We are offering businesses the opportunity to apply for up to £45k of grant funding for projects that leverage or integrate 5G technology. The Daresbury Laboratory 5G Ecosystem Proof of Concept Call aims to accelerate the development, testing, and deployment of innovative 5G applications by providing funding and resources for proof of concept (PoC) projects. This initiative will support start-ups, research institutions, and tech companies in demonstrating the potential of 5G across various industries including Space, Energy, Health and Life Sciences, Quantum, Digital, and Defence and Security.
EOI deadline: 5.30 pm on 22 November 2024
Full application deadline: 5.30 pm on 13 December 2024
Scope
This Call invites PoC projects that leverage or integrate 5G technology to enhance capabilities, address sector-specific challenges, or create new business opportunities. We welcome a diverse range of applications, including (but not limited to) projects in:
- 5G-enabled Space applications: satellite communications, real-time Earth observation, and remote sensing.
- Energy Sector Innovations: smart grid management, renewable energy monitoring, and IoT-enabled energy infrastructure.
- Healthcare and Life Sciences: telemedicine, remote diagnostics, and real-time health data analytics via 5G.
- Quantum and Digital Technologies: secure 5G communications, quantum encryption over 5G networks, and enhanced digital connectivity.
- Agri-tech: precision agriculture, drones and autonomous machinery, IoT sensors for livestock monitoring, smart irrigation systems, supply chain and farm management optimisation, enhanced connectivity in rural areas.
- Smart Cities and Infrastructure: Solutions focused on smart transportation, IoT for city management, public safety, and energy efficiency.
- Industry 4.0: Use cases for automated manufacturing, real-time robotics, predictive maintenance, and supply chain optimisation.
- Defence and Security: autonomous surveillance systems, real-time threat detection, and 5G-enabled secure data sharing.
- Entertainment and Media: Innovations in live event streaming, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), and gaming that rely on high-speed, low-latency networks.
The 5G Ecosystem is a collaboration between STFC’s Campus Technology Hub (CTH) and Hartree Centre. It offers both public and private 5G connectivity along with 3D printing, VR/AR, and IoT, technologies which combined with the advanced computing can accelerate the prototyping of 5G applications.
We enable rapid, iterative design and testing of 5G use-cases in a real-world living lab as well as creating realistic models, simulating complex network scenarios, and processing vast datasets at high speeds.
The 5G Ecosystem is located in the CTH at Daresbury Laboratory on the Sci-Tech Daresbury Campus.
Eligibility Requirements
5G Relevance: projects incorporating or leveraging 5G technology to drive innovation.
The fund will accept applications from a range of organisations within the 5G ecosystem, including:
- Startups: developing new products or services that leverage 5G technology.
- Universities and research institutions: conducting 5G-related applied research.
- Established companies: pursuing innovative 5G use cases.
- Public sector bodies: exploring 5G applications for public service enhancement.
How to Apply
If you have a proof-of-concept project that meets the eligibility requirements and develops new knowledge, technologies and products or services, please contact us to express your interest by 5.30 pm on 22 November 2024 and request an application pack. All completed applications and accompanying documents must be submitted by 5.30 pm on 13 December 2024.
The Hartree Centre
The Hartree Centre helps UK businesses and organisations of any size to explore and adopt supercomputing, data science and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for enhanced productivity, smarter innovation and economic growth. Backed by significant UK government funding and strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as IBM, Atos and the University of Liverpool, the Hartree Centre is home to some of the most advanced digital technologies and experts in the UK.
The Campus Technology Hub (CTH)
A versatile and dynamic ecosystem enabling radical new product/services prototyping and development. The facility provides a wide range of prototyping technologies to include 3D printing, Virtual Reality, IoT, scanning technologies and more
STFC Clusters
With a strong foundation in expertise and innovation, Sci-Tech Daresbury is home to the regional North West Health Cluster, North West Space Cluster, and Digital Tech Cluster, while the Harwell Campus hosts four rapidly growing clusters in Space, Health, Energy, and Quantum. This Cluster model drives collaboration and knowledge exchange, promoting innovation in key sectors essential for UK economic growth.
This call builds on the established model of the STFC Cross Cluster Proof of Concept (CCPOC) call. The CCPOC call invites business-led and collaborative proof of concept projects from any area related to the STFC-supported Clusters.
The primary aim of the DL 5G Ecosystem funding call is to stimulate business engagement across the cluster-focused industries in 5G-driven projects that can enhance sector-specific capabilities or address emerging industry needs. If you would like to discuss this call and the cluster model specifically, please reach out to James Bedford - Digital Tech Cluster Development Manager.
FAQs
- Does my company need to be a member of a cluster? - No, there is no need to be a member of a cluster.
- Do I need to collaborate with another company as required in the CCPOC call? - No, there is no need to collaborate with another company in this call.
- Can I utilise the 3D printing facilities in the CTH? - Yes, so long as the application involves 5G technology.
Any additional questions, please contact DL5GEcosystemPOC@stfc.ac.uk
High-Performance Computing Lead - Richard Harding
James Bedford - Digital Tech Cluster Development Manager