Training and Skills Hubs in Quantum Systems Engineering

Transcription

1 Training and Skills Hubs in Quantum Systems Engineering Call type: Invitatin fr prpsals Clsing date: 16:00 n 02 June 2015 Infrmatin Day: 29 April 2015 Related themes: Engineering, Glbal uncertainties, ICT, Manufacturing the future, Mathematical sciences, Physical sciences, Quantum technlgies Summary Quantum technlgies are thse that enable the creatin, cntrl and manipulatin f sensitive and fragile quantum effects within single systems. In recgnitin f the transfrmative ptential f these new technlgies, the multistakehlder UK Natinal Quantum Technlgies Prgramme was established in 2013 fllwing a 270 millin investment by gvernment. The Prgramme s investments include the establishment f a natinal netwrk f Quantum Technlgy Hubs by EPSRC and funding fr EPSRC Centres fr Dctral Training (CDTs) in quantum technlgies. EPSRC intends t augment the UK s existing research, innvatins and skills investments by inviting institutins, r cnsrtia f institutins, t submit prpsals fr Training and Skills Hubs in Quantum Systems Engineering. Hubs will cntribute t the develpment f quantum technlgies by delivering a cherent package f skills training, cwrking and mbility, and career develpment initiatives t develp high-level skills in quantum engineering. Training and Skills Hubs will act as ndes within the natinal netwrk f Quantum Technlgy Hubs, whse aim is t harness and explit the research and training strengths that exist acrss the UK academic landscape, facilitate partnering with industry, and tackle the key technlgical challenges that need t be vercme t realise the prmise f quantum technlgies. The visin fr Training and Skills Hub is that they will bth prvide high level quantum engineering skills prvisin, and act as catalysts t draw in a brader range f skills frm ther training rutes t fcus n quantum technlgies by encuraging the free flw f peple int and acrss the UK Natinal Quantum Technlgies Prgramme. Accrdingly, Training and Skills Hub prpsals will be required t explain their plans fr wrking with the existing netwrk f Quantum Technlgy Hubs and ther large investments, t develp an integrated netwrk f research, innvatin and skills capability. Up t 15 millin in funding is available t supprt three t five Hubs fr a five year perid. Assessment will be thrugh a tw stage prcess invlving peer review, priritisatin and interview panels. Page 1 f 15

2 Backgrund The diverse range f quantum technlgies that are currently under develpment will enable the creatin, cntrl and manipulatin f sensitive and fragile quantum effects within single systems. This prvides pwerful and useful effects that are nt pssible with current electrnics r materials based systems. The new cmpnents, devices and systems resulting frm these technlgies ffer enrmus ptential t build new prducts, services, prcesses and industries that will enhance the quality f life f citizens and generate emplyment and wealth. In recgnitin f this pprtunity, and the UK s vibrant and internatinally cmpetitive research base, the gvernment annunced a 270 millin investment in its 2013 Autumn Statement t establish the UK Natinal Quantum Technlgy Prgramme. This is a cllabrative effrt between the Department fr Business, Innvatin and Skills (BIS), EPSRC, Innvate UK and the Natinal Physical Labratry (NPL), in partnership with the Defence Science and Technlgy Labratry (DSTL) and the Gvernment Cmmunicatins Headquarters (GCHQ). The UK Natinal Quantum Technlgy Prgramme has already had a significant impact n the UK s quantum technlgies landscape thrugh a range f investments. Ntable develpments include the establishment f a natinal netwrk f Quantum Technlgy Hubs, EPSRC investment in Centres fr Dctral Training (CDTs), and initiatives by Innvate UK t enable businesses t explre the cmmercial pprtunities that quantum technlgies may bring t the UK. The develpment f new and imprved prducts, services and prcesses based n quantum technlgies is a nn-linear prcess reliant upn effective transfer f knwledge thrugh iterative interactins between a cmmunity f individuals and teams wrking twards shared and clear gals. These cmmunities f practice require a diverse set f skills and exist acrss academic, industrial, gvernmental and civil sciety rganisatins. The aim f this call is t cntribute t their develpment by grwing capacity in quantum engineering skills. Quantum engineers are multi-disciplinary individuals wh cmbine practical engineering skills and specialist technical knwledge in fields such as electrnic engineering, systems engineering, cmputer science, mathematics, and physical sciences with brader cmmunicatin skills, cmmercial awareness and engineering skills. We therefre invite prpsals frm eligible institutins, r cnsrtia f institutins, fr Training and Skills Hubs in Quantum Systems Engineering. The bjectives f this call are fr Hubs t: Augment the UK s existing landscape f quantum technlgies skills, research and innvatin capability. In particular, by wrking with the existing natinal netwrk f Quantum Technlgy Hubs and ther large investments t develp an integrated netwrk f research, innvatin and skills capability. Engage with stakehlders t c-create and deliver a cherent package f activities t grw capacity in high-level quantum engineering skills. Supprt the develpment f quantum engineers thrugh taught curses, research prject-based training and netwrking activities aimed at new and existing research students. Integrate training within the wider UK quantum technlgies cmmunity by creating pprtunities fr c-wrking and mbility between academia, Page 2 f 15

3 industry, gvernment and civil sciety rganisatins; and chrt-based appraches. Develp initiatives t enhance the career develpment f quantum engineers thrugh training and skills interventins and prvide supprt fr retaining the mst prmising dctral quantum engineers. Applicants shuld nte that a separate cmpetitin fr quantum technlgies strategic capital investment is being cnducted in parallel with this call. The tw calls are being cnducted thrugh synchrnised but separate assessment prcesses. Infrmatin Day An infrmatin day fr this call and the cncurrent quantum technlgies strategic capital investment call will be held fr prspective applicants n 29 April 2015 in Manchester. Further details will be published n the EPSRC website. We encurage ptential applicants t attend this meeting, r send a suitable representative frm their institutin. If yu wish t attend then please register yur interest by t events@epsrc.ac.uk by 16 April Please nte that EPSRC will limit the number f attendees per institutin in the event f high demand fr places. Scpe f the Call This call aims t enhance the develpment f quantum technlgies by grwing capacity in high-level quantum engineering skills. Training Eths Fr the purpse f this call, we make a deliberate distinctin between quantum scientists and quantum engineers. Quantum engineers can be bradly defined as individuals wh cmbine practical engineering skills and specialist technical knwledge in fields such as electrical and electrnic engineering, systems engineering, cmputer science, mathematics, materials science and physical sciences with brader cmmunicatin skills, cmmercial awareness and engineering skills. Quantum engineering is primarily mtivated by the prspect f applying knwledge t create new r imprved prducts, prcesses r services fr the marketplace; rather than develping the quantum sciences per se. We wish t make it clear that this distinctin is made t clarify the requirements f the call rather than t delineate a fixed separatin between quantum science and quantum engineering. T encurage further reflectin n the scpe f this call, we define quantum engineers by their ability t: Recgnise cmpnents within systems, their interdependencies, and the pssibility f unanticipated effects within systems. Bring a high degree f creativity t identify challenging prblems; investigate and clarify requirements; and design and develp practical slutins with real applicatins. Page 3 f 15

4 Cntinuusly imprve thrugh an iterative prcess f reviewing, rethinking and reframing prblems and slutins. Practively and effectively instigate cllabratins t address challenges, leveraging knwledge and perspectives frm ther fields. Cmmunicate effectively with a variety f stakehlders t understand prblems, clarify requirements and justify prpsed slutins, particularly fr market needs and pprtunities. Technlgical Scpe Training and Skills Hubs must fcus n activities relating t quantum technlgies. Quantum technlgies are thse that invlve the creatin, cntrl and manipulatin f sensitive and fragile quantum effects within single systems. Althugh many current and future technlgies are described by quantum thery, the fcus f this call is n skills and training activities fcussed n the direct explitatin f quantum phenmena such as superpsitin r entanglement t enable disruptive impacts in security, precisin, sensitivity, accuracy r speed f sensing. Cntributin t the Natinal Landscape The UK Natinal Quantum Technlgy Prgramme has already made significant research, innvatin and skills investments. Ntably, the establishment f a 120 millin natinal netwrk f Quantum Technlgy Hubs invlving 17 universities and 132 cmpanies (see: Training and Skills Hubs prpsals must articulate hw the prpsed Hub will augment existing investments. In particular, prpsals must include clear plans fr wrking with the existing natinal netwrk f quantum technlgies capability, ntably the Quantum Technlgy Hubs. Key Features f Training and Skills Hubs Hubs shuld deliver a cherent package f activities t grw capacity in highlevel quantum engineering skills. The Hubs package f activities shuld incrprate the fllwing features: Training f quantum engineers thrugh taught curses, research prjectbased dctral training and netwrking activities. We envisage that this will be achieved thrugh a mixture f new research students and additinal training fr existing research students in related fields (e.g. thse supprted thrugh Centres fr Dctral Training r Dctral Training Partnership funding) t develp quantum engineering skills. Again, a mixed apprach is envisaged where dctral students in engineering, cmputer science, mathematics and physical sciences receive training fcussed n expliting quantum effects, and, cnversely, dctral students in quantum science receive training fcussed n develping engineering skills. The develpment f a chrt-based training apprach that facilitates interdisciplinarity, multi-disciplinarity and systems-fcussed appraches thrugh peer-t-peer cntact within and acrss Hubs. Page 4 f 15

5 C-wrking and mbility initiatives t integrate training within the wider UK quantum technlgies cmmunity in academia, industry, gvernment and civil sciety. Training shuld be designed and delivered in partnership with user rganisatins and prvide expsure t cmplementary specialisms and applicatin areas. Exemplary appraches include inward and utward secndments; access t specialist technical and/r cmmercialisatin facilities; intensive shrt curses and wrkshps; buddying, caching and mentring arrangements; challenge-based appraches; creativity@hme training (see Annex 1) and ther suitable mechanisms. A dedicated Career Acceleratr Fund : flexible resurce t supprt the retentin f the mst prmising dctral quantum engineers t enhance the impact f their research, be entrepreneurial and develp their careers. Initiatives t enhance the career develpment f quantum engineers thrugh expsure t user rganisatins and training and resurces t build understanding f innvatin practices; cmmercial awareness; knwledge f intellectual asset prtectin; entrepreneurial skills; awareness f standards, regulatin and exprt cntrl; public engagement; Respnsible Research and Innvatin (RRI) activities; and Cntinuing Prfessinal Develpment (CPD) activities. Althugh EPSRC directly supprts the develpment f dctral level skills, the need t develp brader training and supprt the practically-based quantum engineering skills that will enable the develpment f quantum technlgies industries in the UK is recgnised by the UK Natinal Quantum Technlgies Prgramme. Therefre, Training and Skills Hubs shuld cnsider hw the funding requested frm EPSRC can be used t catalyse skills training that is inclusive t the wider quantum technlgies cmmunity in industry, gvernment and civil sciety rganisatins. Supprt fr Dctral Students Applicants shuld prvide detail n their appraches t supprting dctral students. RCUK has develped a Statement f Expectatins ( fr dctral students that sets ut expectatin fr student supprt. Equality and Diversity In line with legislatin in the Equality Act 2010, higher educatin institutins must have plicies in place t address equality and diversity issues. RCUK has develped a statement ( t assess whether these plicies are wrking in practice, embedded at all levels in institutins, and take accunt f the whle spectrum f equality and diversity issues. Applicants shuld prvide detail n their appraches supprting a diverse ppulatin f peple in their Skills and Training Hub. Respnsible Research and Innvatin (RRI) EPSRC is fully cmmitted t develp and prmte respnsible research and innvatin (RRI). It is expected that Skills and Training Hubs will undertake an active prgramme f educatin, stakehlder engagement, public engagement and tw-way dialgue with wider scial grups. The wrk shuld be carried ut Page 5 f 15

6 alngside ther already active grups in this area (e.g. the Research Cuncils, Ryal Academy f Engineering and thers). The EPSRC framewrk fr RRI is available here: Funding available Up t 15M in funding is available t supprt three t five Training and Skills Hubs ver a five year perid starting frm 01 April Hubs will be required t participate in a mid-term review after tw years f peratin, which will assess their perfrmance at that stage. Further funding beynd the mid-term review pint will be dependent n evidence f acceptable perfrmance. Funding is available t supprt the fllwing activities: High-level skills training in quantum engineering. Eligible csts include stipends, fees, cnsumables and ther incidental csts relating t dctral students. Fr further details please refer t the RCUK Funding fr Research Training guidance: and EPSRC guidance n flexibility f dctral training funds: The develpment and delivery f specific initiatives t supprt cwrking and mbility and career develpment (see Key Features f Training and Skills Hubs sectin fr further details): Curse develpment and delivery csts. Travel and subsistence csts. Wrkshps and ther event. Hubs are required t devte an apprpriate level f resurce t a dedicated Career Acceleratr Fund fr retaining the mst prmising student quantum engineers t enhance the impact f their research, be entrepreneurial and develp their careers. The Fund shuld be used strategically t strengthen links between the Hub and its stakehlders, and encurage the develpment f new cllabrative activities and knwledge transfer. Accrdingly, a significant degree f user engagement is expected in activities funded thrugh this mechanism. Exemplary Career Acceleratr Fund activities include: EPSRC Dctral Prize funding. Fr further guidance see: Prf-f-cncept and/r challenge-based funding cmpetitins. Netwrking activities. Specialist skills training. Operatinal funding t supprt: Page 6 f 15

7 The develpment f chrts f quantum engineers. Curse develpment and delivery csts. Staff csts relating t the c-rdinatin and management f the Hub. RRI, public engagement, and equality and diversity initiatives. creativity@hme training (see Annex 1). N capital equipment shuld be requested (i.e. equipment at r greater than 10k). Where pssible, researchers are asked t make use f existing facilities and equipment, including thse hsted at ther universities. Eligibility Fr infrmatin n the eligibility f rganisatins and individuals t receive EPSRC funding, see the EPSRC Funding Guide: As this call is a targeted funding pprtunity prvided by EPSRC, higher educatin institutins, and sme research cuncil institutes and independent research rganisatins are eligible t apply. A list f eligible rganisatins t apply t EPSRC is prvided at: Eligible institutins are nly permitted t lead a single Hub prpsal. Hw t apply Submitting applicatin Yu shuld prepare and submit yur prpsal using the Research Cuncils Jint electrnic Submissin (Je-S) System ( When adding a new prpsal, yu shuld select: Cuncil EPSRC Dcument type Standard Prpsal Scheme Standard On the Prject Details page yu shuld select the Quantum Technlgies Skills Call 2015 call. Nte that clicking submit dcument n yur prpsal frm in Je-S initially submits the prpsal t yur hst rganisatin s administratin, nt t EPSRC. Please allw sufficient time fr yur rganisatin s submissin prcess between submitting yur prpsal t them and the call clsing date. EPSRC must receive yur applicatin by 16:00 n 02 June Guidance n writing applicatin Fr general advice n writing prpsals see: Please nte that n submissin t cuncil all nn-pdf dcuments are cnverted t PDF. The use f nn-standard fnts may result in errrs r fnt cnversin, Page 7 f 15

8 which may result in changes t the layut f the dcument and culd affect the verall length f the dcument. Fr this reasn we recmmend that the dcuments are cnverted t PDF files befre uplading. Only ne applicatin shuld be submitted by the lead institutin. Prpsals must cmprise the fllwing dcuments: 1. Je-S applicatin frm 2. Case fr Supprt 3. Track Recrd f Applicant Team and Overview f Research and Innvatin Envirnment 4. Justificatin f Resurces 5. Pathways t Impact 6. Institutinal Statement(s) f Supprt 7. Prject Partner Statement(s) f Supprt 1. Je-S applicatin frm The title shuld be prefixed with Training and Skills Hub in Quantum Systems Engineering. All sectins f the frm shuld be cmpleted. The duratin f the grant shuld be n mre than 60 mnths. Please nminate five ptential reviewers, including at least tw that are based utside f the UK. Only the senir team that will be invlved in the management and peratin f the Hub (e.g. Directr and Deputy Directr) shuld be named n the frm. Details f prject supervisrs shuld nt be included n the applicatin frm, but shuld be included in the Case fr Supprt. All csts must be listed under the Exceptins heading. A detailed descriptin f these csts shuld be prvided in the separate Justificatin f Resurces dcument. Where csts relate t student training then please prvide a single value using the fllwing descriptins: Stipend this shuld nt be belw the current Research Cuncils UK minimum level fr 2015/16 f 14,057/year. Fees The Research Cuncils UK indicative level fr 2015/16 is 4,052/year. Please nte that EPSRC des nt prvide additinal funds fr Cllege fees. Other Csts this includes the allcatin f funds fr the incidental csts f pstgraduate training with regard fr the nature and the need fr fieldwrk, cnferences and prject specific industrial r internatinal placements. Page 8 f 15

9 Please include the value per student and number f full time equivalent students relating t the Stipend, Fees and Other Csts items. Csts relating t the delivery f training, wrkshps, c-wrking and mbility and career develpment activities shuld be apprpriately itemised t aid reviewers. Csts relating t the c-rdinatin and management f the Hub may include applicant s time and/r administrative staff supprt specifically devted t the directin f the Hub. Estates and indirect csts cannt be claimed fr students r supervisrs, but may be claimed fr the applicant team. A single value shuld be included fr the Career Acceleratr Fund. 2. Case fr Supprt Must nt exceed eight A4 pages and must clearly and explicitly address all f the assessment criteria (these shuld be used as sub-heading t structure the dcument). It must include details f the Hub s training and skills activities, the training envirnment and the staff that will be invlved. 3. Track Recrd f Applicant Team and Overview f Research and Innvatin Envirnment Must nt exceed tw A4 pages and shuld include details f the applicant team, the ptential pl f supervisrs and an verview f the breath and balance f technical and nn-technical expertise within the Hub. In Je-S this shuld be added as additinal dcument attachment. 4. Justificatin f Resurces Must nt exceed tw A4 pages. This dcument shuld explain why the resurces being requested are required, in rder t aid peer reviewers in making an infrmed judgement as t whether this is apprpriate t deliver the prpsed training and skills activities. This shuld include a break-dwn f the number f full time equivalent students that will be trained and the assciated csts. 5. Pathways t Impact Must nt exceed tw A4 pages. This dcument shuld explain the Hub s apprach t maximising ptential scial and ecnmic impact. Further guidance n preparing yur Pathways t Impact dcument can be fund here: 6. Institutinal Statement(s) f Supprt All institutins invlved in the Hub must prvide a signed and dated letter f supprt that explains hw the Hub aligns t institutinal strategy. The letter shuld describe relevant institutinal investment and planned investment, and describe the institutinal supprt that will be ffered t the Hub. 7. Prject Partner Statement(s) f Supprt User rganisatins that are cntributing t the Hub ( Prject Partners ) shuld each prvide a statement f supprt detailing their cntributin Page 9 f 15

10 (financial r in-kind) and their invlvement in the develpment f the prpsal. Statements shuld describe hw the cntributin will enhance the Hub and the benefits that will result frm invlvement. Please nte that Prject Partners cannt be beneficiaries f the prpsal. Assessment Assessment prcess Applicants shuld nte that this initiative is funded thrugh the UK Natinal Quantum Technlgies Prgramme. Therefre, funding decisins will be influenced by the strategic aims f the UK Natinal Quantum Technlgies Prgramme, as set ut in the assessment criteria belw. EPSRC reserves the right t fully r partially award successful applicatins t ensure apprpriate balance f skills and training activities acrss the UK Natinal Quantum Technlgies Prgramme. Hwever, unless strngly advised therwise by the panel, prpsals will be funded in their entirety r nt at all. The decisin f EPSRC will be final. There are tw stages in the assessment f prpsals: 1. Full Prpsal Assessment Full prpsals will be sent t independent natinal and internatinal peer reviewers prvided that they fall within the scpe f this call. Prpsals falling utside the scpe f the call will be rejected by EPSRC prir t peer review. The priritisatin panel, cnsisting f independent assessrs, will cnsider and rank the prpsals against the full assessment criteria. Given the strategic nature f this initiative, strategic visin and cntributin t natinal landscape will be cnsidered as a majr criterin. The panel will then make a recmmendatin t EPSRC n whether the prpsal shuld be invited t the interview stage. 2. Interview Stage The PI and up t tw thers identified n prpsals that are successful during the first stage will be invited t attend an interview. It is up t the applicants which members f the senir team attend the interview; hwever it will be mandatry, if the PI is nt the Directr, that the Directr attends the interview. Applicants will nt be asked t make frmal presentatins during the interview. The interview panel will be prvided with any specific feedback prvided by the priritisatin panel, and will expect an apprpriate respnse frm the applicants. The interview panel will rank the prpsal against the full assessment criteria. Assessment criteria The assessment criteria fr bth stages are described belw: 1. Strategic visin and cntributin t the UK Natinal Quantum Technlgies Prgramme The Hub s cntributin t the strategic bjectives f the UK Natinal Quantum Technlgies Prgramme by grwing high level quantum engineering skills. Page 10 f 15

11 The strategic visin fr the Hub: its transfrmative nature, cherence and ambitin. Justificatin f hw the Hub will augment the UK s existing landscape f quantum technlgies skills, research and innvatin capability. The apprpriateness and strength f plans fr wrking with the existing natinal netwrk f Quantum Technlgy Hubs. The Hub s cntributin t current r future UK ecnmic success and/r enabling future develpment f quantum technlgies industries and scietal challenges. Evidence that the nature and balance f the prpsed training activities has been infrmed by the requirements f stakehlders. 2. Quality f the applicant team and research and innvatin envirnment Evidence f: the applicant team s excellent track recrd in research and innvatin, their internatinal standing, and experience in prviding a high-quality training envirnment; the apprpriateness f the breadth and balance f technical and nn-technical expertise within the Hub; and the leadership attributes f the Hub Directr and her/his senir team. 3. Quality f the training envirnment The quality, cherence and relevance f the prpsed package f chrtbased training and skills activities. The apprpriateness and strength f plans fr: mbility and c-wrking activities; building and sustaining chrts: within the Hub and incentivising links acrss the UK Natinal Quantum Technlgies Prgramme s activities t create a natinal chrt f quantum engineers; prviding brad expsure t cmplementary specialisms and applicatin areas; career develpment activities; and the Career Acceleratin Fund. 4. Outcmes and ptential impact The apprpriateness and strength f plans fr: Identifying thse that might benefit frm the activities f the Hub, building cllabratins and knwledge exchange; Page 11 f 15

12 Accelerating the develpment f quantum technlgies industries in the UK; respnsible Research and Innvatin (RRI) and public engagement activities; and raising the awareness f career paths in quantum technlgies and enabling quantum engineers t take advantage f career develpment pprtunities. 5. Partnership and engagement The apprpriateness and strength f the Hub s strategy fr stakehlder engagement, managing partnerships and c-creatin f activities. 6. Management and delivery The apprpriateness and strength f plans fr: management and delivery f the Hub t ensure that resurces are deplyed effectively; ensuring a high quality student experience, including plans fr mnitring prgress and recruiting and supprting a diverse student ppulatin; and gvernance and advisry structures relating t the Hub s activities. 7. Institutinal cmmitment and value fr mney Demnstratin f strng institutinal cmmitment frm the institutin/all institutins in the cnsrtium, including demnstratin f alignment with institutinal strategies and ther relevant investments at the institutin/institutins invlved. The apprpriateness and strength f plans fr thse nt directly funded by the Hub t benefit frm the training and skills activities f the Hub. Guidance Guidance fr reviewers Peer reviewers will be directed t this call fr prpsals when cntacted t review the prpsals. In additin, specific guidance will als be available t them based n the infrmatin in this call. Priritisatin and interview panel members will als be given specific guidance based n the infrmatin in this call dcument. Additinal grant cnditins In additin t the standard terms and cnditins fr training grants, there will be specific grant cnditins fr successful prpsal that will cver: Successful Hubs will have a fixed start date f 01 April 2016 fr five years. Hubs will have a mid-term review after tw years f peratin, which will assess their perfrmance t date. Funding beynd this pint will be Page 12 f 15

13 cmmensurate n a demnstratin f high perfrmance and ptential fr further prgress twards technlgy applicatin. The terms f reference and membership f any steering r advisry bdies f the Hubs must be apprved by EPSRC, and these bdies must meet at least twice per year. EPSRC must be represented at steering r advisry bard meetings. Mandatry reprting t EPSRC and EPSRC invlvement thrughut the duratin f the grant Expectatins n the Hub in relatin t engagement with the UK Natinal Quantum Technlgies Prgramme Requirement fr all institutins invlved in any given Hub must have in place a signed cllabratin agreement that includes prvisin fr flexible use f funding, between them befre funding is released by EPSRC. The abidance f publicity/branding guidelines, which include agreed terminlgy in relatin t the UK Natinal Quantum Technlgies Prgramme. Key dates Activity Date Call pens 17 March 2015 Infrmatin day fr prspective applicants in Manchester 29 April 2015 Call clses 16:00 n 02 June 2015 Priritisatin panel Late Octber 2015 Interviews Late Nvember 2015 Annuncement f awards January 2016 Award starts 01 April 2016 Cntacts Wendy Carr, Prtfli Manager, Quantum Technlgies Tel: ; wendy.carr@epsrc.ac.uk Richard Gunn, Senir Prtfli Manager, Quantum Technlgies Tel: ; richard.gunn@epsrc.ac.uk Yur Research Administratin shuld be able t ffer advice abut csting yur prpsal and the Je-S system. If there are any queries related t Je-S, please cntact the Je-S Helpdesk: JeSHelp@rcuk.ac.uk r Page 13 f 15

14 Change lg Name Date Versin Change Richard Gunn 26/02/15 1 N/A Richard Gunn 24/03/15 2 Added clarificatin n ptential fr partial awards and visin f Training and Skills Hubs. Annex 1. Creativity@hme Training and Skills Hubs have a key rle t play in ensuring that EPSRC spnsred students are encuraged t cultivate and develp their creative thinking skills that will benefit their future, ambitius research endeavurs. EPSRC, wrking with prfessinal facilitatrs have set up an initiative t supprt students and their supervisrs, t help generate and nurture creative thinking and galvanise team dynamics that paves the way fr individuals and teams t take creativity and radical idea generatin t a higher level the initiative is knwn as creativity@hme. Objectives fr creativity@hme include: learning a range f creative prblem slving tls and techniques and hw this might aid creativity in research; engaging student researchers in blue skies idea generatin; learning hw t wrk effectively in teams, understanding different styles f appraching prblems and hw t influence thers; explring the future research visin and crss-disciplinary pprtunities in the Hub using new facilitatin tls and techniques; develping a chrt f trained peple that have learnt and are applying creative prblem slving techniques s that the appraches and culture becme embedded within the Hub; Activities that have taken place previusly have included: training and subsequent supprt fr prject managers and students in creative facilitatin techniques enabling them t run mini sandpits and crss-disciplinary idea generatin wrkshps; away days fr multidisciplinary teams explring hw they might wrk better/mre effectively tgether; Creative Prblem Slving training fr grups f students that enhances their apprach t prblem slving in their research; prfessinally facilitated idea generatin wrkshps creating new research directins and peple cnnectins. Page 14 f 15

15 Fr yu and the students are the key resurce. Yur grup will be given access t prfessinal facilitatrs and the aims and bjectives are left up t yu and yur grup t decide. The prfessinal facilitatrs will wrk in partnership with yu thrughut the initiative - the timescale and all facilitatin activities will be planned in cnsultatin with yu. The facilitatrs will fcus n the prcess enabling yur grup t think freely and explre new tls and exciting research directins. Funding fr creativity@hme will be accessible via yur award and is t pay fr facilitatr time, travel & subsistence and basic facilitatr materials. Hw d I cst fr creativity@hme? Creativity@hme will typically cst circa 20,000 fr 4 days FTE fr prfessinal facilitatrs. Creativity@hme is a flexible resurce. Fr example, 4 days FTE maybe split int eight 0.5 days r fur 0.5 days plus a tw day ideas generatin wrkshp. There is n minimum r maximum value that yu may apply fr. Yu will need t justify the resurce that yu request. Hw best t use the resurce is up t yu t decide when explring ptins with yur chsen facilitatrs. If yur applicatin is successful EPSRC will prvide yu with a list f facilitatin cmpanies that yu may cntact. Of curse, yu may already wrk with a facilitatr; in this case, EPSRC is pleased fr yu t cntinue yur engagement. Hw d I apply fr creativity@hme? If yu are interested in wrking with prfessinal facilitatrs t enhance the student experience then yu shuld request resurce t cver this in yur prpsal. As part f their verall cnsideratins, reviewers will assess the benefit f the creativity@hme activity t maximising the ptential f yur Training and Skills Hub. Page 15 f 15