Tender to develop a National Strategy for Materials Innovation
Stage 2 – strategy development, programme management and production of evidence-base
Through 2023/24 Royce is seeking to promote and support the development of a National Strategy for Materials Innovation. To achieve this, we are drawing on the UK’s research community and also contracting resource to develop the required framework – specifically helping to manage and support its development.
Royce is therefore inviting an organisation/s to drive the development of this National Strategy for Materials Innovation which will build on the Framework developed in Stage 1, be underpinned by a broad consultation process and will have support from government, including the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The Strategy development will be owned and directed by a new Materials Innovation Leadership Group, which is in the process of being formed.
The focus for the Strategy is innovation and technology translation against national need: while materials research is an acknowledged UK strength, we recognise the need to be much better at linking the science to commercial reality.
The aim of the Strategy must be to identify opportunities and stimulate measures which close this gap and ensure that the UK is a front runner in embedding materials innovation into our manufacturing sectors such as transport, digital, energy, building and health.
The role of the commissioned organisation/s will be to undertake the following programmes of work:
Activity 1 – Materials Innovation Strategy development – this is the major activity of this call and the ultimate output will be delivery of a final, publishable report and strategic plan which builds from the Strategy Framework, key drivers and ambition set out in this tender (expected duration 12 months, in parallel with activity 2)
Activity 2 – Programme management – overall coordination of the activities associated with development of the Materials Innovation Strategy (expected duration 18 months)
Activity 3 : Econometrics study (ies) – a report and background database to provide essential information and input to support the business case for implementing recommendations from the Materials Innovation Strategy (expected duration 4 months from overall project start)
Stage 1 of this activity was completed in the first quarter of 2023. The output was a short Materials Futures summary and a more detailed National Materials Innovation Strategy Framework.
This second stage will require wide engagement and input which builds on the Framework methodology and the momentum gained following the launch event in London in April 2023. This is essential given the breadth and depth of materials innovation as a discipline which spans Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) across a diverse research base in the UK and beyond.
Tentative Timeline
We envisage the project will follow this timeline, with some flexibility where necessary.
- Invitation to Tender: Thursday 8 June 2023
- Closing date: Friday 30th June 2023
- Appointment of Contractor/s: week commencing 17 July 2023
- Initial Planning Meeting week commencing 7th August 2023
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