FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION & SKILLS

2011 UK-US COLLABORATION DEVELOPMENT AWARD PROGRAMME

THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

CALL

FOR

PROPOSALS

The UK Science & Innovation Network is pleased to accept applications for the collaboration development award programme, with a focus on research addressing the digital economy. These awards provide funding so that UK and US scientists, engineers, academic leaders and innovation experts can travel abroad for short visits to lay the groundwork for collaborative efforts. The programme is sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) and Foreign & Commonwealth Offices (FCO) Global Partnership Fund. The programme aims to develop new relationships, leading to longterm research collaborations. Ideal (long-term) outcomes include joint publications; sharing of equipment, materials, data, and facilities; knowledge exchange of skills and techniques; institutional linkages; joint or complementary funding applications; student / researcher exchange programmes; technology transfer; and industry or philanthropic sponsorship. Please do not be limited by these ideas we strongly encourage the development of innovative models for collaboration. Initial outcomes should be delivered over the first 6 to 12 months following the visit and lead to the development of longterm relationships. Only projects in the following priority areas within the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Cross-Council Digital Economy Research Program (http://www.rcukdigitaleconomy.org.uk/ ) will be considered for funding:

Sustainable Society : In sustainable societies of the future, people will be able to make informed choices. Improved delivery of information and services will foster changes in behaviour to minimise the negative impact of our activities. Communities and Culture : Communities, participation and culture are changing in the digital age. It is important that we ensure digital interaction enhances, not replaces face to face interactions. New Economic Models : In an increasingly global economy, as new companies and individuals use digital technologies to innovate, the market can change rapidly. New business models are being created to adapt and take advantage of the opportunities in the digital world.
UK-US COLLABORATION DEVELOPMENT AWARD THE DIGITAL www.ukinusa.com

FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ECONOMY DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION & SKILLS

IT as a Utility : Digital infrastructure should be so simple, accessible and reliable that it seems invisible. In delivering this, questions need to be answered about whether people will trust it, how to ensure privacy is respected and how to pay for it.

WHAT IS AVAILABLE Awards are to support the applicants travel and subsistence either to or from the UK. The value of awards funded under this call will be up to a maximum of 2000 per visit. Expenses that are eligible for reimbursement include economy class airfare (not premium economy), accommodation, and a 50 per diem to support subsistence and local travel. No other costs will be permitted. Travel sponsored through this programme has to be completed by 15 March 2012. ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING CRITERIA CDA funding is available to UK and USbased researchers (PIs / group leaders) from universities and nonprofit research institutions. Applications from postdoctoral researchers will be given lower priority. One of the two participants must be based in the US and the other must be based in the UK. Multi-national networks are encouraged, but this needs to be discussed prior to submitting the application (e-mail nicholas.hooper@fco.gov.uk). Funding through this CDA is to support a short, 12 week visit between institutions, with only the applicant travelling. This program does not fund research. Successful applicants will be required to complete an evaluation form immediately after the visit and must commit to providing brief updates on follow up activity and outcomes at 6, 12 and 18 months following the visit. EVALUATION CRITERIA Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Quality of proposed outcomes and expected ability to deliver them Potential for significant, longterm collaboration Potential to broaden the collaboration to a wider network or to institutional level Use of creative / innovative collaboration models Innovative use of key research infrastructure and / or large facilities

FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ECONOMY DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION & SKILLS

UK-US COLLABORATION DEVELOPMENT AWARD THE DIGITAL www.ukinusa.com

DISBURSEMENT OF CDA FUNDING CDA funds will be provided as a reimbursement for incurred expenses. Receipts, invoices, and expense forms must be returned together with a completed evaluation before payment will be issued. We will provide more details at the time of the award. Disbursement of funds is contingent upon return of all requested materials including a final evaluation form. HOW
TO

APPLY

Applications should be made on the following application form and submitted according to the instructions on page 8. The application should be completed by both the visitor (applicant) and by the host. Awards will be made on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted, with a first announcement of awards on 9 December 2011. To be considered for this first round, please send in your application by 30 November 2011.

FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ECONOMY DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION & SKILLS

UK-US COLLABORATION DEVELOPMENT AWARD THE DIGITAL www.ukinusa.com

2011 UK-US Collaboration Development Award Application Form Digital Economy

Please answer all items thoroughly and succinctly. This form is to be filled out by the CDA applicant, but portions of the form must also be filled out by the host (sections II and IV). Please fill out this form electronically, save the form and return (in Word format) by email to: nicholas.hooper@fco.gov.uk

I. APPLICANT DETAILS & INFORMATION

Name: Position: Department: Name of Dept. Head: Institution: Address:

Telephone: Fax: email:

Name of research group leader (if different) Group / Institution size (number of members) Group / Institution website

1) How long have you been in your current position? 2) Please describe the current areas of specialisation for your group / institution and how this work is contributing to the Digital Economy field. {max 300 words}

FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ECONOMY DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION & SKILLS

UK-US COLLABORATION DEVELOPMENT AWARD THE DIGITAL www.ukinusa.com

II. HOST DETAILS & INFORMATION

Name: Position: Department: Name of Dept. Head: Institution: Address:

Telephone: Fax: email:

Group / Institution size (number of members) Group / Institution website:

3) How long have you been in your current position? 4) Please describe the current areas of specialisation for your group / institution and how this work is contributing to the Digital Economy field. {max. 300 words}

FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ECONOMY DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION & SKILLS

UK-US COLLABORATION DEVELOPMENT AWARD THE DIGITAL www.ukinusa.com

III. COLLABORATION DETAILS

5) Proposed start date of travel: 6) Duration of visit:
(travel award will cover a max. of 14 nights)

7) Have the applicant and hosts groups previously collaborated? If yes, please describe the subject and duration of the collaboration and identify if it is ongoing. {max. 100 words} 8) Please provide an overview of the proposed collaboration including a list of activities that will be carried out during the visit. What complementary skill sets or technologies will be brought together between the two groups? What is the strategic advantage of this partnership and why is it important that this be an international collaboration rather than a local one? If this is an ongoing collaboration, please also identify how this opportunity will enable the participants to significantly broaden the collaboration or expand it in a new direction. {max. 500 words} 9) Will the applicant be available to give a lecture/seminar at the hosts institution? 10) What are the long-term goals for this collaboration and the expected outcomes over the next 6-12-18 months? What joint activities (w/ timeline) do you anticipate will be needed after the visit to deliver these results? {max. 300 words} 11) Is there potential to broaden this collaboration over time? What steps, if any, will be taken to expand the collaboration more widely across the participating groups / institutions? {max. 150 words}

FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ECONOMY DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION & SKILLS

UK-US COLLABORATION DEVELOPMENT AWARD THE DIGITAL www.ukinusa.com

IV. HOSTS INVITATION

This section is to be filled out by the host. Please provide a statement of intent for the applicants visit to your site. When complete, the host should then digitally sign the document by typing his or her name and the current date in the signature field at the bottom of this page.

I, the host, confirm that the information that I have given is true and complete.

Signature

Todays Date:

FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ECONOMY DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION & SKILLS

UK-US COLLABORATION DEVELOPMENT AWARD THE DIGITAL www.ukinusa.com

V. EXPENSES
12) costs to be incurred during your visit in GBP. International travel (airfare only): Accommodation: Travel & Subsistence (rate/day: 50): Total amount of funding requested (maximum 2000): Please note that this CDA only provides funding for economy class air travel and expenditures towards accommodation, travel and subsistence, but not towards research costs. Further, funding is to be used for the applicant only, and cannot be used for the applicants spouse or family members. The amount of funding provided under this CDA programme is limited. Please request only the funding necessary for your visit, so we can support as many members of your research community as possible. Please estimate the

AUTHORISATION
I, the applicant, confirm that the information that I have given is true and complete.

Signature

Todays Date:

Please type in your full name and todays date. This will serve as your electronic signature.

FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ECONOMY DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION & SKILLS

UK-US COLLABORATION DEVELOPMENT AWARD THE DIGITAL www.ukinusa.com

SUBMITTING

THIS APPLICATION

When you have completed this application by typing directly into the grey fields following each item, please save a copy in Word format and email the following to: nicholas.hooper@fco.gov.uk host Completed application, including sections II and IV completed by the Brief copy of the applicants CV (3 pages max) Please place CDA application Digital Economy in the subject line of your message so that it can be quickly processed.

Awards will be made on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted, with a first announcement of awards on 9 December 2011. To be considered for this first round, please send in your application by 30 November 2011.
If you require an earlier decision (e.g. for travel before the end of 2011), please submit your application as soon as possible AND get in touch with me directly to discuss (nicholas.hooper@fco.gov.uk).

The CDA programme is sponsored by the BIS / FCO Global Partnership Fund and is administered through the UKs Science & Innovation Network in the US.

FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ECONOMY DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION & SKILLS

UK-US COLLABORATION DEVELOPMENT AWARD THE DIGITAL www.ukinusa.com