Technology Touching Life (TTL) is pleased to announce a £3 million call for Networks, jointly supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Medical Research Council (MRC). The aim of TTL is to foster interdisciplinary research into innovative, and potentially disruptive, technological capabilities that will drive world-leading discovery research in the health and life sciences.

Through these awards we aim to support networking activities that will identify research strategies and opportunities to address the vision of TTL, as well as building new collaborations across disciplines and organisations. The Research Councils will kick start these new research strategies by supporting preliminary or feasibility style research as part of the awards. TTL is a long-term strategic priority across BBSRC, EPSRC and MRC and we will seek to build on the ideas and collaborations that emerge through the Networks to understand the future needs and scale of opportunity for TTL.

Up to £3 million will be available to fund a balanced portfolio of awards across the scope of TTL; we anticipate funding three to six networks. Networks are intended to be UK-wide and be open to participants from different disciplines and institutions. It is essential that user engagement is considered in the wider network membership. Each proposal must explain the fit to the scope of Technology Touching Life and demonstrate evidence of how they will connect with on-going excellent research in the UK to grow and develop the network.

This is a two-stage call; Outline applications will be assessed in September 2017, and Full Applications invited forward for assessment in February 2018. Networks will be expected to start June 2018.