KESS EAST Factsheet - Swansea University
2020 Open Call for Project Proposals: MRes and MSc by Research
Availability: 13 Masters Research Scholarships working with Industry partners
Submission by email to [email protected] by
4pm Wednesday 30th September 2020
The following notes are intended as guidance for potential applicants. This call is a competitive process.
What is KESS East?
The Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships programme will support Doctoral and Research Masters awards in Welsh Universities, jointly sponsored by external partners based in the East of Wales. The ESF funded programme is a collaboration between all Welsh Universities, led by Bangor University and Swansea University is a key partner. The programme runs from December 2018 to March 2022 within Swansea University, other HEI partners may run until later into 2022/23.
There will be MRes and MSc by Research Studentships available under this competitive call.
Key Aims of the Programme
The key objectives of Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships are to: Increase the research capacity of SMEs by linking with a Masters project; Encourage SMEs to undertake research and innovation activity and recruit researchers; Prepare and train individuals to contribute to research and innovation as professionals; Support the development of key technologies in the ESF structural funding area; Promote Higher-level Skills development and employability.
1 Approval Criteria
Under KESS East, all Swansea University applications will go through a three-stage process: 1. Internal assessment and approval to proceed to external review; 2. Approval by KESS East central approval panel; 3. Approval by WEFO, the funding body.
Individual projects are likely to be selected and approved depending on: Key Approval / Project Eligibility Criteria Application form reference
Fit with the Welsh Government (WG) Grand Challenge areas Section A (see below) Fit with WG Economic Prioritisation Framework (EPF) (see below)
The potential economic benefit of the project for the structural funding Section A region
Quality of the research proposal to meet the identified company need Section A (assessed from both the University and Company viewpoint) Fit with the University’s Research Strategy Section A
Additional benefits to the East Wales structural funding area (i.e. Section A social, environmental, links to other structural funds projects) Relevance of the skills developed to the private sector - potential for Section B the scholar to work in the private sector within structural funding area Eligibility of company and student (to be recruited) with KESS East Section A & B funding rules, in line with ESF regulations
Priority will be given to projects who engage with private sector Section B partners (third and public sector partners will be assessed on a case- by case-basis)
* Please note: Internal assessment will focus on these Key Approval / Project Eligibility Criteria.
2 Eligible Sectors
KESS East will support projects aligned to the four Grand Challenge priority areas, as per the WG document, ‘Science for Wales’: Advanced Engineering Life Sciences & (Refer Materials projects to Health Materials Academy in SU - These are Ineligible under KESS II) WG Grand Challenge Economic Areas Low Carbon, ICT & Digital Energy & Economy Environment
KESS East will also support projects cross-aligned to the Welsh Government Economic Prioritisation Framework (EPF):
Thematic Economic Opportunities 1. Energy 2. Food and farming 3. Climate change and resource efficiency 4. Exploitation of ICT assets and opportunities of the digital marketplace 5. Advanced Manufacturing 6. Life Sciences and Health
Briefing Paper on the EPF: http://gov.wales/docs/wefo/publications/141216epfbriefingpaperen.pdf EPF – Version 3: June 2015: http://gov.wales/funding/eu-funds/2014-2020/looking/epf/?lang=en
Eligible Project Partners
Priority is given to private sector partner organisations: Micro Enterprises; Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs); Large Companies Third Sector Organisations (Charities, Not‐for‐profit Organisations and Social Enterprises) and Public Sector will be considered on a case-by-case basis
Partner Organisations must have an operational base in East Wales; please see the map on page 7 – the area shaded in lilac. Partner organisations are required to make annual cash
3 contributions - costs will vary depending on the size and type of organisation circa £5,500 - £7,000.
What are the benefits for the company in participating?
• Undertaking a business-focussed research project; • Attracting and supporting the development of new researchers in the company; • Establishing on‐going links with the University; • The supporting research, innovation and business training each KESS scholar receives; • The low cost of participating
Feedback from previous participants showed that companies greatly valued the link with the University, and this has often led to other beneficial collaborations.
Student Eligibility Criteria
For a student to be eligible for a KESS East award, they must: Have a home address in the EAST Wales area upon registration and enrolment (See map on page 7, in lilac); have the right to work in the area on completion of the scholarship and be classified by the University as ‘home’ or ‘EU’; and satisfy Swansea University’s admissions criteria for Post Graduate Research programmes (n.b. the academic team must comply with University student recruitment procedures, and advertise the KESS scholarship) Eligibility of participants based on their residential address is determined at the point of enrolment.
Financial Student Model Each PhD or MSc studentship has access to the following funds to aid with their research. Standard stipends apply year on year.
Cost categories per year MSc Standard budget x 1 Stipend 2020/21 £11,819 Student travel and conference costs £700 Equipment (small items) £800 Consumables £1,000 Student Support – HR Other – training / development (in £500 addition to the centrally-funded grad school)
4 Company / External Partner Cash Match
Please find below the draft company cash contributions that all partners should be using; these are subject to WEFO’s approval. There is no scope for in-kind match (e.g. time sheeted partner staff time) under KESS East.
Organisation Type No. of Employees Year 1 Cohort PhD x 3 MSc x1
Micro <10 £5,500
Small <50 £5,500
Medium <250 £6,000
Large >250 £6,500
Multinational / Global N/A £7,000 Company Third Sector - Dependent on size
Social Enterprise - Dependent on size
Public Sector - Dependent on size
All Cash Contributions are subject to VAT.
Intellectual Property
IP (Intellectual Property) created by the project will be owned by the University in order to demonstrate compliance with EU State Aid rules. However, the company will be granted first option for either an exclusive or non-exclusive licence (to be negotiated upon fair and reasonable commercial terms) to exploit any IP generated. The State Aid framework under which WEFO approved funding for KESS means that transfer of new intellectual property to partners would be based on the 'market value', i.e. on a fair and reasonable negotiated basis. The University's main drivers for the KESS programme are to increase engagement with companies, to initiate and build longer-term relationships, and to provide training opportunities for postgraduate students.
5 Submission Timeline
Call Opens August 2020 Deadline for Submission of 4pm Wednesday 30th September 2020 Proposals Evaluation of proposals 1st -9th October 2020 Feedback to Applicants 12th – 16th October 2020 Contracting and Recruitment 19th October - 20th November 2020 Projects to commence January 2021
Further information
For more information, or to discuss anything not covered in these guidance notes, please contact:
KESS Team Steve Davies Project Manager [email protected] Jane Kelly Project Coordinator [email protected] Jane Phipps Project Coordinator [email protected]
KESS Office 101, 1st Floor Nanhyfer Work Zone Swansea University Bay Campus Fabian Way Swansea Wales SA1 8EN
Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS) is a pan-Wales higher level skills initiative led by Bangor University on behalf of the HE sector in Wales. It is part funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) programme for East Wales and the Valleys.
6 7