IRC 2016 for explosives & weapons detection

Key Features

Businesses can apply for a share of £3 million for innovative research projects in explosives and weapons detection

Programme:     SBRI

Award:     Up to £60,000

Opens: 12th Sep 2016

Closes: 19th Oct 2016

! This scheme is now closed

The Innovative Research Call (IRC) 2016 for Explosives and Weapons Detection will fund innovative research projects for explosives and weapons detection.
IRC 2016 is the fourth iteration of this successful cross-government research call. It aims to identify innovation in all aspects of explosives and weapons detection. Projects can either develop original ideas or adapt successful technologies, techniques or processes from other fields.

The competition is looking for proposals in the following challenge areas:

  • buildings and areas
  • goods
  • people and/or their possessions
  • vehicles

Proposals may relate to improving the effectiveness and / or the efficiency of detection. Projects can either develop original ideas or adapt successful technologies, techniques or processes from other fields.  For more information regarding proposal types, click here.

This competition has 2 phases. Up to £1 million is allocated for Phase 1, and up to £2 million for Phase 2.

  • Phase 1: proof of concept. Projects should last up to 6 months. Projects can range in size from total costs of zero to around £60,000
  • Phase 2: development contracts. Projects should last up to 2 years

Funding and project details
The competition has allocated up to £3 million to fund innovation projects. This is divided across 2 phases:

  • up to £1 million to fund proof of concept projects in phase 1
  • up to £2 million to fund development and evaluation of prototypes or demonstrators in phase 2

Phase 1

You will need to show the proof of concept of your proposed innovation. Projects can range in size from total costs of zero to around £60,000 and should last up to 6 months. Applications at phase 1 that require no funding, or minimal funding, to achieve proof of concept, will be welcome.

Phase 2

Phase 2 is only open to applicants that have successfully completed phase 1.

The most promising innovations will be invited to apply for phase 2 funding. In phase 2, you will develop and evaluate prototypes or demonstrators of your innovation. Phase 2 will have total funding of up to £2 million and projects should last up to 2 years.