A bid is due to open for up to £1 million Government investment in projects that can demonstrate energy harvesting technologies for autonomous sensing.
The grant funding, from the Technology Strategy Board, will help companies to investigate energy harvesting in electronic devices.
Such applications could extend the life of batteries in devices, or to remove the need for batteries altogether.
Developing technologies that enable electronic devices to power themselves independently is a big challenge and an exciting innovation opportunity. Some of these technologies “scavenge energy” from their environments, known as energy harvesting.
Potential applications extend across many industry sectors and commercial activities including process, condition and environmental monitoring in areas such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and subsea, as well as in harsh and hostile environments.
They could also be found embedded in building and home automation systems, medical devices and consumer electronics.
The feasibility and demonstration projects must be undertaken by a consortium of at least two partners (one of which can be an academic institution if required) and the project must be led by a business, which can be of any size.
Projects are expected to last six to 18 months and grant funding of up to 75% will be available, with a maximum grant of £100,000 for each project.
The competition opens on October 8, 2012 and applicants must register their interest by November 28, 2012. The deadline for the receipt of applications is December 5 2012. A briefing day for potential applicants will be held on October 23 2012.
For further information visit: http://www.innovateuk.org/content/competition/energy-harvesting-for-autonomous-sensing.ashx
