Invest NI Technical Support for R&D Funding Applications Framework.

Descriptions

Invest NI's (INI) Research & Development Division (RDD) wishes to establish a framework of suitable advisors to appraise applications from companies seeking financial assistance from INI to undertake potential research and development projects across a broad spectrum of sectors.In addition, advisors will also be required to undertake technical reviews of supported projects to provide an independent assessment on how successful the research projects have been and report on technical objectives and milestones achieved.Invest NI RDD is also seeking advisors to provide mentoring support for applications towards competitive, Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and EU R&D funding calls.It is anticipated this Framework will be operational from early 2014 for a period of two years with the option to extend for a further two one year periods.Service Providers will be required to:— Conduct detailed technical appraisals of applications from companies and/or research organisations wishing to conduct commercially relevant research and/or development projects,— Conduct detailed technical reviews of completed research and/or development projects.Technical appraisals and reviews will require very specialist knowledge in industrial sectors and will normally involve the provision of advice on issues such as:Technical viability, validity, merits and risk, industrial relevance; reasonableness of costs; degree of innovation; potential benefits; market potential; additionally; and Intellectual Property Rights arrangements.Individual Contracts from the Framework Agreement will be established via Secondary Competition.