To assist the UK transition to become a more circular economy, UK Research & Innovation has announced it is to fund up to five new Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centres.
A circular economy is where ‘waste’ from one industry provides resources for another. It requires resources to be processed with sustainability, waste minimisation and efficiency in mind, and product life-cycles optimised to generate more economic and social value before recycling and/or reuse.
However, this transition requires clear, evidence-based implementation pathways, with broad underpinning research evidence. It will require technical, technological and scientific advances. There is also a requirement for improved social, behavioural, cultural, ethical, environmental, economic, legal and regulatory understandings to support a successful transition.
To support this the UK Research & Innovation invites outline proposals for Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centres.
Belinda Clarke, Director of Agri-Tech East, comments: “We are delighted to see this programme open. Delegates who attended our Circular Economy event in June will have met BBSRC’s Head of Business Engagement James Phillips, who was gathering input from participants to help shape this exciting new programme. We know there are huge opportunities in the circular economy so we very much welcome this news.”
The £30 million UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Interdisciplinary Circular Economy programme will be delivered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and Innovate UK.
Up to £22.5 million (at 80% FEC) is available to support up to five Centres for up to four years from 1 October 2020.
More information is available at epsrc.ukri.org/funding/calls/ukri-interdisciplinary-circular-economy-centres/
NOW ALSO OPEN! Innovate UK – UKRI has just announced the next call in the Transforming Food Production programme has opened, and is seeking applications to a total fund value of up to £20M – read more here.