Funding opportunity

CLASP energy and healthcare, stage 1

• Opportunity status: Closed
• Funders: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
• Funding type: Grant
• Publication date: 23 October 2020
• Opening date: 10 November 2020
• Closing date: 14 January 2021 4:00pm UK time

Through the Challenge Lead Applied Systems Programme (CLASP), you can apply your STFC-funded research to solve societal challenges. The call themes rotate every year between energy, healthcare, environment and security.

The 2021 themes are healthcare and energy.

Applicants must demonstrate their project is developed from core STFC technology or research, or in STFC labs. Up to £2 million is available to fund a number of projects across the call remit for up to three years.

The application process has two stages (outline and full proposal) and support from end users or industry is heavily encouraged.

Who can apply

The principal investigator for any CLASP proposal must be funded through the core STFC science programme (particle physics, astrophysics, nuclear physics, space science or astronomy, accelerator science, or computing in support of these).

Co-investigators and non-lead applications can be from outside this area. In this call we encourage multi-disciplinary working, so co-investigators or non-lead applications from other departments and institutions are welcome.

Not eligible? Find out about STFC’s other knowledge exchange schemes.

What we're looking for

CLASP is designed to facilitate the translation of STFC-funded research to help address societal challenges within the themed areas.

STFC have provided some examples of challenges currently key to central government (the NHS and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) however, applications are welcome from outside these areas.

CLASP is designed to cover technology readiness level three to six, therefore proof of concept must have been achieved. Applicants are encouraged to consider multi-disciplinary projects when developing applications, but this is not essential.

Any applications received where the principal investigator is not an STFC-funded academic (or a member of STFC staff) will be rejected.

How to apply

Please see supporting documents below for full guidance.

You should submit your application through the Joint Electonic Submission system (Je-S).

When submitting an outline proposal, please select:

• council: STFC
• document type: Outline
• scheme: CLASP Outlines
• call/type/mode: CLASP Healthcare/Energy 2021

As this is an outline proposal, applicants must submit a three-page case for support detailing:

• what the challenge area is
• a technical overview of the project and any preliminary data
• what the potential impact is
• involvement of any project partners.

Letters of support from any project partners is mandatory (if relevant), and letters of support from end users and other organisations is heavily encouraged

How we will assess your application

Outline proposals will be assessed by the CLASP Panel, who will be looking for:

• technical excellence (including likelihood to deliver)
• impact on the challenge area and relevance to scheme
• dissemination and implementation plan (including suitability of project partners and letters of support, if relevant).

The outcome is expected within seven weeks of the closing date.

For successful applicants, the full stage application call will run 11 March 2021 to 20 May 2021

Contact details

For any additional information please contact wendy.carr@stfc.ac.uk or edward.mansfield@stfc.ukri.org.

Additional info

Supporting documents

• CLASP call guidance (PDF, 393KB)
• CLASP equality impact assessment (PDF, 435KB)
• Energy challenge areas (PDF, 359KB)
• Healthcare challenge areas (PDF, 203KB)