TASC Low Energy Routes to Bulk Chemicals (TA-Low Energy Routes)

The TASC Innovation Programme (Technology Areas for Sustainable Chemistry) is a public-private partnership programme under NWO/ACTS. It comprises the four separate Technology Areas (TA):

• Low Energy Routes to Bulk Chemicals (TA-Low Energy Routes);
• Eco-efficient Use of Biomass for Bulk and Fine Chemicals Production (TA-Biomass);
• Syngas, a Switch to Flexible New Feedstock for the Chemical Industry (TA-Syngas);
• Comprehensive Analytical Science and Technology (TA-COAST).

This call for proposals is related to TA-Low Energy Routes. The TA is structured around three themes:

• Selective oxidation;
• Activation of nitrogen;
• Activation of alkanes / (steam) cracking.

The themes represent three families of chemical processes, which consume 70% of the energy used in the Dutch chemical industries. The largest part of the energy used in these processes, does not end up in the final products, but leaves the reactor either as heat or (unwanted) by-products. Although part of the heat and/or the by-products is utilized, there is a severe lack of efficiency.

Clever combinations of feedstock and catalysts should allow for more efficient processes, in which the number of steps is decreased and by-products and energy-consuming separation steps are avoided. This TA aims at the improvement of the processes and the (catalytic) conversion itself rather than the improvement of the process environment.

Who can apply

Group leaders (assistant, associate, or full professors) at a Dutch university or NWO approved research institute can apply. Each project consortium must include at least two private partners and one knowledge institute. Private partners cannot receive funding and are considered as co-applicants.

More information on the terms and conditions for application can be found in the call for proposals.

What can be applied for

• The maximal governmental subsidy that can be requested per research proposal is k€ 600. Private contributions in excess of k€ 300 are welcome but shall not be eligible for matching by governmental subsidy.
• The grant can be used for temporary personnel (PhDs and postdocs only), consumables (fixed amount) and equipment related to the research proposal.
• The project should employ at least one researcher for at least two years.
• Only in exceptional cases may the grant be used to purchase highly specific equipment that is solely applicable in the context of the research proposal. Motivation and specification is necessary and will be evaluated. The maximum eligible equipment costs to be considered for governmental subsidy is k€ 147.
• The grants are paid as a lump sum once per year over the duration of the grant. Personnel costs are subsidized in accordance with the most recent Agreement on Employers' responsibilities NWO-VSNU.

When can be applied

• Closing date for the submission of preliminary proposals was 18 october 2011.
• Closing date for the submission of full proposals was 17 January 2012, 23:59 hrs.

Extra Information

• The private partners in the project contribute in total a minimum of 1/3 of the total expenses to the projec;
• SME companies (in Dutch MKB: midden- en kleinbedrijf) shall contribute a minimum of 1/3 of the partner’s contribution to the project in cash. In-kind contributions in excess of 2/3 of the SME’s contribution are not eligible for matching of the requested subsidy. Note, the overhead and networking costs (management costs) cannot be matched by inkind contributions;
• Each private partner (non-SME) contributes largely in cash (minimum of 7/10 of the private partner’s total contribution to the project). In-kind contributions in excess of 3/10 of the private partner’s contribution are not eligible for matching of the requested subsidy. Note that the overhead and networking costs (management costs) cannot be matched by in-kind contributions;
• In-kind costs contributed by private partners may comprise:
  • man hours (up to a maximum of € 100/hour); 
  • materials;
  • (use of) equipment.

More information on the “Regeling in kind bijdragen door bedrijven in het TASC programma” (Dutch only) is found in the call for proposals.

Criteria

The following assessment criteria apply:

1. Fit to the scope of TA-Low Energy Routes;
2. Scientific quality of the proposal;
3. Quality of the consortium;
4. Valorisation potential.

Procedure

The (pre-) proposals that meet the eligibility criteria will be processed and assessed as follows:

• The pre-proposals will be assessed by a Technology Area (TA) committee.
• The TA-committee checks the pre-proposals against the description of the scope of the programme and provides –if of relevance- the applicants with advice to improve their application.
• Applicants are notified about the results of the pre-proposal phase.
• The full proposals will be assessed by a R&D Review Committee (RRC).
• Applicants will be given the opportunity to respond to the review of the RRC in writing with a rebuttal.
• A final ranking of the proposals will be drafted by the RRC considering all arguments, including the applicant’s rebuttal.
• The Executive Board of ACTS will take a decision on the allocation of funds based on the funding recommendations of the RRC.

Committees

The pre-proposals will be assessed by a Technology Area committee. This TA-committee is composed of experts from academia and the private sector.

The full research proposals will be assessed by an independent, international R&D Review Committee consisting of academic/private sector scientists with relevant expertise. The composition of the committee will be posted on the programme website after the decision making process has been completed.

Budget

The TA-Low Energy Routes’ budget in this first call will be circa M€ 3 (M€ 2 subsidy from government, M€ 1 to be funded by cash and in-kind contributions from private partners (industry, research institutes, SMEs), plus implicit matching in-kind contributions from knowledge institutes (NWO definition, mainly universities)).

Financiers

The TASC Programme, and thus TA-Low Energy Routes, is co-funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture & Innovation, by NWO and by the participating private partners.

Contacts

• Ms. dr. M. (Margot) Snel
  phone: +31 (0)70 - 344 07 58, e-mail: ta-lowenergy@nwo.nl