The Data Lab and CENSIS Innovation Centres are running a call for funding targeting short collaborative IoT and data-driven projects to deliver innovation focused on energy management and reduced Co2 emissions.

This innovation may combine current IoT hardware and systems and the resulting data, as well as new analytical capabilities and data science techniques to deliver, help, mitigate, and manage energy consumption.

This could mean exploring and implementing energy efficiency measures, investigating demand management options, investing in analytics to better understand patterns of energy use, and/or inform managers on how best to reduce consumption.

Eligibility criteria for innovation projects

• Projects are expected to be approximately 3 months in duration
• Project consortium should be made up of a Scottish-based SME, a Scottish academic partner and (ideally) a potential end user
• The Data Lab will fund up to 75% of total academic costs (up to a maximum of £20k). Participating companies will be expected to cover the remaining academic costs through a cash contribution (e.g. 25% for SMEs and 50% for large companies).
• The Data Lab and CENSIS funding will only be paid to cover the costs of University Partner(s) involved in the project.

The application must demonstrate one or more of the following

The IoT and data energy management challenge

The call is open to SMEs operating in any sector. If an industry applicant does not have an academic partner attached to the application, The Data Lab and CENSIS can provide search and matching services. Example application areas include:

• Developing new or optimising existing energy management systems through the use of connected (potentially customized off-the-shelf) sensors and data analytics
• Improving operational efficiencies of industrial or business processes to reduce energy consumption or energy usage/ waste and an organisation’s carbon footprint
• Deployment or development of new algorithms that would help with the processing and analysis of existing or IoT-enabled datasets

The Data Lab Data Science Team and the CENSIS technical team will be available to provide time-limited in-kind support to parties in relation to technical scoping and/or advising on data science or senor/ IoT issues at the application development or project delivery stage.

How to apply

1. Review the challenge, eligibility criteria and project application assessment criteria and key dates (below)
2. Download The Data Lab Project Application Form (below)
3. Review, with academic partner, how any resulting intellectual property will be handled
4. Complete the form and submit it via email to darran.gardner@thedatalab.com with the subject: “IoT and data energy challenge Call” before the deadline of Midnight Feb 19, 2023

Note: If you wish to discuss any element of an application (including engaging with academic partners) before submission please contact darran.gardner@thedatalab.com. Both staff from The Data Lab and CENSIS can support the application development process.

Download the application form in Word format
Note that this is a document that will download directly to your device.

Project application assessment criteria

Applications will be assessed by a panel consisting of representatives of The Data Lab and CENSIS, as well as an independent assessment partner. Applications will be assessed on:

• The project’s deliverability and impact (economic in terms of jobs created or safeguard, as well revenue,  or social)
• The suitability and capability of consortium partners
• Ability of lead applicant/ SME to commercialise project outputs
• The development and deployment of the lead industry applicant
• Level of innovation in terms of the use of IoT devices and data/ data science

Key dates