UK & India Partnership in Advanced Manufacturing Research Challenges

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1 Department of Science and Technology UK & India Partnership in Advanced Manufacturing Research Challenges Summary Call type: Full Proposals Closing date: 16:00 GMT on 27 September 2012 Twenty-first century manufacturing is an increasingly global endeavour, driven by the rapid pace of technological change. High-value manufacturing processes are increasingly moving towards flexible, intelligent production systems that involve the inter-play of novel technologies, advanced materials, in-line analysis and ICT, dual working of people and automated systems, and precision engineered products and systems. Vital to all industrial sectors, modern manufacturing is more than merely production it encompasses R&D, design, prototyping, production, distribution, service and support provision, and end-oflife repair, recycle or reuse. Manufacturing is a top priority in both UK and Indian plans for economic growth. In 2011, India launched a National Manufacturing Policy that aims to increase manufacturing activity from a current 16% GDP to 25% by This equates to a growth rate of 12-14% per year, and aims to generate 100 million new jobs. The UK s coalition government has also placed manufacturing at the heart of the economic recovery, and has published a series of policy announcements and reviews on the subject. EPSRC and DST expect to commit up to 3M (Rs 23 crore) each on research programmes of up to three years in length. The funded programmes are expected to vary in size according to the demands of the proposed research, up to a maximum of 1M total, and will involve both UK and Indian researchers. This call invites applicants to submit a proposal for funding. The proposal will be assessed by expert postal peer review, and those that are sufficiently supported will be advanced to a funding decision panel in February Funding decisions are expected to be made in March Background Manufacturing businesses compete in international markets, and their supply chains and competitors are often global. Research also performs within a global context and, therefore, there is considerable scope to increase the alignment between global research and global manufacturing. Both the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Department of Science & Technology (DST) play a pivotal role in promotion of science and engineering in their respective countries. Given the shared interests of the UK and India in supporting their high value manufacturing industries, Page 1 of 10

2 EPSRC and DST have committed to work together, facilitated by Research Councils UK India and the Science and Innovation Network, India. A delegation of twenty-three academics and industrialists from the UK attended a three-day workshop in Delhi in late January 2012, working alongside thirty-nine of their Indian counterparts. At the conclusion of these discussions, seven mutually-agreed research challenges were identified, each of which received strong bilateral support from the workshop delegates. These seven research challenges form the basis of this call for proposals. For further information on the UK and India workshop in Advanced Manufacturing Research Challenges, including a full delegate list and the workshop agenda, please see: anufacturingworkshopsummaryreport.pdf The report is also available at: Scope of the Call Discussions between UK and Indian researchers have highlighted seven key research challenges of relevance to advanced manufacturing in both countries. Proposals must address one or more of the areas below in a coherent programme of innovative research: Advanced automation for manufacturing Engineering-driven sustainable manufacturing Manufacturing of high-performance materials and processes Industrialisation of biomedical procedures Integrated materials design, modelling, simulation and verification in a digital platform Next-generation sensors for manufacturing processes Realisation of functional surfaces Full details of these seven research challenges, including key research questions of interest, are provided in the report of the workshop. Applicants should refer to this report whilst preparing their proposals. Funding available For this call, EPSRC s Manufacturing the Future theme and DST have committed to a contribution up to 3M each. Proposals should last for a maximum of three years. Proposals must include both UK and Indian partners, and should involve personnel exchange between UK and Indian institutions. The costs for UK institutions will be met by EPSRC, and those for Indian institutions will be met by DST. Management structures for proposed research programmes should be clearly articulated from the outset, to allow the programme to achieve the stated research objectives. Such structures must pay particular attention to the challenges of managing a single research programme between UK and Indian institutions. Page 2 of 10

3 Collaborative preparation of proposals with industry or other research users is vital for applications to this call. All proposals must be supported by at least one industrial project partner, and their support for the proposal clearly articulated. It is anticipated that proposals will have multiple project partners and, if appropriate, proposals will be multi-sectoral in their potential application. Equipment EPSRC has limited funding for capital equipment. Where possible, UK researchers are asked to make use of existing facilities and equipment, including that which may be available within the High Value Manufacturing Catapult or other universities. If UK-based equipment is needed as part of the research proposal, UK applicants must consider new rules for requesting equipment over 10,000 in value. Individual items of equipment up to 135,668 (inc. VAT) can be included on research proposals submitted through this call, but research organisations will normally be expected to make a significant contribution to the cost. Single items of equipment above 135,668 (inc. VAT) must be assessed through the strategic equipment peer review process, outside of this call. For more information on equipment funding, please see: quipment/pages/default.aspx Eligibility The usual eligibility requirements of EPSRC and DST apply to this call, as summarised below. In addition: Only proposals that involve academic collaboration between the UK and India will be considered. UK and Indian principal and co-investigators must be academic researchers from institutions eligible to apply for EPSRC or DST funding respectively. All proposals must be for consortia, with equal or proportionate participation from UK and Indian researchers. Proposals must involve at least one industrial partner as a project partner. These partners may be either UK- or India-based. Proposals do not require both a UK and Indian industrial partner though may choose to do so if appropriate. UK Applicants For information on the eligibility of organisations and individuals to receive EPSRC funding, see the EPSRC Funding Guide: Although this call is a targeted funding opportunity, EPSRC will only accept applications from UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Only applicants employed in the UK are eligible to apply to EPSRC for funds. Page 3 of 10

4 Indian Applicants Normal DST eligibility requirements will apply. Please refer to the DST website at: or at How to apply Lead partners A UK-based lead partner and an India-based lead partner should be identified, each of whom will lead on interaction with the funding agency in their respective countries. EPSRC will handle proposals for UK applicants. This is a joint application to DST and EPSRC. Applicants should ensure that identical applications are submitted by the closing date to both DST and EPSRC. The UK application should be submitted through the UK Research Councils grant submission system, which is known as Je-S. The DST application should be a hard copy of the UK Je-S form and attachments (this can be printed directly from Je-S). Also included must be a completed Joint Proposal Format form and Indian Reviewer Nomination Form, available from EPSRC s website. Submissions must include financial and project information for both UK and Indian components of the joint programme. Applicants are to ensure that all documents are submitted to both DST and Je-S. For further details, see the Je-S submission guidance on pages 5-7. The costs of the UK institutions will be met from EPSRC funds, and those for the Indian partner institutions will be met by DST. Proposal content The proposal should detail the research challenge(s) to be tackled, and the proposed research methodology. It should include: Up to two sides of A4 detailing the track record of the applicants, justification of the added value offered by the assembled collaborative team and how this grant will complement the group s other activities. A Case for Support of up to six sides of A4, including a description of the proposed research, and its context (including the national importance of the work). This should also include: o o o Detailed arrangements for project management in terms of milestones and deliverables. It must outline how linkages between UK and Indian researchers are to be best managed. Full details of the involvement of project partners (e.g. industrial collaborators and other research users), including contributions being provided by these organisations and their role in transfer of research outputs into practice. Statements of support should be included as appropriate. Details of ensuring maximum usage for large equipment (only if requested). Page 4 of 10

5 Up to two sides of A4 outlining the potential pathways to impact, and any appropriate requested resources. In line with normal EPSRC procedures, the full proposal should also contain a Work Plan, and a Justification of Resources document. Please also add: o CVs (up to one side of A4 each) for named researchers, visiting researchers and researcher co-investigators - where applicable. Note that CVs for investigators are not required this information should be covered in the track record section of the case for support. o o Statements of support from project partners (no page limit). Quotes for equipment requested (no page limit), where applicable. If your proposal exceeds the standard page limit or does not conform to this format, your proposal will not be considered. Please note that EPSRC and DST reserve the right to reject a proposal where it is deemed that the research proposed is outside of the scope of this call for proposals. For guidance on format and advice on writing proposals see: Important guidance on writing a proposal Additional material for applications is required as follows: Letters of support from the each Indian institution with whom you are working. One of these must be a Host Organisation Statement from the VC or equivalent of the lead Indian institution on the application, indicating their commitment to the partnership and how this will be delivered. For UK applicants: The Joint Proposal Format form, detailing the funding requested from DST. This is available on EPSRC s website, included in the documents for this call. The lead partner(s) in India should be indicated on this document. This should be a single document uploaded as an attachment under letters of support within Je-S. A copy of the Indian Reviewer Nomination Form, detailing the nominated reviewers for the Indian section of the proposal. This is available on EPSRC s website, included in the documents for this call. This should be a single document uploaded as an attachment under Other Attachments within Je-S. Note that costing details entered directly into the Je-S form should be UK-based costs that are requested of EPSRC. The Indian-based costs that are to borne by DST should be entered on the Joint Proposal Format form. Please note: We do not require supporting technical annexes, letters from UK academic partners or separate lists of publications. Any excess material will be Page 5 of 10

6 removed from your application. If you wish to refer to additional supporting information, please use a web-link in your case for support but we cannot guarantee that the expert review panel will consider additional web material. Papers for the expert panel (see further detail below) are converted and copied in greyscale/black and white, therefore colour material will not be accurately reproduced. We require the use of minimum 11pt Arial font on A4 pages with 2cm margins on all pages. For advice on writing proposals see: Guidance on the types of support that may be sought and advice on the completion of the research proposal forms are given on the EPSRC website which should be consulted when preparing all proposals. Submitting a proposal UK lead partner The UK-based lead partner should prepare and submit a proposal using the Research Councils Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) System Both single and multi-institutional bids are invited. However, proposals must be submitted on one common Je-S proposal form even if they are multi-institutional bids. When adding a new proposal, you should select: Council EPSRC Document type Standard Proposal Scheme Standard On the Project Details page you should select the UK & India Partnership in Advanced Manufacturing Research call. Details of which research organisations have registered to use Je-S are available from Note that clicking submit document on your proposal form in Je-S initially submits the proposal to your host organisation s administration, not to EPSRC. Please allow sufficient time for your organisation s submission process between submitting your proposal to them and the call closing date. EPSRC must receive your application by 16:00 GMT on the closing date of the call. Guidance on the types of support that may be sought and advice on the completion of the research proposal forms are given on the EPSRC website ( which should be consulted when preparing all proposals. Page 6 of 10

7 Submitting a proposal Indian lead partner The India-based lead partner will submit an identical proposal (ten hard copies of the Je-S form) using the same Joint Proposal Format to DST for processing as per requirements of DST India ( or In order to send the identical proposal, the UK-based lead partner should save the Je-S form (or print to PDF) to send to the lead Indian partner, along with all attachments that were uploaded to Je-S. The Indian lead investigator is then responsible for submitting ten hard copies of all of this information to DST. DST welcomes multi-institutional applications. These applications should be submitted to: Department of Science and Technology Attn: Milind R Kulkarni Scientist F, SERC Division, Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhawan, New Delhi Submission deadlines When we receive your application through Je-S, you cannot make any amendments or additions. Therefore please make sure that all statements of support are secured well in advance of the closing date. We will contact you if there is a problem with your application. Any delay in your response will jeopardise the speed with which we can get your proposal to the expert review panel for pre-review, which may affect the final panel decision. The deadline for receipt of proposals in Je-S is 16:00 (GMT) on 27 September Applications to DST must be received by 20:30 Indian time on 27 September We will not accept late applications. Assessment Proposal assessment criteria The assessment of proposals, and the funding decisions, will take account of the priorities and interests of EPSRC and DST, and the scope of the call. In addition to ensuring that the programme of proposed research fits within the scope of the call, full proposals will be assessed on: Quality and excellence of the proposed research including novelty, timeliness, ambition and appropriateness of the proposed methodology. Importance of the proposed research, including how it underpins or contributes to manufacturing challenges and emerging industry. The pathway to impact and effectiveness of the activities identified to help realise these impacts, including the resources requested for this purpose. Applicant ability to deliver the research and balance of skills within the research team. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal creates a Page 7 of 10

8 true UK/Indian partnership that shows added value, and will either build new links, or substantially strengthen existing links, between the UK and India. Appropriateness of resources requested (including equipment usage or access arrangements) and management plans. Proposal assessment process Once a joint application has been received by EPSRC and DST, each funding agency will send the proposal to peer reviewers, selected separately by both EPSRC and DST. The reviewers will receive the complete proposal (i.e. including both UK and Indian information). The peer reviewers receive a covering letter and guidance related to this call, and are asked to complete written peer review feedback to EPSRC and DST, which will assess the degree to which the application aligns to the assessment criteria. In addition, as per the normal peer review processes of DST, Indian applicants may be invited for a face-to-face interview. This is solely for information-gathering purposes, and does not impact upon final funding decisions. Proposals that are deemed to have not received sufficiently supportive comments from peer reviewers will be rejected at this stage. Decisions upon rejection are taken by EPSRC and DST. Proposals that receive highly supportive comments from peer reviewers will be submitted to a joint EPSRC/ DST evaluation panel. Panel members will be selected by EPSRC and DST. Before the prioritisation panel meets, the peer reviewers' reports (made anonymous) will be passed back to the lead investigators of the proposal to comment on any factual inaccuracies or questions raised before consideration by the prioritisation panel. All reviewers' comments received in time will be seen by the evaluation panels, as will the lead investigators response to the peer review comments, if such a response is made, along with all other documents. Peer review comments that are received too late to be seen by the applicants in advance of the prioritisation panel will not be considered by the panel, and will not influence funding decisions. The prioritisation panel will produce a rank-ordered list, which indicates the priority order for the funding of proposals. EPSRC and DST will then fund as far down the list as either research quality or available funding permits. Funding decisions will be announced by the end of March Page 8 of 10

9 Additional grant conditions In addition to the standard terms and conditions for grants, EPSRC will require confirmation that a signed collaboration agreement is in place between the academic partners before the grant starts. Key dates Activity Date India and UK joint announcement date 02 July 2012 Call opens in Je-S for proposals 02 July 2012 Closing date for proposals 27 September 2012 UK (Je-S submission) deadline India (DST receipt) deadline 16:00 GMT 20:30 Indian time Postal peer review Early October 2012 Prioritisation panel for proposals February 2013 Grants announced March 2013 Funded projects to start January 2014 onwards Contacts UK Applicants For information relating to the technical scope of this call, or the suitability of any given consortium, please contact: Dr. Derek Gillespie Portfolio Manager Manufacturing the Future Dr. Mark Claydon-Smith Theme Lead Manufacturing the Future : : : derek.gillespie@epsrc.ac.uk : mark.claydon-smith@epsrc.ac.uk For information relating to the process of submission of a full application, or other technical queries upon submission, please contact: Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) System Helpdesk : : JeSHelp@rcuk.ac.uk Page 9 of 10

10 UK applicants are asked to consult with their respective university research office(s) in advance of submitting proposals to this call, and to be clear as to their institutional requirements in relation to meeting the deadlines for this call. Indian Applicants For information relating to the technical scope of this call, or the suitability of any given consortium/ academic institution etc. please contact: Dr. A Mukhopadhyay Scientist G, SERC Division Alternatively, Indian applicants may contact: Er. Milind R. Kulkarni Scientist F, SERC Division : milind@nic.in Change log Name Date Version Change Derek Gillespie 18/05/ Document creation Page 10 of 10