Funding competition SBRI: using geospatial data to solve transport challenges, phase 1

Organisations can apply for a share of up to £2 million, inclusive of VAT, to develop feasibility studies for one of the themed challenges.

This competition is now closed.

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Competition sections

Description

This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition funded by the Geospatial Commission, part of the Cabinet Office. The aim of this competition is to identify innovative geospatial solutions to current transport challenges and enable the future of mobility.

This is phase 1 of a potential 2-phase competition. A decision to proceed with phase 2 will depend on the outcomes from phase 1. Only successful applicants from phase 1 will be able to apply to take part in phase 2. This will involve a separate application into a subsequent phase 2 competition.

Phase 1: research and development contracts, feasibility study

This competition involves research and development (R&D) contracts being awarded to demonstrate technical feasibility of the proposed solution. A total of up to £2 million, inclusive of VAT, is allocated to this phase.

The phase 1 contracts will be up to £75,000, inclusive of VAT. This is for each project for up to 12 weeks.

We expect to fund about 30 projects. The assessors will consider fair value in making their evaluation.

We welcome bids from a single entity that brings together sector specialists as subcontractors.

This phase 1 competition closes at 11am UK time on the date of the deadline.

Phase 2: research and development contracts, prototype development and testing

We expect to follow phase 1 with a second phase that will involve R&D contracts being awarded to businesses chosen from the successful phase 1 applicants. Funding of between £500,000 and £1 million, inclusive of VAT, is expected to be allocated for each phase 2 contract, in order to develop a prototype and undertake field testing for 12 months.

Any adoption and implementation of a solution from phase 2 would be subject to a separate, competitive, procurement exercise. This competition does not cover the final purchase of any solution.

Funding type

Procurement

Project size

Phase 1 projects to range in size up to total costs of £75,000, inclusive of VAT

Who can apply

Your project

Projects are expected to start by 4 January, end by 31 March 2021 and can last up to 12 weeks.

Applicant

To lead a project, you can:

  • be an organisation of any size
  • work alone or with other organisations

Contracts will be awarded only to a single legal entity. However, if you can justify subcontracting components of the work, you can employ specialist consultants or advisers. This work will still be the responsibility of the main contractor.

Subcontractors

If you have specific skills or services to offer but do not wish to apply into the competition directly, or if you are an applicant but have gaps in your delivery team, please use the Transport Location Data SBRI Innovation Competition Marketplace to connect with others.

Funding

A total of up to £2 million, inclusive of VAT, is allocated to phase 1.

The phase 1 feasibility study R&D contracts will be up to £75,000, (this is inclusive of VAT where applicable), for each project and with a duration of up to 12 weeks. We expect to fund up to 30 projects.

The total funding available for the competition can change. The funders have the right to:

  • adjust the provisional funding allocations between the phases
  • apply a ‘portfolio’ approach across the 4 thematic areas

Research and development

Your application must have at least 50% of the contract value attributed directly and exclusively to R&D services, including solution exploration and design. R&D can also include prototyping and field-testing the product or service. This lets you incorporate the results of your exploration and design, and demonstrate that you can produce in quantity to acceptable quality standards.

R&D does not include:

  • commercial development activities such as quantity production
  • supply to establish commercial viability or to recover R&D costs
  • integration, customisation or incremental adaptations and improvements to existing products or processes

State aid

SBRI competitions involve procurement of R&D services at a fair market value and are not subject to state aid criteria that typically apply to grant funding.

Your proposal

The aim of this competition is to identify innovative geospatial solutions to current transport challenges and enable the future of mobility within specific themes.

Your project must:

  • provide an initial assessment of user requirements
  • demonstrate economic, social and/or environmental value
  • demonstrate an approach that is novel or innovative for the UK, or an innovative approach that is scalable to new contexts
  • demonstrate a credible and practical route to market, so your application must include a plan to commercialise your results
  • identify a potential public sector lead customer or challenge owner for your solution


A matching service to pair solution providers with a strategic or lead customer is provided on the Transport Location Data SBRI Innovation Competition Marketplace.

Your project must demonstrate an application of geospatial data or technology (or both), such as:

  • earth observation and satellite-derived data
  • artificial intelligence or machine learning algorithms applied to spatial datasets
  • internet of things (IoT) sensors capturing spatial information
  • surveying, 3D laser scanning or spatial imaging
  • advanced geographic information systems analysis or geovisualisation and environment modelling

Lead customer or challenge owner

Your public sector lead customer or challenge owner could include a strategic customer with an interest in seeing the end solution procured by others or an organisation such as a local authority who may want to procure similar solutions.

Specific themes

Your application must focus on at least one of the themes set out here.

You must clearly identify the primary theme for assessment purposes. Your solution can cover several themes but will be assessed against the selected primary theme.

You can read examples of each theme in ‘Supporting information’.

Theme 1: mobility as a service

Overcoming siloed transport networks by enabling more seamless and accessible integration of transport modes.

Theme 2: active travel

Mitigating safety risks to promote active travel.

Theme 3: supply chains

Tackling logistical challenges including planning distribution networks and routing, optimising storage and warehousing, and last-mile delivery to reduce freight transport costs.

Theme 4: increasing capacity

Managing over and under-capacity to increase efficiency of our transport networks without compromising safety.

Research categories

Phase 1: technical feasibility studies

This means planned research or critical investigation to gain new knowledge and skills for developing new products, processes or services.


This competition is phase 1. In this phase you will work closely with the stakeholders to demonstrate feasibility.

Phase 2: prototype development and evaluation

This can include prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation of new or improved products, processes or services in environments representative of real life operating conditions. The primary objective is to make further technical improvements on products, processes or services that are not substantially set.

The outcome of phase 2 will be a prototype of the solution.

Projects we won’t fund

We will not fund projects that:

  • do not demonstrate an application of geospatial data and/or technology
  • do not demonstrate that they respond to one of the 4 themes
  • exceed £75,000 inclusive of VAT for the phase 1 activity
  • do not identify a public sector organisation to act as a potential lead customer or challenge owner
29 September 2020
Competition opens
8 October 2020
Webinar briefing event - Register here
4 November 2020 11:00am
Competition closes
18 December 2020 1:17pm
Applicants notified
22 December 2020
Phase 1 contracts awarded
15 January 2021
Feedback issued

Before you start

By submitting an application you agree to the terms of the draft contract which is available once you start your application.

The final contract will include any details you have agreed with the funding authority and will be sent to you if your application is successful. The terms and conditions included in the draft contract should not substantially change. The contract is binding once it is returned by the applicant and signed by both parties.

When you start an application on the Innovation Funding Service you will be prompted to create an account as the lead applicant or sign in as a representative of your organisation. You will need an account to track the progress of your application.

As the lead applicant you will be responsible for:

  • collecting the information for your application
  • representing your organisation in leading the project if your application is successful

You will be able to invite colleagues from your organisation and subcontractors to contribute to the application.

What happens next

A selected panel of up to 5 independent assessors will review and score your application and the winners of phase 1 contracts will be selected. All applicants will be provided with feedback.

For phase 2, assessors will also take into account the phase 1 end-of-phase technical feasibility study report when assessing your application to phase 2.

What we will ask you

The application is split into 3 sections:

  1. Project details.
  2. Application questions.
  3. Finances.

1. Project details

These sections are not scored.

Application details

The lead applicant must complete this section. Give your project’s title, start date and duration.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We collect and report on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data to address under-representation in business innovation and ensure equality, diversity and inclusion across all our activities.

You must complete the EDI survey and select yes in the application. The survey will ask you questions on your gender, age, ethnicity and disability status. You will always have the option to ‘prefer not to say’ if you do not feel comfortable sharing this information.


Themes

Select the theme your application will focus on:

  1. Mobility as a service.
  2. Active travel.
  3. Supply chains.
  4. Increasing capacity.

Your solution can overlap a number of themes but please select the main one.

For more detail see the competition’s scope.

Project summary

Please provide a short summary of your project and describe how it meets the scope of the competition.

Describe your project briefly. Be clear about what makes it innovative and how it relates to the scope of the competition.

Give details of the lead organisation. Before you submit we expect you to have discussed your application within your own organisation and any other relevant organisations.

List any organisations you have named as subcontractors.

Describe how your proposal meets the scope of the competition. How does it tackle different aspects of the challenge and how will it provide an integrated solution? If your application covers more than one theme, please state which other themes are applicable for your project.

Your answer for this section can be up to 800 words long. This section is not scored, but we will use it to decide whether the project fits the scope of the competition. If it does not, it may be rejected.

Public description

Please provide a brief description of your project. If your application is successful, we will publish this description. This question is mandatory, but we will not assess this content as part of your application.

Describe your project in detail, and in a way that you are happy to see published. Do not include any commercially sensitive information. If we award your project funding, we will publish this description. This could happen before you start your project. We have the right to amend the description before publication if necessary but will consult you about any changes.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

2. Application questions

The assessors will score your answers to all these questions except question 9.

Your answer to each question can be up to 400 words long. Do not include any website addresses (URLs) in your answers unless we have explicitly requested a link to a video.

Question 1. Proposed idea or technology

Provide a brief description of your proposed idea or technology. How does it address the outcomes described in the competition scope?

Describe the current state of development or readiness of the idea.

You can submit a single appendix as a PDF containing images and diagrams to support your answer. It can be no larger than 10MB and up to 2 A4 pages long. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

This question will be scored against this assessment criterion: ‘How well does the proposal meet the challenge?’

Question 2. Technical project summary

Give a short background to the main technical challenges. State what the innovation is and the main technical deliverables.

This would typically involve highlighting the research and development that will prove the scientific and commercial merit of the project. Also describe what might be achieved by deploying the innovation to address the technical challenges.

Briefly describe how you will address the challenge.

This question will be scored against this assessment criterion: ‘How valid is the technical approach?’

Question 3. Current state of the art and intellectual property

Detail other products on the market and the innovation of your proposed project. Include details of any existing intellectual property (IP) and its significance to your freedom to operate.

This question will be scored against these assessment criteria: ‘How innovative is this project? How much does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools or technologies for this area?’

Question 4. Project plan and methodology

Describe your project plan and identify the main milestones.

The plan for phase 1 must be comprehensive. For phase 2 only an outline is required. The emphasis throughout should be on practicality. We are seeking evidence that the technology works, can be made into a viable product and can achieve the proposed benefits.

You must describe or explain:

  • what resources will be needed to deliver the project
  • what the main success criteria would be
  • the identified project management processes that will ensure you achieve the milestones
  • the main technical, commercial and environmental risks and what you will do to mitigate them
  • how you would handle any IP issues which might arise during the project
  • your required payment schedule by month.

Please ensure that if you are working with subcontractors you explain how you will maintain freedom to operate and fulfil the IP requirements detailed in the contract. Allow for the preparation of a detailed plan for phase 2, towards the end of phase 1

You must upload a project plan or Gantt chart as an appendix in PDF format no larger than 10MB and up to 2 A4 pages. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

Download and complete the milestone template.

Your milestones must be:

  • clear
  • defined using SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound) criteria
  • associated with the appropriate deliverables and payments

Once you have completed the milestone template it must be uploaded in a PDF format to this question. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

This question will be assessed against these assessment criteria: ‘Does the proposal show a clear plan for establishing technical and commercial feasibility and the development of a working prototype? Is there a clear management plan What are the main technical, commercial and environmental risks to project success? Will these be effectively managed? Are the milestones and evaluation procedures appropriate?

Question 5. Technical team and expertise

Provide a brief description of your technical team. Include the expertise of each team member or subcontractor that is relevant to your application and how much of their time will be spent on the project.

This question will be scored against this assessment criterion: ‘Does the applicant have the skills, capabilities and experience to deliver the intended benefits?’

Question 6. Costs and value for money

How much will the project cost for phase 1? How does it represent value for money for the team and the taxpayer?

Describe or explain:

  • the total eligible project costs, inclusive of VAT, you are requesting in terms of the project goals
  • how this project represents value for money for you and the taxpayer
  • how it compares to what you would spend your money on otherwise

You can submit a single appendix as a spreadsheet no larger than 10MB and up to 2 A4 pages long to support your answer. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

You will be required to set out costs for Phase 1 in the Finance Section of the application. An indication of projected costs for Phase 2 should be provided in the text box in this question

Progression to phase 2 depends on your success in phase 1.

Costs quoted must reflect actual costs at a “fair market value” and not include profit.

Full Economic Cost (FEC) calculations are not relevant for SBRI competitions. SBRI is a competitive process and applications will come from a variety of organisations. Whatever calculation you use to arrive at your total eligible project costs your application will be assessed against applications from other organisations. Bear this in mind when calculating your total eligible project costs. You can include overheads but remember that this is a competitive process.

All costs must include VAT. VAT is the responsibility of the invoicing business, and applications must list total costs inclusive of VAT. If you are VAT exempt then you can quote without VAT but you will not be able to increase invoice values to cover VAT later on.

The assessors are required to judge the application finances in terms of value for money. In other words, does the proposed cost for effort and deliverables reflect a fair market price? They will score your finances against this assessment criterion: ‘Are the budget and costs realistic, justified and appropriate for the aims and methods?

Please note information from the finances section will be used to support the assessment of this question.

Question 7. Commercial potential

Describe how you would realise the commercial potential of your proposal and to what timescales, including a clear plan to deliver that and a route to market. Focus on your proposed customer’s needs but you may also mention the future commercial potential across the public or private sector and the international market.

How far is the challenge you are addressing shared across the public and/or private sector in the UK and further afield? Describe the competitive advantage that your proposal has over existing or alternative technologies that meet market needs.

Describe the competitive advantage that your proposal has over existing or alternative technologies that meet market needs.

This question will be scored against these assessment criteria: ‘Is there a clear commercial potential for a marketable product, process or service and a clear plan to deliver that and a clear route to market? How significant is the competitive advantage of this technology over existing technologies that meet the market’s needs?’

Question 8. Public sector lead customer support

Describe how you will engage with a public sector organisation (or an association of public sector organisations) during the feasibility stage (phase 1) of your project.

Provide evidence, such as a letter of support, to indicate that a public sector organisation has expressed interest in or can support you with your proposed idea. You must submit evidence as a single PDF appendix no larger than 10MB and up to 4 A4 pages long. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.

This question will be scored against this assessment criterion: ‘Has the applicant provided evidence that their proposal is of interest to a public sector organisation?’

Information sharing with other funders (unscored)

If your application scores above the allocated threshold but we are unable to fund it due to budget constraints, would you allow Innovate UK and the Geospatial Commission to share your information with other funders? Yes or no.

3. Finances

Enter your phase 1 project costs, organisation details and funding details. For full information on what costs you can claim, see our project costs guidance.

Example projects by theme

These examples are not exhaustive.

Mobility as a service

Overcoming siloed transport networks by enabling more seamless and accessible integration of transport modes. For example:

  • smart technology to enable data and digital services such as smart ticketing or mechanisms to enable micromobility through sensor technology
  • real-time routing solutions that respond to traffic disruptions and support social and environmental outcomes (such as the avoidance of schools, hospitals, and Clean Air Zones)
  • providing routing and/or booking for available parking spaces, with additional integrated attribute data (such as EV charging facilities)
  • incorporating accessibility requirements into journey planning

Active travel

Mitigating safety risks to promote active travel. For example:

  • spatial data applications to support better planning of a safe environment for active travel, e.g. cycle networks and parking, pavements and crossings, or junctions
  • location-enabled devices, sensors and vehicle data and/or better dynamic information on route options to support safer routing for active transport modes
  • advanced active travel flow monitoring and modelling, to support evaluation of existing networks and identify future improvements

Supply chains

Tackling logistical challenges such as planning distribution networks and routing, optimising storage and warehousing, and last-mile delivery to reduce freight transport costs. For example:

  • spatial data services for consolidation of freight consignments through to doorstep deliveries
  • making better use of kerbside space for deliveries
  • bespoke freight routing systems integrated with traffic management systems to divert freight traffic from other forms of traffic

Increasing capacity

Managing over and under-capacity to increase efficiency of our transport networks without compromising safety. For example:

  • new and more cost-effective spatial tools for traffic management and control
  • near miss identification tools to identify risk early on, or live data on traffic incidents to help manage response and minimise disruption
  • crowd monitoring and management tools for busy transport hubs like stations

Background and further information

About this competition

The Geospatial Commission are investing up to £2 million in 2020/21 to run a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) innovation competition to identify innovative geospatial solutions to current transport challenges and enable the future of mobility. This is in alignment with the Geospatial Strategy, in particular Mission 4 – Enabling Innovation.

Transport Location Data SBRI Innovation Competition Marketplace

This marketplace is a supporting website to help you to identify a lead customer or challenge owner. It also offers an opportunity to identify sector experts and others that may be able to support your activity.

The virtual market place enables you to search and profile project opportunities as well as help with introductions between innovators, potential customers or challenge owners, and subcontractors.

This virtual marketplace has 2 main objectives:

  1. To help you identify and seek support from challenge owners or lead customers.
  2. To help you identify other organisations or individuals that offer specific skills or services, filling any gaps in your organisation.

About Small Business Research Initiative competitions

SBRI provides innovative solutions to challenges faced by the public sector. This can lead to better public services and improved efficiency and effectiveness.

The SBRI programme:

  • supports economic growth and enables the development of innovative products and services through the public procurement of R&D
  • generates new business opportunities for companies
  • provides a route to market for their ideas
  • bridges the seed funding gap experienced by many early-stage companies

SBRI competitions are open to all organisations that can demonstrate a route to market for their solution. The SBRI scheme is particularly suited to small and medium-sized businesses, as the contracts are of relatively small value and operate on short timescales. Developments are 100% funded and focused on specific identified needs, increasing the chance of exploitation.

Suppliers for each project will be selected by an open competition process and retain the intellectual property generated from the project, with certain rights of use retained by the contracting authority. This is an excellent opportunity to establish an early customer for a new technology and to fund its development.

By submitting this application you acknowledge that:

  • you have read the statement above
  • you have read the draft contract and are prepared to agree to the terms and conditions if you are successful
  • you agree that your contact details can be passed to other government agencies and Affinity Partners
  • the information given in this application is complete
  • you are actively engaged in this project and responsible for its overall management
  • you agree to administer the award if made

Data sharing

This competition is jointly operated by Innovate UK, and the Geospatial Commission (each an “agency”).

Your submitted application and any other information you provide at the application stage can be submitted to each agency on an individual basis for its storage, processing and use. Any relevant information produced during the application process concerning your application can be shared by one agency with the other, for its individual storage, processing and use.

This means that any information given to or generated by Innovate UK in respect of your application may be passed on to the Geospatial Commission and vice versa.

Innovate UK is directly accountable to you for its holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. It is held in accordance with its Information Management Policy.

Innovate UK and the Geospatial Commission are directly accountable to you for their holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. Data is held in accordance with their own policies. Accordingly, Innovate UK, and the Geospatial Commission will be data controllers for personal data submitted during the application.

Innovate UK complies with the requirements of GDPR, and is committed to upholding the data protection principles, and protecting your information. The Information Commissioner’s Office also has a useful guide for organisations, which outlines the data protection principles.

About the Geospatial Commission

The Geospatial Commission was established in 2018 as an independent, expert committee responsible for setting the UK’s geospatial strategy and coordinating public sector geospatial activity. Its aim is to unlock the significant economic, social and environmental opportunities offered by location data and to boost the UK’s global geospatial expertise.

The commission has a mandate and budget to drive and deliver changes by working in partnership with others. This means we:

  • provide strategic oversight of the geospatial ecosystem in the UK, setting geospatial strategy, policy and standards
  • hold the budget for the public sector’s largest investment in geospatial data
  • make targeted investments in data projects that accelerate innovation and adoption of geospatial data applications

The overarching objectives of the commission is to increase economic growth and improve social and environmental outcomes by:

  • setting cross-cutting geospatial strategy, policy and data standards
  • promoting competition within markets for geospatial data, products and services
  • improving accessibility, interoperability and quality of data
  • improving capability, skills and resources to support the growth of new and existing geospatial businesses and improve public services

Further help and information

If you want help to find a project partner, contact the Knowledge Transfer Network.

Contact us If you need more information, email us at support@innovateuk.ukri.org or call the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 between 9am and 11:30am or 2pm and 4.30pm Monday to Friday except bank holidays.

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