Technologies
Networks of Sensors - Demonstration High Resolution Networks
Announcement of Opportunity
NERC technologies theme
Closing date for outline proposals:
16:00 on 25 March 2010
Closing date for full proposals:
16:00 on 15 April 2010
NERC invites outline proposals for three-year collaborative research projects that will constitute the Networks of Sensors - Demonstration High Resolution Networks research programme.
The programme will deliver up to five collaborative demonstration projects exploiting the potential of distributed high density networks of sensors, with the objective of discovering new insights into the environment. This will build on previous lab-based sensor investments in field applications relevant to NERC environmental science priorities funded by NERC, other research councils and industry.
Projects must clearly demonstrate the additional science value of the proposed approach to observing and understanding the environment. The programme is not focused on sensor development, rather their novel deployment and application to address environmental science questions.
Successful projects are likely to require a diverse range of partners from industry and academia to deliver the key components involved in establishing effective sensor networks: integration, deployment and networking of sensor components aimed at addressing relevant environmental science questions.
Projects may also specifically benefit from additional in-kind support through a new optional Partnership scheme associated with this call. This will provide access to additional expertise and facilities that will be funded by the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and/or the Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)*.
There is also significant potential for the programme to have both direct and indirect economic impact, with potential for deployment of sensors in other applications. The Technology Strategy Board Sensors & Instrumentation Knowledge Transfer Networks (SI-KTN) will help identify Knowledge Exchange opportunities to derive both maximum scientific and economic impact.
The five demonstration projects are expected to commence by 1 January 2011 and run for a period of three years. It will be a condition of the Scheme that grants must commence within three months of the announced start date. Individual proposals should not exceed £0·9m (cost to NERC, i.e. 80% full economic cost).
Please see the Announcement of Opportunity document below for full details.
Announcement of Opportunity (191KB)
For further information about this announcement of opportunity please contact:
Rachel Leader
Tel: 01793 411595
Blanche Coleman
Tel: 01793 442635
* Full details of how to access these resources are in section 3.7 of the Announcement of Opportunity.