Deadline: 21-Feb-21
The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) has launched a call for applications for Improving Manufacturing Efficiency, Productivity and Quality Control.
Objective
- Encourage the private sector in Kuwait to adopt technological solutions that could address some of the challenges they face.
- These are solutions that exist elsewhere and are new to Kuwait, or new to a sector.
Expected Outcome
- Adoption of the technological solution under consideration by the private sector and minimization of the challenge faced.
Theme of the Call
Improving Manufacturing Efficiency, Productivity, and Quality Control
- Companies in Kuwait are facing a multitude of challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the short term, solutions that address the continuity of mission-critical activities are paramount. It is expected, that in the long term, modes of operation will change, and solutions will be needed to ensure the manufacturing industry is robust to the socio-economic impacts that events such as COVID-19 poses.
- The goal is to implement and demonstrate the practicality of solutions that could improve the efficiency, productivity, quality control, and resilience of the manufacturing industry by focusing on improvements in one of the following key areas:
- Workforce optimization/reduction (social distancing);
- Waste reduction (Circular economy);
- Time optimization/reduction;
- Efficient space utilisation;
- Enhancing food production including farming.
Funding Information
- The budget should be justified and reasonable for the purpose of demonstrating the solution.
- KFAS contribution 75% total eligible budget with a ceiling of KD 50,000 whichever is less (35k for second three, 15k for third three).
Eligibility Criteria
- Those eligible to apply to the call for practical solutions are the legally established entities including private sector companies, academic/research institutions, and NGOs in Kuwait.
- The duration of the project should not exceed 6 months from the start to the end of piloting the solution.
- To enable mass adoption of the solution, the cost of adopting the solution by others should be reasonable, hence, the naming “practical solution”.
- Applicant must have the capabilities to implement the proposed solution and access to a Kuwaiti entity that will act as the host for the pilot project.
Important Notes
As this is a call for practical solutions, there are a few main aspects the review committee will focus on when reviewing your proposal:
- How practical the solution is? (Can it be implemented and have a positive impact in a short time?)
- Where the practical solution will be piloted? Is there a conflict of interest?
- Is the solution ready for mass adoption? (After the initial pilot, how easy could this technology be adopted by other Kuwaiti entities?)
- How will the solution help Kuwaiti entities control the negative impacts felt by COVID-19 or prevent future disasters from impacting business continuity/food security?
General Guidelines
- The proposal should provide clear details on how the applicant plans to implement the proposed practical solution.
- The proposal should have a clear pilot scheme (where the applicant proposes to implement the solution) and how the stakeholder will benefit from having adopted the practical solution.
- The proposal should provide sufficient details to convince KFAS that the applicant has the capabilities to implement what is being proposed in a timely manner.
- The proposal should have a detailed project timeline.
- The proposal should include a detailed budget with sufficient justification.
- The proposal would benefit from the inclusion of details of similar projects the applicant has worked on in the past.
- KFAS grant cannot be used to acquire fixed assets such as vehicles, real estate, computers, office furniture, and other fixtures.
- KFAS is not looking to procure the applicants’ services/solutions.
- KFAS is not looking to fund research projects under this call for practical solutions (if the applicant is working on a research project, please contact the Research Directorate).
For more information, visit https://www.kfas.org/media-publications/news/Manufacturing-Efficiency