Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about funding calls.
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A primary role of the FSRN to to broker new partnerships and engage members who typically have not been involved in food safety research in the past. If you have a need or interest to recruit a new partner into your project proposal or expression of interest, indicate this in the application.
We understand that a barrier to innovation can be a complex and lengthy application process. At the outset we have streamlined the amount of information needed to review projects and to broker partnerships, and for those applications that are successful, we will provide ongoing and tailored support to project teams.
To facilitate the establishment of any required collaborative agreements, our Business Development team can provide model agreements to help universities and businesses (especially small and medium-sized enterprises) to collaborate more effectively. The agreements set out a range of approaches to ownership and exploitation of IP. They are easy to modify so that the wording can be customised to reflect the deal negotiated.
If these agreements are important to facilitate the project, the partners will agree a start date and are expected to have a signed agreement in place prior to the project commencing. We reserve the right to request copies of these documents from all award holders.
As a minimum, an agreement should cover:
For a detailed timeline of the application and decision process, and the project completion deadline, please see the specific project call page. We have a streamlined review process and usually projects can initiate within a month of the call close date.
Our strategy and priorities are continually updated based on feedback from our membership, Advisory Board and Leadership Team. If you would like to contribute to the FSRN strategic priorities, please engage with us by attending our events and directly interacting with the team.
To support the above provisions for additional resources to successful projects and to identify other opportunities to support projects and the overall Network (e.g. where development of impact case studies might be valuable), we have developed a very light-touch project reporting system. We will also expect that award holders participate in FSRN activities, including but not limited to community meetings, which will offer an opportunity to showcase your work and disseminate findings. These events will be funded centrally by the FSRN and costs for attending should not be included in your application.
Since the FSRN is funded through the BBSRC, the lead applicant needs to be eligible for UKRI funding, however, we are eager to support international collaborations where appropriate. There is no limit to the number of collaborators on any one application, so, whether you have a finessed project with collaboration already in place, or you have an idea and need collaborators to see it through, please feel free to put in an application.
It is a condition for eligibility that at least one applicant be eligible for UKRI funding, and at least one applicant come from a non-academic background. Therefore, private companies with relevance to UK Food Safety are encouraged to apply, with an academic partner leading the project. If you have a project idea or research need but are missing an academic partner, please contact the FSRN team to help you identify an appropriate partner.
Contact: foodsafetynetwork@quadram.ac.uk
We encourage interest from applicants from a diversity of backgrounds and career stages and are looking to reflect this in the awards we make. Our focus is on ensuring those applying have the appropriate skills and expertise necessary to deliver the proposed activity. If you do not normally qualify for UKRI/ BBSRC funding (i.e. hold investigator status), but are looking to apply to this opportunity, we invite you to contact us ahead of applying to discuss your proposal and alignment with the scheme’s objectives. Please also ensure you have your line manager’s support before applying for a project
We work closely with the Business Development office at the Quadram Institute and will be able to offer some support for IP needs emerging from projects funded through the Network.
The application process is very light-touch. If you have an idea but no time to find relevant partners, please put in an application and the FSRN team can help you identify collaborators through the workshops.
All of the above. There is no limit on the scale of the project or the proximity to impact, as long as they relate to microbiological food safety
All of the above. We are interested in any stage of the food chain that will affect microbiological food safety for the consumer.
All data collected during the course of application will be protected in line with the BBSRC Data Protection Policy.
In addition to these data being processed to enable the assessment, award and ongoing award management process of any application to this opportunity, the BBSRC, the FSA, and QIB may use information for research related activities, including but not limited to, transfer of PoC funds, evaluation of the Network, and policy and strategy studies.
To meet UKRI obligations for public accountability and the dissemination of information, details of grants (including successful PoC awards) may also be made available on the UKRI website and other publicly available databases, and in reports, documents and mailing lists.
How can I contact the Network team?
Please contact us at foodsafetynetwork@quadram.ac.uk for more information. ·
