding from any department in the University. Research projects must fall within the remit of the Wellcome Trust, as well as the strategic remit of biomedical research at Oxford.

The fund was first awarded in 2011-2012 with a £1.5M grant from Wellcome, to be matched by £1.5M from the University. The fund was recently renewed for 2012-2013 for an additional £1.5M, following a successful first year report to the Trust. Awards in future years will be contingent on the track record of projects funded, as well as continued investment on the part of the Wellcome Trust.

Information on strategic research priorities, eligibility, procedures, and previous awards can be found on the ISSF website. Any general enquiries about the nature of the fund or applications can be sent to Jennifer Bardsley.

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John Fell OUP Research Fund

The John Fell OUP Research Fund is administered by the Planning & Resource Allocation Section. The purpose of the Fund is to foster creativity and a proactive approach to research opportunities in all subject areas, and particularly in interdisciplinary fields. It will make seedcorn and start-up grants, and provide staff and funds to stimulate applications to external agencies. The Fund will thus build on the success of the former Research Development Fund. Please see the John Fell Fund web page for deadlines and further details.
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Junior Research Fellowships (JRFs)

These posts are generally affiliated with particular colleges, and are advertised via their websites. Some posts are advertised in the Appointments section of the Gazette and/or in the Research section of the University job site.

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Knowledge Exchange (KE) Seed Fund (Deadline: 30 September 2013, later rounds expected)

The Knowledge Exchange Seed fund (KE Seed fund) supports KE projects and activities, with preference for new ventures which will expand the University's external relationships and impact, and inform our engagement methods and portfolio.

Grants are expected to be up to £2,500. Deadline: 30 September 2013 (later rounds expected).

Contact: Matt Smart, KEIT, Research Services, tel. +44 (0)1865 270158.

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Medical Research Fund

The Medical Research Fund supports research conducted in the clinical departments of the Medical Sciences Division through provision of bridging support grants, pilot project grants and start-up funds. Please see the MSD Intranet for further information.

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NERC Impact Accelerator Fund Pilot (EoI deadline EXTENDED to: 9 am, 9 September 2013)

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has established a small pilot fund to support activities in the next few months ‘to strengthen interaction between NERC funded science and the business community to accelerate and amplify the impact of NERC science.’

The University was initially awarded funding to support two (2) types of events as soon as practicable, and no later than 30 June 2013. However, on 15 March 2013, we were advised that NERC has revised the timeframe in which the Impact Accelerator Fund Pilot funds need to be spent. It is likely the grant end date will be mid-December 2013.

An award has already be made to host the Industry Showcase Event and we still have some funding available for up to 10 more Impact Acceleration Seminars. Up to £3000 is available for each seminar and the events must take place before Friday, 1 November 2013.

The Expressions of Interest deadline has been extended to 9 am, Monday, 9 September 2013 from NERC-funded researchers at Oxford to stage:

A small number of “impact acceleration seminars” based around existing university networks in the Environmental Sciences.

  • These will be led jointly by university researchers and external partners, to share learning from successful impact strategies, develop collaborative activities and support strategic relationships with impact partners.
  • Outputs are expected to include some of the following: poster displays; podcasts and slide presentations from speakers; blog posts on research impacts on challenges facing business; summary reports on key challenges and how research can help to address these. Outcomes are expected to include new links with businesses forged through the events; ideas for new opportunities to engage with business; new research collaborations and consultancy projects.
  • We would welcome proposals from NERC-funded research teams or individual PIs to organise one of these seminars. We are happy to consider events which are already planned, provided they have not yet taken place and meet the broad criteria outlined above. The grant per seminar would normally be £500-£3,000.

If you have an event planned or an idea for an event that fits these criteria and would like to discuss it before submitting the proposal, please contact Caroline Bucklow, Knowledge Exchange Officer, Research Services, Wellington Square, in the first instance -  caroline.bucklow@admin.ox.ac.uk or tel. 01865-280441.

 Brief Expressions of Interest are due by 9am, Monday, 9 September 2013, using the relevant Internal EOI form below.

Document:

NERC Impact Acceleration Award - Industry Showcase Event - EOI Form: Round 2 (16kb)

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Oppenheimer Fund (deadline: 8 November 2013)

The Oppenheimer Fund provides grants to assist the academic exchange of senior members between the University of Oxford and institutions of higher education in South Africa. Grants may be awarded to assist with travel costs and living expenses for a maximum of three months. The next deadline will be 8 November 2013.

Please see the programme overview for details.

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Oxford Martin School

Applications are invited periodically from individuals and groups within Oxford University for grants from the Oxford Martin School.

For more information about the School, see http://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk.

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Oxford-Canterbury (NZ) Exchange Programme (deadline: 31 July 2013)

The Oxford-Canterbury Exchange Programme, pursuant to the latest Memorandum of Understanding (240kb) signed by Oxford and Canterbury in 2011, enables academic staff from Oxford University to visit the University of Canterbury for up to 3 months to give lectures to students and contribute generally to the teaching programme. The University of Canterbury now funds all Fellowships with assistance from its Erskine Bequest.

Please note: Oxford departments, rather than the central University, will be responsible for meeting the financial commitments agreed to. Also, any Oxford academic thinking of applying for a Fellowship must contact the relevant department at Canterbury and obtain a supporting letter from the Head of Department. Further information on this can be found on the Programme Overview page.

Deadline: Applications are invited for the 2013 round of funding, and close on 31 July 2013.

How to apply: Please see the programme overview for guidelines and the application form.
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Oxford-Princeton Collaborative Research Grants

The Oxford-Princeton Collaborative Research Grants Program, pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Oxford and Princeton in 2001, provides 'seed-corn' funds supporting interactions between researchers to build the basis for new research projects and to develop proposals for external funding (to help sustain and enlarge collaborative activity).

In the most recent round (2012), 6 new projects were funded. A listing of the projects funded in 2012, 2011 and 2010 is available.

The Oxford Grants Committee plans to apply to the John Fell Fund for a further block of funding to enable future calls (in 2014). The Committee is working with Princeton’s Council of International Teaching and Research to evaluate the grants program and make the case for continued funding.

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Proof of Concept and Seed Funds

During 1999 Oxford University was awarded one of 15 seed funds that were established as part of the Government's University Challenge Seed Fund Scheme (UCSF). The aim of the Scheme is to fill a funding gap in the UK in the provision of finance for bringing university research discoveries to a point where their commercial usefulness can be demonstrated and the first steps taken to ensure their utility. The Scheme's primary focus is the exploitation of science and engineering research outcomes.

The UCSF is adminstered by Isis Innovation. Please see the ISIS website for further information.

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Scholarships and Prizes

The Sources of Funding web pages include useful information about scholarships and prizes available to undergraduate and graduate students.
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Vice-Chancellor's Diversity Fund

The Vice-Chancellor's Diversity Fund, a new £1m fund for the advancement of diversity among academic and research staff at Oxford, was announced on 15 July 2013. The fund will be made up from both divisional and central contributions.

A major use for the fund will be to address the under-representation of women in senior research and academic posts. The fund will be used both to support new initiatives and to take ahead on a larger scale approaches that have already been found valuable in pilots, for example providing specific and widespread training in the avoidance of unconscious bias in recruitment; providing bridging funds to help staff between research grants when their family responsibilities have intervened; or helping staff return to work after a period of maternity leave or time out caring for relatives

Further details will be made available in Michaelmas term 2013, including how the fund may be used and the process for applying.

More information about the new fund is available on the Equality and Diversity website.

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Contacts

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