Deadline: 9 November 2016
The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), through its CRACK IT programme, is inviting small or medium enterprises (SMEs) to find solutions and to come up with new ways of minimizing the use of animals in research.
NC3Rs is a UK-based scientific organisation. Its aim is to find ways of replacing, refining and reducing the use of animals in research and testing. NC3Rs is funding this competition with support from Innovate UK’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI). Multinational pharmaceutical, chemical and consumer product companies are also sponsoring the competition. They are providing in-kind contributions such as access to data, compounds or expertise.
The 2016 challenges include:
- improving implantation rates of early-stage embryos
- developing reliable predictions for chemical toxicity
- establishing a 3D retinal cell model for use in new ophthalmology treatments
- developing an in vitro model to recapitulate the human osteoarthritic joint
Funding Information
- Through the SBRI programme, successful applicants will receive a contract to develop their innovation.
- Businesses are invited to apply for funding of up to £1 million over 3 years are available to develop new ways to minimize the use of animals in research.
Types of Competitions
- Two-phase Challenges: This will include proof-of-concept studies for up to 6 months. At the end of phase 1, NC3Rs will invite candidates to apply for phase 2 and attend a Dragons’ Den-style interview.
- Single-phase Challenges: This challenge focus on the validation of new technologies, prototypes and methods that is closer to market. NC3Rs will invite the most promising candidates to a Dragons’ Den-style interview.
Competition Information
- This competition opens on 12 September 2016.
- Potential applicants can attend a launch event on 8 September 2016.
- The application deadline for the single phase competition is noon on 16 November 2016.
- The application deadline for phase 1 of the 2-phase competition is noon on 9 November 2016.
- The competition is open to SMEs and academics.
- NC3Rs expect most projects to include multi-disciplinary teams.
Eligibility Criteria
- The competition is open to any European Union (EU) body, public or private. Applications can be from single organisations or investigators or from consortia. The lead applicant must be from the EU.
- Applicants may already hold a grant or contract from the NC3Rs or other funding bodies for research related to the topic for which new funds are being sought, In such instances details of all relevant research funding, including that from industry, should be included in the application.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can apply via given website.
Eligible Country
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK
For more information, please visit NC3Rs Innovation Funding.