**Section A: Application details** This section sets the scene for the assessors and is not scored. 1.Please provide your email address: 2.What is the lead applicant's name, job tittle, and current organisation (or employer)? 3.Are you applying as part of a consortium of organisations? 4.If yes, please provide the details of the lead applicant from each member of your consortium, including their name, job title, current organisation (or employer). 5.By ticking this box, you confirm that all employers listed above endorse this application to the Research Ventures Catalyst programme. 6.By ticking this box, you agree to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology sharing your proposal with potential co-investors and other interested parties. **Section B: Proposal summary** Assessors will conduct an initial sift based on the proposal summary. The broad scope of this programme means that the assessment of applications will be carried out by individuals with expertise in varying disciplines. The summary and proposal should be tailored to be accessible for a general audience. 7.**Research area:** (examples include, yet extend beyond, the following: engineering biology, artificial intelligence, materials engineering, quantum) Autonomous Space Robotics 8.**Brief summary: (no more than 100 words outlining your proposed organisational model and project aims)** [[RVC_Stage1_Answer_8_Prototype|Answer 8]] **Section C: Organisational structure and scientific basis** This section will be scored by the programme’s assessors. The scoring criteria can be found in the applicant guidance. 9.**Question 1:** **Operational model proposed – 50% of score** **(no more than 500 words).** What is the operational model proposed? How it is innovative and additive to the UK’s R&D and innovation landscape? Why can existing organisations or models not meet the proposal’s aims and objectives? [[RVC_Stage1_Answer_9_Prototype|Answer 9]] 10.**Question 2: Team skills – 25% of score (no more than 300 words)**. Have you (and your team) got the necessary skills and experience to deliver a novel venture? What different disciplines or complementary forms of technical expertise are evidenced amongst your team? Or, if your team is not yet complete, please explain what skills your proposal will require and how you will recruit the necessary expertise? [[RVC_Stage1_Answer_10_Prototype|Answer 10]] 11.**Question 3: Basis of the research proposal – 25% of score (no more than 300 words).** What are the outcomes your model and research intend to achieve, with a focus on the project's alignment to societal goals and needs? What research is this building on? What TRL is the research aimed at? You may want to describe how your proposal aligns to Government strategies. [[RVC_Stage1_Answer_11_Prototype|Answer 11]] **Section D: Other supporting questions for your proposal** The responses to the following questions will not be scored but applicants are asked to provide evidence as part of their stage 1 assessment. Detail provided here may be used to decide between applications with equal scores in section C. 12.**Question 11: Seed corn funding requested (no more than 150 words).** How much seed corn funding would be required to develop a full technical plan for your project, with a breakdown of anticipated costs to justify the amount sought. If you do not require seed corn funding, please explain why in this section. - [[RVC_Stage1_Answer_12_Prototype|Answer 12]] 13.**Question 12: Financial case (no more than 150 words).** Estimated initial lifetime and financial contribution requested from Government for the proposed venture (noting requirements of <8 years timeline and <£25m government funding in applicant guidance). More detail will be requested later if you are successful at stage 1. - [[RVC_Stage1_Answer_13_Prototype|Answer 13]] 14.**Question 13: Additional information (no more than 150 words).** Any additional comments you would like to add to your application - for example, any evidence that co-investors may be interested in your proposal. - [[RVC_Stage1_Answer_14_Prototype|Answer 14]]