Total quantity or scope of tender
This challenge is a single-phase challenge intended to show the feasibility of the proposed concept. The development contracts awarded will be for the duration of 3 months with individual contracts valued up to £1,000 (inc. VAT) for solutions at Technical Readiness Levels 1 to 2 and £15,000 (inc. VAT) for solutions at Technical Readiness Levels 3 to 4. Successful projects must start on the 8th January 2024 and conclude 29th March 2024. Funding through this phase of the challenge does not guarantee any further funding for future research and development. Projects will be selected by an open competition process and organisations will retain the intellectual property generated from the project.
Round 2: Rural Health and Wellbeing Challenge
Aim: Identify innovative solutions to improve rural health and wellbeing aligning to Ceredigion County Councils' Well-being and Improvement Objectives and Hywel Dda University Health Board's strategy "a Healthier Mid and West Wales."
This challenge offers opportunities for businesses to develop innovative solutions to promote rural health and wellbeing and contribute to the development of an innovation ecosystem which can support growth and economic benefits to the Mid Wales region. Innovation and technology change plays a key role in productivity gains and businesses will need to demonstrate how their innovative solution supports tangible business growth.
Businesses will need to address one of the sub-themes highlighted below, further theme details are included in the competition documentation.
Ageing well and promoting wellness
Promoting a wellness system, involves every part of life that affects our health and well-being. This builds upon the concept of a 'social model for health' and shifts the emphasis from hospital-centered care to a more holistic approach centered around wellness and prevention. With fewer people aged 25-44 and more people aged 55-79 than any other place in Wales, there are unique needs to support our ageing population and future generations in the Hywel Dda UHB catchment.
This theme is seeking innovative approaches to support healthy ageing and promote wellness that have the capability to promote growth and deliver economic benefits to the region. Could innovative approaches encourage physical exercise in older people? Could improved food and nutrition promote wellness? Could technology address rural isolation and improve health?
Farming and primary production to promote yields
Agriculture is important for Ceredigion’s economy and for the health and wellbeing of residents. Agriculture can help reduce poverty, raise incomes and improve food security. However, there are increasing pressures from climate change and food losses in primary food production. The combined impacts of slow economic growth, the cost of living and the socio-economic effects of both Brexit and Covid-19, have also contributed to food insecurity and made it more difficult for people to access the foods they require to maintain good health.
Can new technology help predict weather patterns to increase yields and prevent losses? Could novel approaches to cold-chain management and infrastructure prevent spoilage or degradation during storage? Can innovative sustainable farming practices increase yields locally?
Protecting our waterways and coastal areas
The environment has a direct impact on health and well-being and protecting our waterways and coastal areas plays an important role in maintaining health. Our waterways face multiple challenges, from polluted watercourses to flood events exacerbated by climate change. Phosphorus and nitrogen in our waterways can be harmful to ecosystems and human health, and costly to the economy.
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