Dates:
Competition closes: 20 December 2024 12:00
Contracts Awarded: 14 February 2025
Project start date & duration: Start by 14 February 2025 (if 6 month project length)
Scope
The aim of this competition is to encourage innovation in fusion-relevant sensing and control technologies by seeking proposals for feasibility studies of measurement systems (known as diagnostics) or components capable of operating in the complex and extreme environment of a fusion power plant (e.g., robust against radiation, erosion, deposition
Specific Themes
Theme 1: Novel concepts for robust diagnostics systems: Sensors for evaluation/control of
- Plasma position and shape (advancements over inductive magnetic sensors)
- Plasma electron density (i.e. interferometry and reflectometry approaches over laser diagnostics)
- Plasma electron and ion temperature
- Damage detection of plasma-facing components
Theme 2: Robust components for sensing and control
- Optical fibres resistant to photodarkening and scintillation and 14 MeV fusion neutrons
- Electronics capable of withstanding damage from neutron fluxes
- Plasma-facing mirrors with improved stability and erosion resistance
Projects that will not be funded
- Any submission that contains UKAEA or Tokomak Energy as a subcontractor or beneficiary
- Do not engage with potential future customers to understand needs
- Do not address how potentially negative outcomes would be managed such as on the environment or society
Eligibility
Grant funding request of up to £250,000 (inclusive of VAT) and last up to 6 months
Your proposal must:
- reduce the risk involved in the take up of new technologies
- outline plans to accelerate time to market
- be pre-commercial
- define how the proposed solution would enable and support the delivery of sustainable fusion power plants
- demonstrate a clear plan for commercialisation with a route to market for affordable, developed solutions
Funding Rates
Projects must have total costs up to £250,000 (Inclusive of VAT)
| Organisation size | Feasibility Studies |
| Micro/small business | 100% |
| Medium sized business | 100% |
| Large business | 100% |
How PNO can support you
The UK team has a strong track record in securing some of the most competitive national and European grants on behalf of its clients, with a full understanding of how a project should be presented to stand the highest chance of success. Each year in the UK alone, we are responsible for the submission of more than 100 funding applications across all sectors and priority areas. Based on this extensive experience, through careful project selection and using key insight into how a project should be best positioned, we consistently achieve success rates that are more than 5 times the typical success rates for UK national schemes and EU programmes.
For further information or to discuss a project idea please contact PNO Consultants
0161 488 3488 | info.uk@pnoconsultants.com
