STFC Challenge Led Applied Systems Programme (CLASP) Now Open

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) runs the Challenge Led Applied Systems Programme (CLASP) initiative to support the application and commercialisation of STFC research in four key societal challenge areas: energy, environment, healthcare and security. Applicants must demonstrate that their project is developed from core STFC technology or research, or in STFC labs.

CLASP is intended to support the de-risking of R&D processes for industry through the development of technology demonstrators and industry-ready prototype systems, and moving the maturity of technologies towards commercialisation.

The key challenge areas for CLASP 2022 are security and environment. Projects may cover one or both of these areas. The scope of this opportunity has been developed in collaboration with the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Home Office. The example topic areas and challenges are suggestions; any applications submitted within the security and/or environment remit will be accepted. The following investigative topics are examples for applicants working within the security challenge area:

• Capability to detect real-time terrorist threats and suspicious behaviour in the UK, including by use of sensor fusion.
• Development of technologies to allow the stand-off detection of weapons and explosives.
• Capability to conduct real-time monitoring, detection and identification of CBRNE materials in open spaces.
• The use of telemetry and robotics for working in hazardous environments to keep first responders safe.
• The fusion of different data sources to detect suspicious behaviour, and making links between different data sets.

The focus of the environment theme is to explore how technology and data can: support understanding of people’s interaction with ‘place’ and the natural environment; improve environmental monitoring; and support understanding of the environment from an ecocentric perspective. The following investigative topics are relevant to the environment challenge area:

• ‘Smart catchments’.
• Monitoring in very remote difficult places.
• Remote monitoring of ‘tree tilt’.
• People tracking at places of environmental interest.
• Citizen science.
• Ecosystems as data centres.
• Human augmentation for nature.
• Eco-centric artificial intelligence and interfaces.

CLASP encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and welcomes co-applicants or joint applications from other departments (especially social sciences) where appropriate. This is to encourage the exchange of technology, research and the expertise the STFC community has to offer. Applicants should also work closely with end users.

Applicants and co-applicants must be:

• Currently or previously funded through the STFC core science programme – particle physics, astronomy, particle astrophysics, solar and planetary science, nuclear physics, or accelerator science (Principal Investigators (PIs) only). PIs must also meet individual UKRI eligibility criteria.
• Academic members of staff or research fellows.
• Resident in the UK or employed by an STFC-approved overseas research organisation.
• Employed by, or have written agreement from, the organisation submitting the proposal.

Application is also open to STFC facilities, CERN, ESO, UK Space Agency and ESRF.

The lead research organisation must be eligible to hold UKRI grants ie be an approved UK higher education institution, public sector research establishment, research council institute or independent research organisation eligible for UKRI funding.

There is an annual fund of around £2 million for CLASP projects. It is anticipated that a number of projects will be funded per year, ranging from short feasibility studies to larger developmental projects. Projects are funded for up to three years.

Application is via a two-stage process (initial outline application followed by a full proposal). The outline application deadline is 25 January 2022 (16:00).