SBRI: protecting nuclear decommissioning operators

Key Features

Organisations can apply for a share of £850,000 to develop solutions for protecting and increasing the productivity of the nuclear decommissioning operator. This is phase 1 of a 2 phase competition.

 

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Share of £850,000

Opens: 23rd Apr 2018

Closes: 13th Jun 2018

! This scheme is now closed

Sellafield Ltd will invest up to £850,000 excluding VAT in innovative projects that will better equip and support nuclear decommissioning operators working in hazardous environments.

The aim of this competition is to enable operators to carry out tasks safer, quicker and cheaper while being more comfortable in their working environment.

Your proposal should be an integrated solution that solves or alleviates challenges for people operating in radioactive environments.

Regulations must be met for equipment operating on radioactive sites. These are given in the invitation to tender. However, they will consider proposals that could lead to changes in the current regulatory process. Engagement with the regulators will be available for projects selected for phase 1 and phase 2.

Innovate UK are particularly encouraging applications that:

  • bring together organisations from outside the nuclear sector that can create unique solutions to the challenge
  • are multi-disciplinary and involve technology transfer
  • adopt a systems based approach to solving the challenge
  • provide solutions that are adaptable, scalable and useable in a range of facilities and environments

 

To lead a project, you can:

  • be an organisation of any size
  • work alone or with others as subcontractors (businesses, research base and third sector)

The lead applicant is fully responsible for managing any subcontractors and for the delivery of the project.

Phase 1: £350,000 for technical feasibility studies. You must complete and report by January 2019.

Phase 2: £500,000 for development and demonstration in a non-radioactive environment. You must complete by May 2020.

Phase 1 projects should be between £10,000 and £35,000 and last up to 3 months. Phase 2 projects should be between £50,000 and £160,000 and last up to 12 months.

Projects will be funded at 100% of their eligible project costs.

At least 50% of the contract value should be exclusively and directly assigned for research and development (R&D) services. R&D can cover the exploration and design of your solution. It can also include prototyping and field-testing of the product or service.