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Knowledge Exchange with Industry Supported Through the CONNECT FTMA Fund

The CONNECT FTMA Fund is keen to support a wide range of engagements between Newcastle University (NU) and Babraham ¹û½´ÊÓƵ (BI) staff and a range of external organisations, particularly with industry partners.

Eligible FTMA CONNECT-funded activities with industry partners could include:

1. Staff Exchanges and Placements

Supporting BI and/or NU researchers and technical/administrative staff in gaining specialized skills through short placements with industry partners, or enabling the hosting of industry professionals at BI/NU.

2. Collaborative Projects

Enabling joint initiatives between BI and/or NU academic researchers and external partners that address shared research interests in bioscience, ageing research, and associated applications.

3. Technical and Organizational Skills Development

Progressing projects that allow participants to gain expertise that bridges academic-industry gaps, particularly in translational research capabilities.

4. Cross-Sector Networks

Ways to build relationships with industry partners to facilitate knowledge sharing and future collaborations.

Support available from CONNECT FTMA

As set out in the  Finance section of the FTMA CONNECT Fund Guidance, the FTMA CONNECT Committee will typically consider allocating support worth up to £8,500 for:

• Travel and subsistence for exchanges (for both BI, NU and collaborating partners)
• Consumables for collaborative projects
• Equipment usage at partner facilities
• Networking events that bridge academic and industry interests

 CONNECT FTMA Project Proposals seeking engagement with Industry Partners should demonstrate:

1. Strategic Value
   
   Highlighting how the interaction will build long-term relationships with industry and advance related activities at BI and/or NU.

2. Skills Enhancement
   
   Providing clear development goals that will benefit both the individual and their home institution (BI or NU). For the institution (BI or NU) it is important to detail how these benefits will be sustained in the long-term after the funded interaction.

    

   As the CONNECT FTMA is a grant held jointly by the Babraham ¹û½´ÊÓƵ and Newcastle University, where ever possible the Fund’s Committee encourages applicants to consider how both organisations could engage in and benefit from the project (please get in touch with kec@babraham.ac.uk if you would like support with finding cross-organisation contacts). However the initiatives appreciates that due to the specific nature of a project or due to confidentiality concerns, joint BI and NU activities with industry partners are not always possible.

3. Future Impact
   
   The potential for the exchange to lead to further engagements, collaboration, funding, publications, or commercial impact.

4. Partner Contribution
   
   While the CONNECT FTMA fund can support travel, accommodation or consumables costs of the external participants, strong applications will demonstrate a meaningful in-kind or financial support from their collaborating partner, showing the external organisation’s commitment to the project's success and shared investment in outcomes.

4. Equitable Benefit Distribution
   
   Outlining how collaboration benefits (including research results, intellectual property, and potential commercialization opportunities) are intended to be fairly shared among all participating organizations, respecting each partner's contributions.