Briefing on Grant Call for Translational R&D for Application to Smart Nation (TRANS) 24 Feb 2016

Transcription

1 Briefing on Grant Call for Translational R&D for Application to Smart Nation (TRANS) 24 Feb 2016

2 BACKGROUND 2

3 Background Smart Nation Vision our vision is for Singapore to be a Smart Nation A nation where people live meaningful and fulfilled lives, enabled seamlessly by technology, offering exciting opportunities for all. We should see it in our daily living where networks of sensors and smart devices enable us to live sustainably and comfortably. We should see it in our communities where technology will enable more people to connect to one another more easily and intensely. We should see it in our future where we can create possibilities for ourselves beyond what we imagined possible. - PM Lee at the Smart Nation launch on 24 Nov

4 Background SN Strategic Frame Better Living More Opportunities Stronger Communities Enhanced mobility Improved Govt ops, service delivery Stronger businesses Better homes and environment Better health, ageing well Enterprise R&D support Human capital Cybersec & resilience Data & Digital connectivity 4

5 Background SN Governance Structure Smart Nation Steering Committee Define vision and strategic direction Oversee key elements of Programme portfolio Joint Operations Committee Spearhead policy change and process transformations Drive key projects Joint Tech Committee Identify opportunities and ideas from the tech perspective Oversee harmonisation and inter-operability 5

6 Background SN Current Focus Areas (1/2) Enhanced Mobility More efficient transport network Improved mobility for specific segments Improved Government Ops & Service Delivery Higher productivity through automation of manpower-intensive knowledge-based tasks (e.g. using natural language processing) High quality digital services, better use of data for policy & planning Greater community/private sector co-development Better Homes and Environment Energy and resource savings Stronger public safety and security Better estate management and maintenance More opportunities for community engagement 6

7 Background SN Current Focus Areas (2/2) Better Health, Ageing Well Improved healthcare outcomes Greater senior participation in commercial, social and voluntary activities Seniors increasingly able to age-in-place Data & Digital Connectivity Minimise constraints for development of data-driven applications and services E.g. enhancing linkage and sharing of data, while maintaining privacy and security Create database gateways for ease of access, control and security 7

8 TRANS GRANT CALL 8

9 TRANS Grant Call Desired Outcome One-stop shop* With broad-based capabilities Data analytics, artificial intelligence, wireless communications, sensors, etc. Engineering and related project management expertise To do rapid solutioning & prototyping Test-bedding, POCs within 6-12 months Experience working with industry and commercialisation of technologies is preferred In serving of the Smart Nation Programme Working with SNPO/SN Committees on strategy and project execution Including appointments of key members of the centre/lab *Grant call does not preclude funding more than one centre, so long as desired outcomes are met 9

10 TRANS Grant Call Selection Process Key considerations Alignment, and ability to stay relevant, with Government agencies through the Smart Nation Programme; Ability to partner and collaborate with other labs and with industry; Articulation of potential pathway(s) to impact, including plans to develop organic translational capabilities to engineer solutions that can be productised or integrated, eg. into Government ICT systems; Adequacy and appropriateness of the proposed governance structure and processes; Focus on translational R&D instead of basic research, and on areas where commercial-off-the-shelf technologies are not available; and Existing R&D capabilities and technical competencies of the research team, including translational engineering capabilities. 10

11 TRANS Grant Call Timeline Submission (through RITA): 7 Mar 2016 Presentation of shortlisted proposals: Mar 2016 Notification of award: 31 Mar

12 FAQ 12

13 FAQ Can the submission deadline be extended? The submission deadline currently remains as 7 Mar Is there a budget cap for submitted proposals? There is no budget cap for individual proposals per se, but the overall budget for the funding initiative is capped at S$25 million. Will overheads be covered in the funding? Please include overhead costs in budget proposals. Is there a maximum page limit for the proposal details? No limit, but preferably within 10 pages. Where should the budget category for project administration and operational cost be parked in the submission? Please park these under Other Operating Expenditure (OOE). 13

14 FAQ Would any endorsement be required for the online submission? (e.g. to be endorsed by Director of Research of the institute by the given deadline) Applicants are responsible for compliance with their respective university s/agency s practices. What are the submission templates and guidelines? Is it free format? The submission template and guidelines are available on the grant call s link on RITA. Each organisation should create an account and fill up the application form on RITA. There is a link to upload the detailed proposal on the webpage. Do note that project submissions should be submitted by organisations on behalf of individuals or collaborative teams. Submissions by individuals will not be entertained. Does it include network infrastructure (e.g. wireless communications was stated in the grant call)? The scope of this grant call does involve network infrastructure but the focus is on translation and alignment with the Smart Nation Programme. 14

15 FAQ What is the hyperlink for this grant call on RITA? You can access the details of the grant call at Should the partnerships proposed in submissions be two-way (i.e. IHL + industry partner), or three-way (i.e. IHL + industry partner + public agency)? Both models are admissible. Is this a one-stage submission process? (i.e. no need for LOI or whitepaper) Yes, please submit a full proposal directly. 15

16 FAQ How will our proposals be evaluated? Can the names of the evaluation panel members be revealed? No, as the independence of the panel members must be maintained. What are the qualifying cost categories? They are Expenditure On Manpower (EOM), Equipment, Other Operating Expenditure (OOE), and Indirect Costs. Can public hospitals, polyclinics and organisations such as Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) be considered as public agencies? Yes, the above-mentioned are admissible as public sector agencies, but the focus of the grant call is for proposals to be aligned with the Smart Nation Programme. For avoidance of doubt, the participation of public agencies is not a requirement. 16

17 FAQ Is this grant call intended for proposals to set up a new research centre/lab? Or is it applicable for proposals to seek funding for an existing centre/lab? Both models are admissible, so long as the desired outcomes can be met. Is this grant call meant for proposals for a specific project on translational R&D for Smart Nation? Or does it support proposals for research programmes or areas (such as Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics, etc) which have translational impact on Smart Nation? This grant call is geared more towards the latter. 17

18 FAQ Can we propose more than one new research programmes which are complementary in the same proposal? Or submit separate proposals for different programmes? Both approaches are admissible, but each proposal will be considered based on its own merits, i.e. independent of any other proposal. If our centre is already working on translational R&D related to Smart Nation, can we submit a proposal for existing or new research programmes to work with user agencies? No: this grant call does not set out to fund pre-existing R&D or translational programmes/projects. 18

19 FAQ Does this grant fund administrative and operational support for running the research programmes? Yes, as part of indirect costs (up to 20% of total qualifying costs). Do we need the explicit support/endorsement from user agencies for at the point of proposal submission, or can the support/endorsement from agencies be obtained after the grant is awarded? Proposals with confirmed user agency involvement will be looked upon more favourably than those without, all other aspects being equal. 19

20 FAQ Can the actual letters of intent from the public agencies be submitted after the submission deadline? Yes. Please do indicate the organisation, department, name and designation for each agency listed in the submitted proposal. How will the evaluation of proposals be conducted? Will a presentation be required? There will be a shortlisting process and a presentation may be required only for shortlisted proposals. This would likely take place in the last two weeks of Mar

21 THANK YOU 21