To stimulate innovation in business models, applications, services and technologies in support of the Government’s vision of a Digital Britain, the Technology Strategy Board is allocating up to £2m for feasibility studies. These will enable the timely exploration of ideas and visions for the future of a Digital Britain, to inform further investments in innovation. Each study will last up to three months and cost no more than £33,000 in total, and we will fund up to 75% of the project cost (up to around £25,000).

For this competition we invite proposals:

• that contain an element of innovation in technology or business practice closely aligned with the Technology Strategy Board’s Our Strategy for Digital Britain, published in June 2009. This can be found under Related Documents
• that are both led and undertaken by companies either individually or in partnership, and
• where the lead company would expect to be an active partner in any research work and exploitation of the ideas in the study.

The output of each study will be a short report that should include:

• a description of the problem addressed, the proposed solution and the expected impact
• the approach adopted during the feasibility study
• initial design or technical work to showcase the principles involved
• a technology gap analysis, and either
• a proposal to exploit the ideas, with a development plan to produce a prototype or demonstrator, or
• a justification for why the ideas cannot be taken forward. Each project will be required to provide a 10-minute presentation of the report at a closing workshop in March 2010.

After completing these feasibility studies, applicants should be well placed to seek investment to develop their ideas, including through application to further Technology Strategy Board Digital Britain competitions in 2010 and beyond.

Supporting Events
he  Creative Industries, Digital Communications, Electronics, and Grid Computing Now!  Knowledge Transfer Networks are holding two information events on the Digital Britain Feasibility Studies competition on 14th September in London and 21st September in Sheffield. The participants will have an opportunity to:

• hear about the Technology Strategy Board's Strategy for Digital Britain
• view presentations on the four areas of the competition and the application process 
• ask questions to the Technology Strategy Board's Technologists. 

These events may also be of interest to companies interested in applying to the ICT and Electronics, Photonics and Electrical Systems areas of the Technology Inspired Feasibility Studies Competition. Please follow this link for more information and to register: www.regonline.co.uk/dbfs

Key dates

Competition opens 1st September 2009
Briefing (optional) 8th September 2009
Registration by applicants of intention to submit 24th September 2009
Deadline for receipt of full applications 1st October 2009 (midday)
Decision and feedback to applicants by 16th October 2009
Offer letters posted by 30th October 2009
Feasibility studies completed by 26th February 2010