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    Artificial intelligence, engineering biology and quantum technologies: highlight notice

    Apply for funding for the application of artificial intelligence (AI), engineering biology, and quantum technologies in biomedical research and development.

    You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for MRC funding.

    Opening date 1 Apr 2024, 09:00AM

    Closing date 31 Mar 2025, 04:00PM

    You must meet the eligibility criteria for the specific funding opportunity you are applying to.

    Before applying for funding, check the Eligibility of your organisation.

    UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service.

    For full details, visit Eligibility as an individual.

    Aim

    UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) recognises the strategic importance to the UK of five critical technologies:

    • future telecommunications
    • semiconductors
    • AI
    • engineering biology
    • quantum technologies

    These have been selected for their ability to build strategic advantage, create opportunities for growth, and capitalise on existing UK strengths.

    Scope

    During the highlight period MRC particularly welcomes applications from teams that are applying AI, engineering biology or quantum technologies, to better enable them to meet relevant MRC board and panel and cross-cutting themes.

    Artificial intelligence (AI)

    AI is considered here to be machines that perform tasks normally performed by human intelligence, especially when the machines learn from data how to do those tasks.

    You should be clear on the biomedical research challenge to be addressed, how use of AI will deliver impact beyond incremental optimisation of current systems, and where, if applicable complementarity exists with UKRI strategies (for example Transforming our World with AI) and existing investments in the same area (for example Responsible AI UK).

    You should also consider, where applicable, how the AI tools developed will act as a platform for future applications in biomedical research, for example underpinning future research or infrastructure, including through generalizable approaches.

    Engineering biology

    The design and fabrication of biological components and systems, from modifications of natural systems through to artificial biology, in order to enhance our understanding of human health and disease or in the development of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines

    Quantum technologies

    Applications focused on utilisation of quantum sensing technologies aimed at improving diagnostics for early detection of disease, biomarker identification and increasing understanding of physiological systems in diseased states.

    You should refer to this highlight notice and the critical technology in your application summary.

    You can search the UKRI funding finder for the following funding opportunities where this highlight notice is relevant:

    This highlight notice will be open from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. Applications submitted in this window will be considered for this highlight opportunity. For individual application closing dates refer to the relevant MRC funding opportunity.

    You should apply through the relevant MRC funding opportunity that is most appropriate for your science area and career stage.

    Applications will use the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

    Specifics for applying to this highlight notice

    You should refer to this highlight notice and the critical technology in your application summary.

    Assessment process

    We will assess your application using the following process.

    All applications received under this highlight notice will be assessed by the relevant MRC research board or panel through MRC’s standard assessment procedure.

    Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section in the relevant funding opportunity.

    Get help with your application

    If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

    Important note: The Helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the Helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding Finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility or content/remit of an opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

    Contact details

    For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

    For questions related to this highlight notice, please refer to the specific funding opportunity for the appropriate contact details.

    Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

    Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org
    Phone: 01793 547490

    Our phone lines are open:

    • Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm
    • Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

    To help us process queries quicker, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

    Find out more information on submitting an application.

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