Aug22017

News story: New and novel healthcare solutions: apply for innovation funding

HM Government

Up to £12 million is on offer to UK businesses for projects that support the development of healthcare technologies and processes.

Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council (MRC) are to invest up to £12 million in new and novel healthcare solutions.

There are 2 competitions for UK micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the latest round of the Biomedical Catalyst. These are for feasibility and early stage projects.

What we are looking for

We are looking to support the development of innovative healthcare technologies and processes such as:

  • disease prevention and proactive management of health and chronic conditions
  • earlier and better detection and diagnosis of disease, leading to better patient outcomes
  • tailored treatments that either change the underlying disease or offer potential cures

Feasibility studies

These are for exploring and testing the commercial potential and feasibility of ideas. Up to £2 million is available.

Early-stage projects

These are for testing a well-developed concept and showing its effectiveness in a relevant environment. Up to £10 million is available.

About the Biomedical Catalyst

The Biomedical Catalyst is a partnership between Innovate UK and the MRC. It aims to support the most innovative life sciences opportunities regardless of the scientific approach. It also wants to de-risk academia and industry being able to take forward innovative scientific ideas.

Competition information

  • the competitions are open, and the deadline is midday on Wednesday 11 October 2017
  • you could get up to £200,000 for feasibility studies lasting up to 1 year
  • you could get between £250,000 and £4 million for early-stage projects lasting between 1 and 3 years
  • you can work alone or in collaboration with other businesses or research organisations, but to lead a project you must be a UK-based SME
  • you can watch the recording of the briefing event to help with your application

Aug22017

Twenty eight projects set to benefit from EU property development funds

Welsh Government

Seventeen projects from the £7m Property for Business Development Grant Fund (PBDG) and eleven from the £7m Property Infrastructure Fund (PIF) have been provisionally allocated funding. Firm grant offers will be made once second stage applications have been received, further assessed and formally approved.

The selected projects will together provide more than 1million sq ft. of new and refurbished office and industrial floor space, with the capacity to accommodate around 2000 jobs.

Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: 

“The selected projects represent a geographical spread across North, West and South East Wales and will support business growth and job creation, providing tangible benefits for local economies. 

“The grant support available through these EU funded projects will help stimulate the market, create new high quality industrial space and offices to accommodate jobs and, most importantly, meet the needs of local businesses.”

The successful projects were selected in conjunction with regional stakeholders across Wales to provide best value for money and to create the greatest economic impact. The primary focus has been on projects in Enterprise Zones, Local Growth Zones and City Regions.

Both funds are for new build and refurbishments/extensions/adaptions with the PIF scheme aimed specifically at advance build developments and the PBDG fund targeted at supporting businesses with bespoke expansion projects.

The Funds aim to bridge the financial viability gap that exists in parts of Wales between the cost of building, expanding or refurbishing properties and the completed market value of the property.

Aug22017

Consultation outcome: Water supply and sewerage licensing: updating security and emergency measures directions

DEFRA

Updated: Summary of responses including government response added.

We want to know what you think about our proposals to update the wording used in the Security and Emergency Measures (Water Undertakers) Direction 2006. We propose changing ‘licensed water supplier’ to ‘water supply licensee’ to take into account changes to the water industry as part of the WSSL regime.

We’re also seeking views on our proposal to issue a new general direction which would apply to all water supply licensees meeting certain conditions. This general direction would replace specific directions that have previously been issued to individual companies.

These directions set out how we expect water suppliers to respond to an emergency.