Innovation Fellowships are open to national and international researchers and will be hosted by the most appropriate UK institutions to support the aims of the research. Fellows will benefit from access to facilities and expertise across existing Hub members.
Applicants are expected to develop a proposal at TRL 1 to 3 to facilitate a fundamental step-change in composites manufacturing technology within the UK. Proposals should examine a subject area that is ambitious and high risk, identifying key challenges and research questions not currently being addressed. This can include the development of new manufacturing technologies, analytical studies to develop a fundamental understanding of state-of-the-art processes or the development of process modelling and optimisation techniques.
Proposals must focus on composites manufacturing, rather than the development of next-generation materials and address at least one of the five Hub priority areas. Whilst fellowships are for a fixed period of up to two years, successful candidates will be expected to generate additional funding to extend this period and expand their research.
Proposals must be step-changing and disruptive in order to facilitate the aims of the Hub and should also focus on overcoming manufacturing related challenges, rather than material developments.
The Future Composites Manufacturing Research Hub is a £10.3m investment by the EPSRC to engage academics from across the UK to deliver a step change in the manufacturing of polymer matrix composites. The Hub is led by the University of Nottingham and the University of Bristol and includes 8 other Spokes; Brunel University London, the University of Cambridge, Cranfield University, the University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, the University of Glasgow, the University of Manchester and the University of Southampton.
Application and funding criteria is available at www.cimcomp.ac.uk and the closing date for applications is 31st May 2018.