Call 3 & 4 - closed | TIDAL N+ - UCL – University College London

Call 3 - Sensors, Data Science & Comms Aids focuses on using ubiquitous sensing & data science to improve assisted living devices. Call 4 - Another chance to submit projects on our first two themes.

About these calls

We have identified three research themes that the TIDAL Network will focus on:

Responsible Engineering
DMS (Digital Design and Manufacturing Systems) and Physical Devices
Sensors and Data Science for Communication Aids

Our first call focused on Responsible Engineering, our second was on DMS and Physical Devices. We are running two further funding calls in parallel.

Call 3

Call 3 is on the theme of Sensors, Data Science & Communication Aids which seeks to investigate novel ways to exploit advances in ubiquitous sensing and data science to drive improvements in assisted living devices. This call will look to support projects within the following areas of research:

The development of technology which uses low-cost, ubiquitous sensing technologies to better inform the design, provision, and use of assistive technology devices alongside clinical support decisions
The development of new assisted living devices, which leverage advances in sensors, data science and communication aids
Sensors and data science advances to improve:
1. Communication aids such as hearing aids, sign-language interpretation and augmented and alternative communication (AAC) devices
2. Assisted living decision-making within healthcare

Call 4

Call 4 is another opportunity to submit projects on our Responsible Engineering theme, or our DMS (Digital Design and Manufacturing) and Physical Devices theme. If you want to apply for those themes, you must refer to the documentation on THIS page, and use the Expression of Interest forms and Application forms on THIS page, because they have changed slightly from the previous calls.

What kinds of projects do we want to fund?

Please see Information for Applicants (below) for further details of what we are looking for under each call and theme.

We are funded by EPSRC, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, so the kinds of projects we are looking to fund are engineering and physical sciences projects that fall within in the remit of what EPSRC fund. We are looking to fund projects that are at an early research stage rather than a commercialisation or implementation stage; technologies at low TRL (Technology Readiness Level) probably TRL 2 or 3, so just beyond the initial idea.

We want fundamentally research-driven ideas that will then enable a shift in the design of a particular design or service. We are looking for projects that will facilitate a transformation – ideas that will produce a step change.

Projects should have a multi-disciplinary, co-creation approach. This is very important. There should be involvement of industry, stakeholders, service providers, service users, clinicians etc. as appropriate to your project.

Projects should be deliverable for around £60k. The idea is to fund a few months of research to prove enough to allow you to apply for much bigger funding.

We are particularly keen to fund proposals that demonstrate clear plans for how the work will lead to a full proposal to be submitted to a UK funder at a future time.

Applications led by early career academics/researchers are particularly encouraged.

Lead applicants must qualify for EPSRC funding.

Process for applications and funding

Workshop

We are holding an in-person workshop in London on 27^th October 2022 from 10.30 am to 4.00pm. The formal agenda will end at 3.00pm but you are welcome to stay until 4.00pm for further networking.

The primary aim of this workshop is to generate awareness of the research challenges relating to Call 3 - Sensors & Data Science for Communication Aids, help you understand what we are looking to fund, and to stimulate collaboration and engagement with interested parties such as AT users, other academics, industry partners etc.
There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the other themes, and to network with potential collaborators.
If you may be interested in submitting an application, particularly for Call 3 - Sensors & Data Science for Communication Aids, we would encourage you to attend, but you don't have to: you can submit an application even if you don't attend the workshop.
We will not be holding any further workshops specifically focusing on the themes for Call 4, but the recordings from the online workshops on Responsible Engineering, and DMS and Physical Devices held earlier in the year are in the videos section of this website.

Workshop registration

If you would like to attend the workshop, please register here.

Travel costs

If you are an ECR and do not have access to resources to fund your travel, we may be able to help with that. Please indicate on the application form if you would like to apply for travel assistance. We can only fund travel from within the UK and will only fund air travel in exceptional circumstances.

Submitting your Expression of Interest and Application Form

All applicants for Call 3 and Call 4 must submit an expression of interest form by 10^th November 2022 (2 weeks after the workshop) to indicate their intention to submit a full application. ALL lead applicants, for both calls, must submit an expression of interest, whether or not they attend the workshop.
Applicants must submit full application forms no later than 6 weeks after the workshop, on December 8th 2022.
You can download the forms at the bottom of this page.

Review and selection of proposals for funding

Proposals will be peer reviewed by at least 2 reviewers. Applicants will have the opportunity to respond to reviewer comments before funding decisions are made by the Steering Committee and TIDAL N+ team.
We expect at least one proposal to be developed and funded for each call. Our aim is to fund two.
Full details of the call and application process can be found in the Information for Applicants and FAQs below.

Interested?

Download the call documention below:

Please note, the Info for Applicants document has been updated. There are no substantive changes, just a clarification to point 3 under the heading Call 3 (as above). This has changed from, 'Data science advances to improve...' to 'Sensors and data science advances to improve...'

220901_info_for_applicants_call_3_and_call_4.final_v2.docx

220901_info_for_applicants_call_3_and_call_4.final_v2.pdf

faqs_call_3_and_call_4.pdf

faqs_call_3_and_call_4.docx

expression_of_interest_form_part_1_call_3_and_call_4.docx

expression_of_interest_form_part_2_call_3_and_call_4.docx

application_form_part_1_call_3_and_call_4.docx

application_form_part_2_call_3_and_call_4.docx

budget_form_call_3_and_call_4.xlsx

Key dates

The draft timetable for the funding call is as follows.
Dates for the workshop and deadlines for submitting expressions of interest and full proposals are confirmed.
Other dates may change but we aim to keep as close to this timetable as possible.

27^th Oct 2022 - Workshop in person at UCL in London 10.30am to 3.00pm + additional networking to 4.00pm.

10^th Nov 2022 - Deadline for expressions of interest to be submitted.

8^th Dec 2022 - Deadline for full proposals to be submitted.

9^th Dec 2022 to 6^th Jan 2023 - Review of proposals.

w/c 10^th Jan 2022 - Reviewers’ comments sent to applicants for response.

7 days after comments sent - Deadline for applicants to respond to reviewer comments.

13^th Feb 2023 - Panel makes final decisions on which projects to fund.

14^th Feb to 17^th- Feb 2023 - Emails sent to applicants with funding decision.

20^th Feb 2023 - Contracting process begins.

May 2023 - Projects begin. (They may begin earlier or later depending on how long contracting takes. A project can begin as soon as the contract with UCL has been signed by the lead applicant’s institution.)

NOTE: the workshop dates and submission deadlines are confirmed. Other dates are to be confirmed. We will endeavour to keep to this schedule, but dates may vary slightly.