As part of its ‘Internationalising Higher Education’ programme, the British Council is pleased to announce the call for applications for the second round of exploratory grants for institutions wishing to establish a Knowledge Economy Partnership.

Knowledge Economy Partnerships are different from traditional academic partnerships in that they involve organisations other than universities. Typically, partnerships include, in addition to a university in Russia and a university in the UK, a partner/s in or both countries from another sector of the knowledge economy, for example, business and industry.

Aim of the grants
The purpose of the exploratory grant is to provide higher education institutions in both countries with the opportunity for a new form of collaboration. The grant will enable institutions to develop a new type of partnership and to create a plan for collaboration.

Value of the grants
Exploratory grants up to the value of 250000 RUB (5000 GBP) will be awarded to selected institutions by the end of March 2013.

Deadline for applications
The deadline for the submission of applications is March 10th 2013.

Eligibility
Grants are open to Russian and UK institutions which already have some form of link and initial contact.

Expected outcomes of the activity funded by the exploratory grant
Selected institutions will be expected to produce a report detailing their activities. In addition, they will be expected to provide a plan for a collaboration which will have an impact in one more sectors of the knowledge economy. This ‘road map’ will need to set out not only the outcome of the proposed project but also how this is to be achieved. This will include the identification of the proposed sources of funding.  A template will be provided.

The focus of the collaboration could be:

• The setting up a micro business, business incubator or enterprise unit
• A bid for a research contract
• The adoption of a new policy document  
• A new education or training programme
• The development of a patent, new product or new service

Proposals in all areas connected to the knowledge economy will be considered. We are particularly interested in applications from the following areas:

• Energy (including oil and gas)
• Creative industries (including design, fashion, etc.)
• New technologies
• Green economy / energy efficiency

Criteria for selection:

Selection will be based on the clarity of the application in respect of the following:

• The rationale for the activities to be undertaken and how they will lead to the creation of the ‘road map’
• The focus of the proposed collaboration
• The link between the academic partners and between the academic and knowledge economy partner/s
• The level of commitment of the various partners to the partnership
• The roles in the proposed collaboration of each partner
• The benefits of the proposed collaboration for each of the partners
• Clear communication plan and understanding of potential sources of further funding

Conditions
Grants should be used within 6 months of the grants received. It is envisaged that the grants will be spent on either visits to prospective partner institutions or organisation of workshops and seminars to discuss and develop future collaboration programmes.

Exclusions
Grants will not be given to cover elements of existing partnership programmes.
Grants will not be used to cover overheads.

Application forms
The application should be completed in English and returned electronically along with scans of any supporting documentation to Maria Popova (maria.popova@britishcouncil.ru). by March, 10.