The Technology Strategy Board and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) are investing up to £2.5m in feasibility studies to accelerate commercial applications in the novel material, graphene.
Graphene is of key interest to the water sector – one of its potential applications is its use in the desalination of sea water to meet growing global demand for potable water and water for use in agriculture.
Last year US-based Lockheed Martin was awarded a patent for its Perforene™ material, a molecular filtration solution which works by removing sodium, chlorine and other ions from sea water and other sources. The patent is seen as a further step on the path to developing affordable water desalination.
Graphene has also been flagged up as having the potential to revolutionise wastewater treatment and to clean up contaminated groundwater
The competition will invest in projects that explore the realistic potential of graphene to yield new products that could disrupt markets. The expectation is that the projects will stimulate development of a robust and competitive supply base to support the nascent graphene-using industry. The investment will include related carbon-based, two-dimensional nanotechnologies that have recently emerged from the science base.
Proposals for funding must be collaborative and business-led. The competition is looking to attract consortia drawn from small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) and/or large companies.
Feasibility studies (mainly pre-industrial research projects) in which a business partner will generally attract up to 65% public funding for their project costs (75% for SMEs). Research organisations can attract funding of up to 100% of their costs.
Projects are expected to last up to 12 months and to range in size up to total costs of £200k.
The competition opens on 7 April 2014 and the deadline for receipt of applications is noon on 4 June 2014. A briefing for potential applicants will be held on 24 April 2014.
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