Notice of possible future grant scheme: International Digital Technical Standards in Engineering Education & Professional Development

Digital technical standards (DTS) are strategically important to the UK economy and society. They are created in international standards development organisations (SDOs) such as the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), through multistakeholder collaboration involving industrial research and development, academic research, government and wider society representatives. 

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is considering a future grant scheme that may invite applications for funding to support activities that further our strategic objectives:

• To inspire, motivate and equip a new generation of engineers and technologists to engage with international DTS development through their careers in academic research or industry,

• To increase teaching in UK higher education (for engineering and technical professions at undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels) of knowledge, skills and rationale for international DTS development, 

• To increase academic and industry (including industry to industry) cooperation in support of talent development for international DTS development.

The proposed grant scheme will help DSIT to evaluate the effectiveness of certain policy interventions against the above objectives. The following are examples of activities that may qualify for a grant. Applications for other activities are welcome provided there is a clear, demonstrated link to our strategic objectives.

• A 'lunch and learn' style seminar for undergraduate or graduate students or young professionals, to inspire interest in or teach about international DTS development. The grant may contribute to the costs of a suitably qualified guest speaker (for example, speaking fee, travel and subsistence) or venue costs (for example, room hire and refreshments). The event should expect to attract a reasonable number of delegates engaged in digital engineering, technology education or research in the UK. The applicant may be an academic or professional who is organising the event. Outcome evidence might include the number of attendees and a simple participant feedback survey.

• Short-term (say eight weeks) internship within a standards team in a company that is actively engaged with one of the listed international SDOs. The grant is expected to pay a stipend in lieu of salary and an accommodation allowance if the individual needs to temporarily relocate from their home address. The grant may also fund travel and subsistence for the intern to attend an international standards meeting (maximum duration of one week) as part of the internship. The grant applicant may be the academic institution or the industrial host of the intern. The intern will be expected to meet the individual eligibility criteria. Outcome evidence might comprise a short written testimonial from the intern. 

• Short-term placement (say six weeks) of a company employee (for example, on a graduate scheme or someone exploring a career change) within a standards team in a company that is actively engaged with one of the listed international SDOs. The grant is expected to pay a contribution towards basic salary costs for the placement. The grant may also fund travel and subsistence for the employee to attend an international standards meeting (maximum duration of one week) as part of the placement. The grant applicant may be the (UK based part of) company that employs the individual. The employee will be expected to meet the individual eligibility criteria and not have prior work experience in international SDOs. The applicant may be asked to provide evidence that the employee is not, nor has ever been, part of the company's existing standards team. Outcome evidence might comprise a short written testimonial from the employee.

• Introducing relevant teaching material into university engineering and technical education at undergraduate, graduate or doctoral level. Teaching should be designed to occur on a regular basis (not a one off). Grant funding may be requested for one off costs that are incurred to put this in place. The applicant is likely to be an academic who already teaches engineering and technology modules or an academic researcher. Outcome evidence may include feedback from students who have attended the course.

• Taster attendance for a small group with a mentor at an in-person international DTS meeting (for example, technical working group or general assembly) of one of the listed international SDOs. This might be a small group (for example up to five) of eligible research students accompanied by an academic or industrialist with relevant experience. The grant may contribute to travel and subsistence costs for the group. Priority is likely to be given to applications for meetings hosted in Europe. The grant applicant may be the academic institution or company on behalf of the group.

An applicant may propose a mix of activities but the total of any grant awarded to any single applicant will not exceed the maximum grant value. Guidance on eligible costs will be provided as part of the published grant scheme. Eligible costs will be confirmed in the grant award letter. In all cases, we expect costs to be reasonable and represent value for money.