Tidal lagoon challenge: grant application guidance

The stage 1 application form should be completed for each project proposal using the form available online. 

The following guidance sets out additional information to assist applicants in completing the application form. 

Word limits apply throughout the application and are set out in the application form response boxes. If these limits are exceeded all words over the word limit will be disregarded. Except where explicitly requested the Welsh Government does not expect attachments / appendices to be provided, and any such attachments / appendices will not be reviewed by the evaluators.

1.1.    Organisation where the Grant would be held

This is the organisation to which payment of the grant will be made. This organisation will be responsible for entering into a grant agreement with the Welsh Government and meeting the grant terms.

1.2.    Principal Investigator – For Information

Details of the lead researcher for the project. All correspondence about the application will be sent to the principal investigator.

1.3.    Authorised person – For Information

Details of any person authorised to correspond with the Welsh Government about the application on behalf of the project. If there are multiple authorised persons please copy the table and provide all details.

1.4.    Joint applications – For Information

For joint applications please provide details of all the organisations who will be part of the research project.

1.5.    Team – For Information

Please provide details of all of the proposed team members. Summary expertise addressing field of specialism for each team member should be provided.

1.6.    Studentships – For Information

If you are including a studentship as part of your research project proposal, please include 

2.1.    Research period – Eligibility Test (PASS/FAIL)

Please set out the proposed start date for the project. This must be [before 1 April 2024]. The duration of the project must be no more than [24] months. Any studentships linked to the project will be considered separately and can continue beyond the research period. Any studentship will be funded for no more than 42 months, and must be commenced by 1 November 2024.

2.2.    Studentship period – Eligibility Test (PASS/FAIL)

If you will not offer a studentship as part of the research project, please indicate using “n/a” as a response. Please set out the proposed start date for any studentship. This must be [before 1 Novemberl 2024]. The duration of the project must be no more than 42 months. 

2.3.    Ethical implications of research – For Information

Please consider whether there are any ethical implications arising from your research, for example: 

• Does the research involve human participants?  
• Does it require travel to countries where the safety of project participants might be in jeopardy? 
• Could the research result in potential adverse consequences for humans, animals or the environment? 
• If the project involves public engagement in the research, has consideration been given to ensuring appropriate equality and diversity of engagement?

If there are ethical implications arising from your research please set out the nature of these implications and how they will be addressed. 

2.4.    Data management – Eligibility Test (PASS/FAIL)

It is a requirement of the grant that all data is managed in line with the Welsh Government’s information management and governance policy. Please review the policy and confirm you will comply.

2.5.    Commitment to data sharing – Eligibility Test (PASS/FAIL)

The Welsh Government wants to build knowledge and data to support the tidal range sector and believes that datasets collected as a result of projects are an important resource that must be adequately managed. Applicants must therefore commit to sharing the data and research resulting from their project. An outline data management plan (OMDP) will be required as part of stage of the application.

Welsh Government reserves the right to access all unpublished papers, records, data or collections resulting from the work carried out under a grant, some of which may be required to be deposited with Welsh Government. Similarly Welsh Government reserves the right to use information on the outcome of awards to report on achievements e.g. in annual reports. Welsh Government may, at any time, require detailed information on the results of work funded through grants for use in scientific or financial audits.

3.1. Project title – For Information

The project title should be used consistently in all correspondence about the application, and should succinctly describe the work to be undertaken. 

3.2. Category – For Information

Please delete as appropriate to select the category/ies that the research fits within. Research projects which fit within multiple categories are acceptable.

3.3. Summary – Evaluated 

The summary should be understandable to a lay person and may used by the Welsh Government in communications material relating to the research project.

3.4. Objectives - Evaluated

The objectives of the proposed project should be listed in order of priority and should be those that the applicant would wish the Welsh Government to use as the basis for evaluation of work upon completion of any grant awarded.

Objectives should be clear and achievable. There should be a clear link between the work of the project and the objectives that are sought from the project. 

3.5. Alignment - Evaluated

The applicant should set out how the proposed research project aligns to the aims of the Tidal Lagoon Challenge and the Welsh Government’s research priorities. The project may align to one or more research priorities. 

Information should be provided as to how the work of the project will address the research objectives.

4.1. Grant amount requested – Eligibility Test (PASS/FAIL)

The total amount of grant requested from the Welsh Government to support the research project should be provided. A justification of costs will be required in stage 2 of the application.

The maximum grant award available is £250,000.

4.2. What % of fEC[1]  does the requested grant represent of project costs – For Information

Grant awards are available for up to 100% FEC.

4.3. If grant requested is not 100% of FEC please set out the other sources of funding for the project – For Information

If the grant requested from the Welsh Government is 100% of FEC please leave the table blank. Otherwise please provide details of the additional funding sources required to meet the cost of the proposed project.

Grant amount    

Amount of grant in £  

%FEC    

The proportion of FEC that the grant represents 

Granting organisation

The organisation who will make the grant  

Grant award status

The status of the grant – e.g. applied for, under consideration, confirmed

[1] fEC is the Full Economic Cost, calculated in accordance with the TRAC (Transparent Approach to Costing) methodology (Universities and other Higher Education bodies) or by an equivalent methodology for other Research Organisations.

This section of the application form will be used by applicants that are successful in the stage 1 application. Please do not complete this section of the form until instructed to do so by Welsh Government. 

All information provided in stage 1 of the application should be reviewed, and any changes noted. If these changes are significant, please contact Welsh Government to discuss as this may have a material impact on the eligibility of the applicant to participate in stage 2 of the grant process. 

5.1. Commitment to data sharing – Eligibility Test (PASS/FAIL)

Welsh Government believes that datasets collected as a result of projects are an important resource that must be adequately managed. To assure Welsh Government that data and project outputs will be appropriately managed, and will be available for other researchers. An outline Data Management Plan (ODMP) is required for all applications. The ODMP should identify datasets likely to be made available for archiving and reuse at the end of the grant and where these will be stored and how they will be made publicly accessible. It should also set out where any research papers will be published.

Welsh Government reserves the right to access all unpublished papers, records, data or collections resulting from the work carried out under a grant. Similarly Welsh Government reserves the right to use information on the outcome of awards to report on achievements e.g. in annual reports. Welsh Government may, at any time, require detailed information on the results of work funded through grants for use in scientific or financial audits.

6.1. Please describe your research proposal setting out

• Underlying rationale, scientific and technological issues to be addressed.
• Specific objectives of the project, including their potential relevance to UK and international research work in the field, relevance to the Welsh Government Research Priorities and anticipated achievements and outputs, including datasets
• Methodology and approach. 
• Risks and mitigation strategies.
• Programme and/or plan of research, evidence of access to required facilities, data, collections. 
• Management of both project and resources, identifying the training and career development opportunities for personnel working on the project.

This section should be used to set out your research proposal. 

6.2. Please describe how the project will benefit Wales

Please provide evidence of how the work you are undertaking will benefit Wales. The nature of the benefit is likely to vary from project to project, but where possible the benefit should be quantified. The question will be evaluated considering 

A)    The credibility of the proposed benefits
B)    The scale of the proposed benefits

7.1. Provide a clear timetable for the activity set out in the project and the intended progress of the research through the different stages.

The project duration must not be greater than 24months. This section will be used to assess the proposed approach, and will also be used for monitoring the project. The timetable should demonstrate that the research has been properly planned and the time needed to complete it, including dissemination activities, has been carefully estimated.

8.1. Please provide CV’s for named research staff (including Researcher Co-Investigators) or visiting researchers. CV's are also required for Principal or Co-Investigators. Each CV should be no more than 2 sides of A4

One attachment containing all of the CVs should be submitted. The file naming convention: CVs_[Research project title]_[Lead organisation name] should be used. All CVs should be in the same format and should clearly demonstrate the relevant expertise of the team.

8.2. Partner organisations – For information

If the applicant has more than one organisation, all organisations which are not the lead organisations must provide a letter, the content of the letter should:

• Confirm commitment to the proposed project;
• Clearly explain the value, relevance and possible benefits of the work to the project partner;
• Give the nature and equivalent value of any in-kind contribution, and/or declare the value of a cash contribution, and period of support; and
• Describe the added value to the project of the project partner’s involvement.

The letter should be dated and should be written when the proposal is being prepared. The letter should be targeted specifically to the project.  A standard letter declaring support for the proposed work is not helpful.

Each letter should be attached to the application. The file naming convention LoS_[Joint organisation name]_[Research Project title] should be used.

8.3. Previous track record

8.3.1.     Please set out your relevant track record in relation to the proposed research project. This should include:

• A summary of the results and conclusions of recent work in the technological/scientific area that is covered by the research application. 
• Details of any relevant past collaborations. 
• Where your previous work has achieved significant academic or socioeconomic impact. 
• Links to relevant scientific and technical publications. 
• The specific expertise available for the research at the host organisation and that of any associated organisations and partner organisations

If relevant, please include citations to evidence your track record.

9.1. Departmental unit where the student will be registered – For Information

Please provide the name of the departmental unit where the student will be registered.

9.2. Proposed supervisor

Please provide the name of the proposed supervisor for the student. The supervisor should be part of the project team for the proposed project, and their CV included in the submission made at 8.1.

9.3. Please provide a studentship case for support 

This should include:

• A summary statement of the PhD topic to be undertaken and a justification for the length of the programme of study.
• A clear statement of how this is independent from, but will add value to, the principal research objectives set out in the proposal

10.1.    Please attach your detailed costs for undertaking the research proposal. This should be calculated in accordance with the TRAC (Transparent Approach to Costing) methodology (Universities and other Higher Education bodies) or by an equivalent methodology by other Research Organisations. 

A staff effort summary should be included.

Please attach your costs calculated in excel, using the naming convention Costs_[Project title]_[Lead Organisation].

The costs should include:

• Directly incurred costs
• Directly allocated costs
• Indirect costs
• Staff effort summary (the months of effort for each of the categories of staff to be used on the project)

If you are proposing to support a studentship through the project, the costs of the studentship to be met by the grant should be included in your costs.

The TLC grant costs can only be used to meet £250,000 of costs, but if match funding is in place the total costs may exceed this value.

10.2.    Will equipment costs exceed £25,000?

10.2.1.     If equipment costs exceed £25,00 it is a requirement for 3 quotations to be sought. Please attach the three quotations received.

10.3.    Please set out a justification of resources. Setting out why the resources requested are appropriate for the research proposed taking into account the nature and complexity of the research proposal. – Eligibility test (PASS / FAIL)

The response to this question should not be simply a list of the resources required as this is already given. Examples of questions to consider include:

• Is the work of appropriate scientific content or technical difficulty to warrant employing a Research Assistant (RA)? Why has the level requested for the RA been asked for?
• If you are planning to visit people to discuss your research, you should explain why those are the right people to talk to and how they can contribute to you meeting your objectives. If you plan to attend conferences, you should comment on the advantages of conference attendance and give an indication of the number you want to attend during the grant, who will attend these and the type you want to go to – national/ international/ general/subject specific etc?
• Have you factored in enough time to work with project partners, visiting researchers and other collaborators? Are you only managing the staff on the project?
• Why do you need this equipment for this proposed research? What will it be used for and who will be using it?

Please ensure the costs / descriptions in your justification of resources matches those provided at question 10.1 or your application may be rejected.

10.4.    If the grant requested is not for 100% FEC, please attach proof of that the other funding required will be in place by the project start date. – Eligibility test (Pass / Fail)

Please submit evidence that the other funding for the project will be in place were the Welsh Government to award you the grant. Examples of evidence could be:

• a letter from the granting body setting out their intention to award you funding
• A letter of support from a private sector partner
• Evidence of funds being available from the lead or a partner organisations e.g. a board decision paper

Each letter should be attached to the application. The file naming convention GD_[funding provider name]_[Research Project title] should be used.