Print

Print


***APOLOGIES FOR CROSS POSTING***

Seed Corn Funding

Submissions Invited from UK and Irish University Researchers

Closing Date: Friday 25th August 2017

Guidelines for Applicants
The fund provides a small research grant on a ‘seed-corn’ basis to enable logistics, supply chain and public transport/planning researchers based at UK and Republic of Ireland universities to explore issues of current, practical and academic interest. Preference will be given to projects which aim to investigate or improve current practice.
Universities may submit more than one proposal per year, but they must relate to different research projects. The grant aims to assist researchers exploring new and emerging research areas in the hope that this will lead to the development of larger scale projects which will be able to attract further funding from other commercial and public sources. With this objective in mind, it is unlikely that the funding for any one project under this scheme will exceed £7,500 other than in exceptional cases.

In recent years the CILT has supported research on subjects as diverse as Enhancing Cyber resilience in Supply Chains, Interactivity of Cycles with LGVs and Buses, 3D Printing Technology, Humanitarian Aid, Recycling Supply Chain, Logistics Workers Skills, Rail Freight Growth and Political Support for Public Transport Capital Projects. Details of the Awards and previous reports are available from CILT.

Applications must include the following:
*Objectives of the project
*Context - relevant literature, industrial setting
*Methodology to be used - data sources, analysis, etc
*Deliverables from the project and likely benefits
*Dissemination and exploitation of results
*Funds requested and the use to which they will be put (see notes below)
*Details of the research group or individual researcher
*Programme of work and timing, including a Gantt chart
*Risk Analysis to project success e.g. access to data
Please note that if the applicant is an early career researcher it is recommended that they seek a mentor for the duration of the project - details must be included in the proposal.

Eligible Costs:
*The funding of software licences and laptops must be justified
*Funds will not include conference attendance unless considered essential to the development of the research
*Funds for members of academic staff salaries will not be covered, although a budget for the input of a research assistant/PhD student can be proposed but should not be at Full Economic Costing (FEC) rates.
Budget guidance notes may be requested from Fiona Palmer: [log in to unmask] 

Time Scale and Requirements
Successful applicants will receive notification of funding by September 2017. The project will start no later than 1 October 2017 , and last for one year. Progress reports will be requested in May and November which will demonstrate progress against the original proposal and highlight any deviations.

As a requirement of the fund the researcher is expected to:
*submit an abstract to the Logistics Research Network Conference, September 2017 (or another relevant Conference)
*run an ‘LRN badged’ workshop on the research topic during the period of the research or on completion of the research
*submit the final report to CILT by mid November 2018. Details of the final report format will be sent to the successful researchers with the offer letter.

Applications should be limited to four pages of A4 and sent by email AND hard copy to:
Fiona Palmer, Account Executive, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Earlstrees Court, Earlstrees Road, Corby, Northants NN17 4AX. 
Email: [log in to unmask] 
Tel: 01536 740166