Through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), Innovate UK will invest up to £9.3 million in innovation projects. The aim of this competition is to support demonstration-stage projects that have the potential to improve lives of people living in lower income countries and emerging economies. It will support projects that address one or more of the global societal challenges recognised as the UN Sustainable Development Goals through development of innovative, market-creating products and services. These projects should ultimately lead to the deployment of those products or services within those countries.

This is a two-phase competition. Phase 1 projects must explore the feasibility of running a demonstration project in phase 2 and applicants can use a human-centred design or technical feasibility approaches during this phase. A successful sub-set of phase 1 projects will be invited to apply for phase 2.

Funding has been allocated from the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), a £1.5 billion fund to support cutting-edge research which addresses the problems faced by developing countries. GCRF will address global challenges through disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and innovation, and will strengthen capability for research and innovation within both the UK and developing countries, also providing an agile response to emergencies where there is an urgent research need. GCRF forms part of the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment and will be awarded in a manner that fits with ODA guidelines.

Programme

09:30 Registration & Refreshments

10:00 Welcome & Introduction - Charlie Winkworth-Smith, Knowledge Transfer Network

10:05 The Competition - Context, Aims & Scope - Janet Geddes, Innovate UK

10:45 Q&A

10:55 Equality, Diversity & Inclusion - Zoe Jones, Innovate UK

11:05 How the KTN can help & top tips for your application - Simon Yarwood, Knowledge Transfer Network

11:20 Break & Networking

11:50 Human-Centred Design - Ed Hobson, Knowledge Transfer Network

12:10 Designing Mobile Power - Daniel Becerra Buffalo Grid

12:40 PItch Presentations

13:10 Lunch & Networking

14:10 iKnowledge - Bringing Satellite Broadband to Tanzanian Schools, Piya Shah, Avanti

14:40 M4D Utilities & Ecosystem Accelerator - Max Cuvellier, GSMA

15:10 Closing Remarks - Innovate UK

15:20 Close - Opportunity for Further Networking/1:1 Meetings

Each briefing event will focus on a different group of Sustainable Development Goals.

• 03 September 2019 - London: Quality education / Decent work and economic growth
• 03 September 2019 - Webcast: Quality education / Decent work and economic growth
• 04 September 2019 - Cardiff: Responsible consumption & production
• 05 September 2019 - Sheffield: Climate action / Life below water / Life on land
• 10 September 2019 - Belfast: Sustainable cities & communities
• 12 September 2019 - Edinburgh: Good health and well being / Clean water & sanitation