Digital Supply Chain Testbeds - expression of interest

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Introduction

For this project, you’ll develop a real world operational end-to-end supply chain environment where technologies, that are ready to deliver value to users, can be tested and deployed without risking business disruption. 

There are four supply chain types we would like to develop testbeds for:

  • New emerging supply chains – for example, new nuclear, protein, circular textiles
  • Aftermarket and spares supply chains – with a significant circular element
  • Automotive/battery supply chains – with a significant focus on resilience and collaboration
  • FMCG or food supply chains – with a significant focus on resilience and sustainability

Our expectation is that each testbed will require up to £1.5 million co-investment across the project to deliver over a 12 month period. More details of this can be found below.  The Made Smarter Innovation | Digital Supply Chain Hub will provide a grant of up to £315,000 with additional in kind investment (time and asset utilisation) from consortium participants.

The Testbed opportunity is available to all organisations but in order to be eligible, you need to be part of a consortium and have clear access to industrial supply chains in the above areas.

Ideally a consortia should be comprised of, as a minimum:

  • Supply chain companies across four tiers
  • Technology company capable of creating testbed data environment
  • Supply chain domain experts capable of designing the test bed and technology roadmaps
  • Companies securely making data available in the testbed in accordance to open innovation principles

These testbeds will focus on supply chain sustainability, resilience and collaboration in order to:

  • Gather, create, communicate, and deliver new knowledge
  • Validate existing products, services and processes
  • Facilitate professional development
  • Deliver business impact in real-life contexts

The Made Smarter Innovation | Digital Supply Chain Hub is a £25 million programme with a vision to transform UK manufacturing through digitally empowered supply chains that are more efficient, resilient and sustainable. The Hub aims to achieve this by developing and empowering a globally competitive, digital innovation ecosystem, working together to address and prepare for the critical supply chain challenges facing UK manufacturing.

Central to our work is delivering real world impacts to businesses in UK supply chains. This means more than developing digital solutions but to mobilise all of our resources and that of our ecosystem to deliver value in line with three core themes:

  • Sustainability and circularity
  • Resilience
  • Collaboration

Whilst this does mean that we need to invest in technology solutions, it also means that we need to invest in supply chains so that they can be ready to benefit from the transformational solutions that the UK has to offer both now and in the near future.

What co-investment are we looking for?

Co-investment from industry and technology partners is a requirement of the funding

There are various categories of co-investment which  can be considered:

Labour and overheads

Establish the day rate for staff contributing to DSCH. This is calculated by the number of working days per year less bank holidays and your organisation’s annual leave entitlement.

You can also contribute 20% of your labour costs as overhead. This includes both direct and indirect overhead.

Materials

The costs of materials to be used directly on your project are eligible costs if they are purchased from third parties.

Software that will be used in the project you may only claim the additional costs incurred and paid between the start and end of your project.

Subcontracting

You can contribute costs relating to work carried out by third-party organisations that are not part of your project team. The work must:

  • involve expertise that does not exist within the project team
  • involve skills that it is not practical to develop in-house for your project

Travel and subsistence

You can contribute reasonable travel and subsistence costs for those individuals identified in the labour tab. Costs must be necessary and incurred exclusively for the progression of your project. Travel costs must be at economy travel only.

Other costs

This category can be used for any direct project costs which are not covered in the other categories. Examples of other costs include:

  • Workshop or laboratory usage charge outs
  • Preparation of technical reports
  • Licensing in new technologies

Project schedule

Key dates for the testbeds are shown below:

  • Key dates for the testbeds are shown below
  • Expression of interest: August 2022:
  • Consortium building event: October 2022
  • Applications open: October – November 2022
  • Down selection and awards: December – January 2022
  • Contracting: February – March 2023
  • Onboarding: March 2023
  • Testbed design: June 2023
  • Testbed environment complete: March 2024

Programme benefits

The testbeds are established to create the environment within which we can test high quality technology solutions capabilities to deliver business improvements across supply chains.  This means that companies will be able to benefit in the following ways:

Grant funding of up to £315,000

Become part of the Made Smarter Innovation | Digital Supply Chain Hub initiative, leveraging £25 million investment to de-risk supply chain innovation with a grant of up to £315,000.

New technology access

Have access to a whole suite of digital solutions delivering business value such as improved Scope 3 emissions measurement, optimised inventory management, automated supply chain mapping and more.

 

Digital solutions for your sector

The opportunity to create a pipeline of highly qualified technology solutions tailored to your sector needs.

Technical support and guidance

Support to design and develop an environment providing access to processes, data and systems.

Open call now live

Apply below.

Apply now

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