Competition guidance: EDF Energy Inspection Innovation Challenge
Updated 22 July 2016
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1. Dates and deadlines
| Competition opens | 18 July 2016 |
| Competition briefing / webinar event (Gloucester) | 8 September 2016 |
| Submission of stage 1: Videos | Noon 28 September 2016 |
| Stage 1 decision by EDF Energy | 17 October 2016 |
| Decision to applicants | 19 October 2016 |
| Pitching sessions (for invited applicants in Bristol) | second half of October |
| Final decision by EDF Energy | mid November 2016 |
| Decision to applicants | mid November 2016 |
| Projects start | January 2017 |
Please read the full competition scope before you make your application. It is also important that you read and agree to EDF Energy’s terms and conditions.
Please do not leave your submission to the last minute.
If you get into any technical difficulties or find errors in your submission, we will not be able to grant an extension to the above deadlines. Our submission deadlines are always at 12.00 noon. We are unable to accept applications after this time.
It is your responsibility to make sure you follow the competition guidance rules and in doing so allow enough time to complete all of the competition requirements described in this document.
There will be an optional briefing event for this competition on 8 September 2016. You are advised to attend as important aspects of the competition criteria and entry requirements will be presented and discussed. The briefing will also be available by webinar.
The second part of the event will enable you to get answers to your questions directly from experts from EDF Energy. Due to export control conditions, the second part will be open only to UK companies and will be held in the Gloucester area.
Register and book a place on this event. For those not able to attend in person or for non-UK companies, you can join by registering for the live webinar. Details of the venue and agenda will be detailed after you have registered.
2. Funding
There is between £5,000 and £10,000 of funding available for projects selected by EDF Energy. Projects must last up to 3 months. Early stage and well developed ideas will be considered, as will proposals for technology transfer. EDF Energy will attempt to work with the successful companies to bring the best ideas to on-site trials and possible commercial reality.
Only projects selected by EDF Energy’s experts after the pitching session will get access to funding provided by EDF Energy. Projects will be selected based on criteria which will include degree of innovation, value proposition and alignment to the business needs.
3. Requirements and eligibility
- you must be a UK registered company to participate to the challenge related to the nuclear fleet. The challenge related to Offshore Wind is open to UK and non-UK companies
- this competition is open to start-ups and large companies alike
- proposals must be business led but you can have academic partners
- ideas from innovators outside the energy sector are welcome along with companies both within or outside our existing supply chain
4. Competition process
This competition will follow a two stage process:
Stage 1
Video upload and brief project details (open entry).
All 3 minute video (max 5MB) applications are submitted, assessed and scored by EDF Energy experts.
Stage 2
Pitching session (by invitation only). Successful applicants from stage 1 will be invited to pitch to an expert EDF Energy panel.
Selected projects will then be invited by EDF Energy to develop a feasibility study or on-site trial, through specific bilateral contracts.
5. How to apply
You may upload your video at any time before the application deadline but please note that late submissions will not be accepted.
The video (see video upload section for more details) should be no longer than 3 minutes in length and with a video file size not exceeding 5Mb. The video should describe the approach that will be taken and how it is innovative. Videos will remain confidential and will only be seen by EDF Energy’s expert assessors.
You will need to enter details about your company and a short description of your project. You will also need to submit high level estimated costs on your project before submitting your application.
Once you have started an application, you may print a PDF version of the form at any stage of the application to help you to review the information requirements.
Multiple project applications: If you wish to apply for more than one project, you can submit multiple applications from the same registration. Please note that any repeat applications submitted for the same project will be ineligible and not assessed.
Stage 1: Notification
Once the application deadline is reached, all submissions will be allocated to EDF Energy assessors for review.
You will be notified by email on the date stated in the dates and deadlines section as to whether your project has been successful. If you are successful you can proceed to stage 2 of the competition.
Stage 2: Pitching session
If you are successful at the end of Stage 1, you will be invited to pitch to a panel of experts from EDF Group Energy.
6. Stage 1: Video upload and guidelines
Stage 1 of the application process requires you to upload your video and to provide a few application details about your organisation and your project.
To start your application you must give your project a name.
You are able to save, exit and return to the application at a later date. Just click on ‘My applications’ at the top of your screen once you are registered and signed in.
The table below provides guidance on the fields to complete in your application.
| Field | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Your details | |
| Application ID | This field is automatically generated |
| Contact details | Enter the full name, job title, email address and telephone number of the main point of contact between EDF and the project |
| Organisation | Enter the organisation name and status. You will need to provide the address and website for your organisation |
| Your idea | |
| Video submission | This section is where you can upload your 3 minute video. The video must cover all of the following points: 1. The specific challenge area of the competition you are addressing and why it is important 2. The approach that you will take 3. How it is innovative 4. What you are expecting from EDF Energy The videos should contain some footage of the lead applicant talking to camera, but may also contain other partners, graphics and images as appropriate. The videos will be confidential and only accessible by EDF Energy’s expert assessors |
| Project summary | Please provide a short summary (up to 400 words), to accompany your video. This can be used to expand on the main points made in your video proposal and why you believe it should be selected |
| Project costs | High level cost summary |
| Project cost | What is your estimated budget of total project costs? What level of funding do you require from EDF Energy? |
| Agreements | Agree that you have read and agree to Innovate UK terms and conditions |
| About my business | Please agree to the statements about your business |
| Publicity | Please agree to the statement about publicising your project if it is successful in obtaining EDF Energy funding |
Video
You may upload your video at any time prior to the application deadline but please make sure that you submit it well in time for the application deadline.
The video should be no longer than 3 minutes in length and should not exceed 5Mb. Assessors will be instructed to view no more than 3 minutes of any video uploaded.
Video format should be one of the following types: AAC, AVI, 3GP, FLV, MOV, MP3, MP4, MPEG, OGG, WAV, WEBM, WMA, WMV
7. Stage 2: pitching to an expert panel
If you are successful at the end of Stage 1, you will be invited to pitch to a panel of experts from EDF Energy. There is the opportunity for a maximum of 3 attendees from your project to attend the interview panel.
Your presentation should be a maximum of 10 minutes in length and will be followed by 15 minutes of questions and answers.
The format of your presentation will be free, but you will be asked to cover the following points:
- what is the challenge you want to address?
- what is the solution / technology you want to propose?
- what is innovative in the project?
- what is the level of maturity of your solution?
- what challenges do you see in the application of your solution in the energy area (nuclear plant, offshore wind farm)? What are the risks you are anticipating?
- what are you expecting from EDF Energy? In which timeline and order magnitude of budget?
EDF Energy will contribute funding to the feasibility studies selected by our internal experts after the pitching session. Projects will be selected based on criteria which includes degree of innovation and value proposition.
Following the selection of successful proposals, contracts and agreements will be put in place between EDF Energy and the successful applicants to carry out the feasibility studies
All stage 2 participants will be provided feedback on their application.