Science Bridges with the US were outlined in the
Next Steps document of March 2006 and were envisaged as Institution
to Institution partnerships between the UK and the US. Subsequently four awards
of £1.5 million for two years were made to Imperial College, Manchester University,
Cambridge University and the SET Squared Partnership.
The review of UK Science and Innovation policies by Lord Sainsbury (The
Race to the Top) concluded that the US Science Bridges had "helped to develop
entrepreneurial skills amongst researchers and supported the commercial development
of technology and expertise in spin-outs." and recommended the extension of Science
Bridges to China and India.
In the allocation of funds following the comprehensive spending review, £12 million
has been made available to the Research Councils for Science Bridge activities with
the US, China and India (£4 million per country) over the period 2008-09 to 2010-11.
The details of eligibility and the process to be used are being finalised and we
anticipate a call will be made during April 2008, the information is provided now
to enable possible UK applicants to begin discussions with possible partner institutions.
As in the pilot Science Bridges, partnerships between Institutions with significant
research funding and existing substantive engagements between them are envisaged,
projects from across the full spectrum of Research Councils' remits will be eligible.
For more information contact
Randal
W Richards