Connected Everything and eFutures are looking to fund a number of small projects, led by Early Career Researchers, with a specific focus on Enabling Digital Manufacturing Technologies to Evolve. Alongside this funding opportunity, we are also offering a skills building programme.

As a result of consultation with the potential applicants, examples of such projects could be (but not limited to):

  • Transfer of concepts from other domains to manufacturing
  • Collaborations with Industry (demonstrator testing for example)
  • Proof (or dis-proof) of concept work
  • Workshops to exploring solutions with industry
  • Computational simulation development
  • Software purchases
  • Buying time to use specialise equipment

We want to fund as many high-quality applications as possible. Up to 4 projects will be funded to a maximum value of £7,500 at full Economic Cost (fEC). Funding will be awarded at 80% fEC (total project funding request cannot exceed £6,000).

Projects can be between 2 and 4 months in length and must complete before 18 March 2022. 

The deadline for applications is 6 September 2021 5pm.

Funding documents:

Part 1 application form (word document)
Part 2 application form (word document)
Call details (PDF document)

A recording of the programme description

Skills building programme:

We are offered the following sessions to help Early Career Researchers develop their skills and network with like-minded peers.

  • Tuesday 15th June Prof Sarah Sharples: Career Connections, recording of presentation on You Tube
  • Thursday 17th June Dr Zena Wood: Developing an elevator pitch
  • Wednesday 23rd June Ideation workshop
  • Thursday 15th July – Dr Nik Watson: Working with Industry. This workshop was recorded in 2 parts Part 1 and Part 2 on You Tube
  • Wednesday 4th August – Dr Oliver Fisher: Writing workshop