Research Ventures Catalyst (closed for applications)
A pilot programme that will stimulate the creation of novel research ventures, via entrepreneurial team-based approaches in collaboration with partners drawn from the public sector, industry and the third sector.
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Details
Update: 9 February 2024
Research Ventures Catalyst successful applications published.
The Research Ventures Catalyst (RVC) programme was open for initial proposals to establish new organisational models to tackle a research challenge across any discipline.
Background information
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) invited bids for up to £100,000 of ‘seed corn’ funding to support successful applicants in developing full plans for their new research ventures. Of applicants that have applied to stage 1 of the programme, only applicants that are successful in receiving seed corn funding will be invited to submit full plans, which will then be assessed and DSIT may ultimately provide up to £25 million of government funding per successful application. Proposals will also need to attract co-investment from partners in industry, philanthropic organisations or other third sector bodies.
Some research efforts can be hindered by the incentive structures of typical research performing organisations like universities, businesses, or public bodies; whether that be because researchers work in disciplinary silos, or chase publications or profit over significant but distant research breakthroughs. The RVC aims to seed, and ultimately back with multi-million-multi-year funding, new ways of performing research.
Research Ventures Catalyst sought proposals which brought together researchers, experts and operators from different scientific and industrial disciplines and sectors, or with complementary forms of technical expertise, to tackle a complex problem in a new organisational setting. A core objective of the programme is to create and stimulate deeper public-private partnerships around a research agenda.
Updates to this page
Last updated 9 February 2024 + show all updates
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Successful applications published.
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Research Ventures Catalyst closed for applications at 23:59pm on 23 October 2023.
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Research Ventures Catalyst question and answer (Q&A) document updated. Update to footnote 2 in the Research Ventures Catalyst application guidance document.
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Research Ventures Catalyst question and answer (Q&A) document updated.
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Research Ventures Catalyst open for applications question and answer document added, privacy notice updated.
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First published.