In October 2015, British Council Peru announced the successful candidates of the Science and Innovation Programme (Researcher Links and Initial Institutional Collaborations). The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), represented by the British Embassy in Lima, is providing the funds for this programme. At the local level, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica (CONCYTEC), has also played an important role as a strategic partner.
Eleven researchers were selected this year for developing innovation projects that will impact the social welfare and economic development in Peru and the United Kingdom. All proposals went through a rigorous selection process which started with an open call and compliance with eligibility checks, as well as the completion of a rigorous application procedure in order to ensure a fair, clear and unbiased process.
There were three types of programmes funded this year, which represented an opportunity for Peruvian and British researchers to participate in joint projects between both countries. Firstly, the Researcher Links Travel Grant, a programme that aims to link a Peruvian and a British institution in order to develop a research project together by providing travel funding for one of their researchers. Secondly, Researcher Links Workshops promote academic debate and engagement of early career researchers through seminars and discussion groups led by senior researchers. Finally, the Initial Institutional Collaborations programme encourages the development of a joint research project between Peruvian and British institutions.
Proposals were submitted by key public and private Peruvian universities as well as renowned British health institutions and agriculture entities. As a result, in this first edition of the Science and Innovation Programme, we have covered almost all the fields identified by the FCO and the British Council in order to contribute to the social and economic development of Peru. The funded projects this year are working on a variety of subjects such as Health, Agriculture, Green Growth, Marine Sciences, Sustainable Cities and Urbanisation, as well as Nano Materials and Composed Materials.
The total budget for the programme this year is £440,000 and projects will be implemented by March 2016.
Researcher Links Travel Grant Programme 2015 Grants
|
Project |
Peruvian Institution |
UK Institution |
Researcher |
|
Haploidentical bone marrow transplantation and predicte/prognostics factor at diagnosis for acute leukemia in Pediatrics from Perú |
Universidad Científica del Sur |
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children – NHS |
Antonio Carrasco |
|
Geomic epidemiology of TB in Lima |
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia |
University of Warwick |
Diana Garrido |
|
Utilizing the Potential of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Tuberculosis Strain Bank |
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia |
University College London |
Louis Grandjean |
Researcher Links Workshop Programme 2015 Grants
|
Project |
Peruvian Institution |
UK Institution |
Researcher |
|
Genomics, Gene discovery and Genome Editing in Crops |
Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA) |
The James Hutton Institute |
Glenn Bryan |
|
Advancing Green Growth in Peru: A spotlight on tourism, transport and the blue economy.
|
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú / Universidad Científica del Sur |
University of Aberdeen |
Tavis Potts |
Initial Institutional Collaborations Programme 2015 Grants
|
Project |
Peruvian Institution |
UK Institution |
Researcher |
|
Validation of next generation sequencing: a revolutionary method for testing nuclear potato stocks for virus freedom and safeguarding plant health in the international exchange of potato germplasm |
Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina |
Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) |
Colin Jeffries |
|
Nanostructured magnetic thin films of functional oxide for the development of electronic devices based on spintronics. |
Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología (UTEC) |
University of Cambridge |
Crispin Barnes |
|
Towards a high-resolution gridded precipitation product for the tropical Andes |
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos/SENHAMI |
Imperial College London |
Wouter Buytaert |
|
Working towards assessing shark and ray sustainable fisheries in northern Peru |
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos |
Heriot-Watt University |
Lea-Anne Henry |
|
Co-design for new and refurbished sustainable low cost and low energy housing in Peru. |
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú |
De Montfort University |
Mark Lemon |
|
Towards a CIDI (UPCH)M- SAMS Catapult Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture |
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Perú |
The Scottish Association for Marine Science |
Adam Hughes |