Stakeholder Engagement
About
This page outlines key information for engaging with the CeNZ-HighDB programme, including project categories, funding opportunities and submission requirements.
(A) – Project Categories
All submitted projects must align with the Centre Core Themes of CeNZ-HighDB. Projects will be assessed based on the relevance to these themes and their potential to contribute meaningful outcomes to the Centre’s objectives.
(B) Project Duration
Projects of duration from a few days or weeks to up to 18 months will be considered, however all outputs and deliverables involving CeNZ-HighDB’s contribution must be completed by 1st October 2028.
(C) Eligible costs
CeNZ-HighDB is funded via UKRI, with strict guidelines on what can be funded. The funding primarily supports academic time to provide research assistance to industry or public sector led projects. It does not fund direct project costs or consultancy. The table below provides an example of eligible and ineligible costs.
| Eligible items | Ineligible costs |
| Research time – covered via the centre academic staff and researchers | Capital costs |
| R&D Support – e.g. retrofit building performance, energy assessments, sensors | Consultancy fees / costs |
| Advisory Roles – e.g. net zero retrofit or new build, heat networks, skills development | |
| Strategy/Policy Support | |
| Building Occupant Studies | |
| Data Analysis and Modelling | |
| Heating, Cooling and Monitoring Technologies and Methods | |
| Skills Training and Course Development | |
| Lab Hire/use of specialist laboratory equipment |
(D) Match contribution
Projects falling under Category 2 or Category 3 must demonstrate a minimum 50% match funding of the total project budget as described in the table below.
In-Kind contributions may include, but are not limited to: staff time, the value of assets during testing, materials, prototypes, access to professional reports, datasets and similar resources.
Example Category 2 Centre Project: Archetype Retrofit Assessment – Total Project Cost is £40k: Centre provides £20k of research staff time and external partner provides £20k in staff time in-kind, materials, assets etc..
Example Category 3 Centre project: Assessment of New Energy System: Total project cost is £60k: Centre provides £30k of research staff time and large organisation external partner provides £15k cash and supply chains provide £15k in-kind, materials, assets, prototypes etc.
(E) Application Process
- Project guidelines – please review the project funding guidelines (available upon request)
- Scoping meeting – please contact Kaye Keenan, Impact Manager at BE-ST, who can provide more information and support the process, on kkeenan@be-st.build
- Please ensure to indicate which of the six Centre thematic areas this covers, a project can involve more than one theme [refer to section (A) on this page].
- Expression of Interest – the outcome of the meeting will be an expression of interest document that will be issued to the working group leads
- Progression – if the project aligns with working group activities a full funding application will be developed in collaboration between the industry partner and academic lead with support of the post graduate research assistant.
- Funding application – a funding bid will be submitted to the Project Management Board for review and decision.
- The Centre review panel for project proposals meet approximately every six weeks.
- All centre funded projects which are awarded require a 200 word (max) summary about the project. This will be published on the Centre website or in other centre news updates etc..
(F) Outcomes
- Projects are reviewed regularly for progress and delivery according to the submitted proposal
- A final report will be prepared by the academic partners, which requires approval from the external partner
- An agreed “public facing” 200 word summary article of the key findings and outcomes will be published on centre website or other social media
- External organisation partners are asked about the impacts and outcomes of the project
- The Centre can provide further support to assist in writing new larger projects – where the applications are to government or industry innovation project funding to expand and develop further the outcomes of the initial centre supported project.
(G) Further Information
- Should you have any further queries on the application process and engagement with the Centre, or for any enquiries relating to starting and applying for Centre support, please contact Kaye Keenan at BE-ST on kkeenan@be-st.build
- For general enquiries about the Centre, future events or receiving the quarterly Centre newsletter, please contact cenz-highdb@ed.ac.uk. You can also use the box at the bottom of this page to subscribe to the newsletter.
Impact Manager
Kaye is an Impact Manager within the Housing and Manufacturing team at BE-ST. She has experience working and collaborating with government bodies, industry and funding agencies, driving net zero solutions within the built environment.
Rob creates platforms for development and learning which empower communities to create positive and sustainable change. He studied architecture before co-founding and leading Agile City, a community interest company that creates space for work, events and learning for social and green enterprise.
BE-ST mission is to accelerate industry’s transition to zero carbon. As an international centre of excellence, we collaborate across the entire built environment ecosystem, bringing together four key stakeholder groups; industry, academia, government and public sector and Scotland’s citizens to drive innovation and sustainable practices within construction and the built environment. Our team focuses on the sector’s most pressing challenges, fostering a culture of innovation and ensuring the built environment sector is equipped to meet future challenges sustainably.
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