Cross-Cluster Proof of Concept Call The call offers businesses the opportunity to apply for up to £45k of grant funding for collaborative projects. The next call is currently projected to open again in Autumn 2025. Please follow the STFC Business & Innovation LinkedIn page for notification or join your relevant industry sector mailing list to stay informed.
Follow the STFC Business and Innovation LinkedIn page for notification of call opening dates or join your relevant cluster mailing list to be kept informed of key dates, events and industry-specific news - join the lists in the 'Find out more' section on this page.
Scope
The Call invites proof of concept projects from any area related to the STFC-supported Clusters in Space, Energy, Health and Life Sciences, Quantum, Digital, and Defence and Security.
Your project must be business-led, collaborative, and involve one or more project partner from the Harwell or Sci-Tech Daresbury Campuses. We are keen to support multi-disciplinary projects, although it is not a requirement of funding.
All applications must be completed in full and submitted along with supporting documentation by the deadline announced in the call guidelines.
STFC Clusters
Anchored to the critical mass of expertise, talent and capabilities on-site, Harwell Campus currently hosts four rapidly growing clusters in Space, Health, Energy and the new Quantum Cluster. Sci-Tech Daresbury hosts the North West Health Cluster, North West Space Cluster and Digital Tech Cluster.
The Cluster model encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and pushes innovation in key sectors contributing to driving productivity and growth in the UK economy.
The aim of this funding is to stimulate business engagement and collaboration with organisations in the Clusters at Harwell and Sci-Tech Daresbury.
OBC Regional Defence and Security Cluster
STFC is a founding member of the Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Chilterns Regional Defence and Security Cluster (OBC RDSC). The Cluster aims to enable Defence and Security organisations to meet emerging threats, in a timely manner, through enhancing and invigorating the UK industrial base.
Case Studies
Developing a Proof-of-Concept Rapid Finger Prick Device for monitoring Asthma
A project led by Beyond Blood Diagnostics Ltd, alongside partners King’s College London and Daresbury-based Health Innovation North West Coast, worked to develop and validate a prototype rapid finger prick device for asthma management. This project was funded by the 2023 STFC Cross Cluster Proof of Concept Grant.
““This project not only removed the financial obstacle on getting the critical element of the technology de-risked, it also allowed us to form enduring relationships with Health Innovation North West Coast and King’s College London. These relationships enabled us to unlock more funding to further develop the technology and apply for a patent” - Manfredi San Germano, Founder, Beyond Blood Diagnostics.
Leveraging High-Resolution Satellites to Assess Farmland Biodiversity
Biodiversity monitoring on farmland has traditionally been resource-intensive and costly. This Agtelligence led project demonstrates that combining AI methodology with high-resolution imagery presents an opportunity to streamline this workload, aid sustainable business practices, and preserve vital UK ecosystems.
An STFC 2023 Cross Cluster Proof of Concept Project comprising a collaboration between Agtelligence, Airbus Defence and Space and Space Hub Yorkshire allowed Agtelligence to evaluate the layering of high-resolution satellite data sources and integrate this state-of-the-art methodology into their Farmscore® software for monitoring farmland biodiversity. The project was funded through a Connecting Space Clusters Highlight, facilitating collaboration between regional UK Space Clusters.
Scale-up of low-temperature H2-based deNOx technology for clean air applications
A project led by Harwell Energy Tech Cluster company, Finden, explored a cleaner, low-energy solution to remove nitrogen oxide air pollutants from indoor and industrial settings.
“The proof-of-concept funding allowed us to significantly advance our clean air technology. The prototype allows us to demonstrate our technology to potential customers in the indoor air quality market but I am very excited about the prospect of using our solutions at industrial NOx sources. I very much hope that soon people will be breathing cleaner air as a result of these developments” - “The proof-of-concept funding allowed us to significantly advance our clean air technology. The prototype allows us to demonstrate our technology to potential customers in the indoor air quality market but I am very excited about the prospect of using our solutions at industrial NOx sources. I very much hope that soon people will be breathing cleaner air as a result of these developments” - “The proof-of-concept funding allowed us to significantly advance our clean air technology. The prototype allows us to demonstrate our technology to potential customers in the indoor air quality market but I am very excited about the prospect of using our solutions at industrial NOx sources. I very much hope that soon people will be breathing cleaner air as a result of these developments” - Simon Jaques, Managing Director, Finden.
Want to find out more?
If you have a proof-of-concept project that develops new knowledge, technologies, products or services, please follow the STFC Business and Innovation LinkedIn page for notification of call opening dates.
In addition, you can also join our cluster mailing lists to receive our newsletter and notification of call opening dates and other industry-specific news, events and opportunities.
- Harwell Energy Tech Cluster mailing list
- Harwell Health Cluster mailing list
- Harwell Quantum Cluster mailing list
- Harwell Space Cluster mailing list
- North West Health Cluster mailing list
- North West Space Cluster mailing list
- North West Digital Tech Cluster mailing list
- Higgs Centre for Innovation (Edinburgh) mailing list
Through collaborating with Campus and Cluster organisations, this Call offers the opportunity to access networks and state-of-the-art facilities to develop and validate new ideas, as well as the potential to explore technology spill-over and collaboration. A grant of up to £45k (match-funded cash/in-kind) is available for 3-month projects.
Please email CrossClusterPOC@stfc.ac.uk for general queries or contact your industry cluster manager.
North West Health Tech Cluster - Phil Carvil
Harwell Energy Tech Cluster - Emma Southwell-Sander
Harwell Space Cluster - Hugh Mortimer
Quantum Tech Cluster - Najwa Sidqi
North West Space Cluster - Alan Cross
North West Health Tech Cluster - Phil Carvil
North West Digital Tech Cluster - James Bedford
All applications must be completed in full and submitted along with supporting documentation by the deadline to be announced later in the year.