--- title: "Opportunity Seed Funding Call: Nature Computes Better" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-042c6a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-042c6a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-042c6a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-042c6a.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "ADVANCED RESEARCH AND INVENTION AGENCY" published: "2024-01-11" --- # Opportunity Seed Funding Call: Nature Computes Better Buyer: ADVANCED RESEARCH AND INVENTION AGENCY Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-042c6a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-042c6a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-042c6a.json) ## Summary The Advanced Research and Invention Agency has initiated a tender titled "Opportunity Seed Funding Call: Nature Computes Better" for research services in the UK. The procurement process is currently at the planning stage, with a tender period ending on the 15th of March 2024. The call is open for 2 months, with potential extensions for additional rounds. Key dates include application deadlines in February and March, with award decisions and agreement negotiations planned thereafter. This tender presents an opportunity for businesses in the research services industry to gain funding for ambitious research aligned with the agency's identified opportunity spaces. Businesses with bold ideas challenging assumptions or pioneering new capabilities are encouraged to apply. The procurement method is selective, involving a competitive procedure with negotiation, offering a total funding amount of £1.6 million. Early-stage researchers and innovative teams are particularly encouraged to participate in this call for proposals. ## Notice Breakthroughs require finding people who think differently about what's possible - and empowering them to follow their vision. To support scientific and technological breakthroughs, outside of programmes, ARIA Programme Directors can award opportunity seeds to support ambitious research aligned to the opportunity spaces they've identified. To understand how opportunity seeds work within our model, see how we're working here (https://www.aria.org.uk/how-were-working/). ### Lot Information Lot 1 This funding call specifically relates to our Programme Director Suraj Bramhavar's programme (https://www.aria.org.uk/what-were-working-on/#suraj). In Nature Computes Better (https://www.aria.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ARIA-Nature-computes-better-v1.0-1.pdf), we're looking to fund high potential proposals with between PS10k and PS500k each. We initially expect to fund up to 10 opportunity seeds in this space. We're looking for bold ideas that could challenge assumptions, open up new research paths, or provide steps towards new capabilities. If you have an important idea you're obsessed with, but you don't currently have the resources or support to take it forward, we'd like to hear from you. Ideas could come from anywhere, so we welcome applications from individuals and teams who are early in their career or who have atypical backgrounds. We care more about your idea and your intrinsic motivation than we do about your CV. To help you decide if this is the right funding call for you, here's some guidance on the scope: In scope: + Ideas that sit within the Nature Computes Better opportunity space. By this, we mean your proposal should show how your idea either aligns with or challenges the assumptions of the Summary, Beliefs, or Observations in the opportunity space document (https://www.aria.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ARIA-Nature-computes-better-v1.0-1.pdf). + Ideas that could change the conversation about what is possible or valuable. + Ideas that range from early stage curiosity-driven research through to pre-commercial science and technology. Out of scope: + Ideas that target Suraj Bramhavar's goal of Unlocking AI Compute Hardware at 1/1000th the Cost, as described in his programme thesis (https://www.aria.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ARIA-Unlocking-AI-compute-hardware-v1.0-1.pdf). We expect to release a programme funding call in the coming months. If you are unsure whether your idea fits into Suraj's Programme thesis, ask us by submitting a question using the messaging function within ARIA's application portal (https://public.deepstreamtech.com/requests/658428a1b0e7f12e03818b5c/aria-opportunity-seed-nature-computes-better). + Ideas that are undifferentiated or that are likely to happen without ARIA support. + Commercial or close-to-commercial stage products. Beyond this scope and our evaluation criteria outlined in the full opportunity seed call document on ARIA's website (https://www.aria.org.uk/seeds-nature-computes-better), we don't have preconceptions about what ideas you might send our way. You don't need to contort your project to fit our goals: we want to hear what you really want to do. Additional information: The estimated total value is the maximum budget available. We expect to fund multiple applicants. Options: If funded research projects show compelling results, whether during or at the end of the project, ARIA may invite funding recipients to apply for additional funds without further competition. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000983-2024 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive procedure with negotiation | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 11 Jan 2024 | | Submission deadline | 15 Mar 2024 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,600,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | ADVANCED RESEARCH AND INVENTION AGENCY | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | North West London | | Postcode | NW1 2DB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI36 Camden | | Local authority | Camden | | Electoral ward | St Pancras & Somers Town | | Westminster constituency | Holborn and St Pancras | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73110000 - Research services ## Release History - 11 Jan 2024 at 15:03 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000983-2024 ## Notice URLs - https://public.deepstreamtech.com/requests/658428a1b0e7f12e03818b5c/aria-opportunity-seed-nature-computes-better - https://www.aria.org.uk/ - https://www.aria.org.uk/how-were-working/ - https://www.aria.org.uk/seeds-nature-computes-better - https://www.aria.org.uk/what-were-working-on/#suraj - https://www.aria.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ARIA-Nature-computes-better-v1.0-1.pdf - https://www.aria.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ARIA-Unlocking-AI-compute-hardware-v1.0-1.pdf ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-042c6a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-042c6a.json.