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The 2023 CRACK IT Challenges Competition is now open - Invitation to Tender
UK and European based applicants* are invited to tender for the 2023 CRACK IT Challenges announced in August. The aim of the competition is to develop technologies with potential 3Rs** benefits into new products and services for the biosciences sector. The Challenges are detailed in the Challenge briefs which can be found on the Innovation Platform website.
The 2023 CRACK IT Challenges competition consists of four Challenges: one mega-Challenge, one Two Phase Challenge and two Single Phase Challenges. All Challenges have been developed jointly by the NC3Rs and Sponsors. The 2023 CRACK IT Challenges competition is funded by the NC3Rs, with co-funding from Bayer AG to support a specific Challenge.
In-kind contributions are provided by the Sponsors to support delivery of the Challenge. There are 15 Sponsors: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, BASF SE, Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, LEO Pharma A/S, MMV Medicines for Malaria Venture, Merck Healthcare KGaA, MRC Harwell, the National Mouse Genetics Network members Cardiff University and King’s College London, Novartis, Roche and UCB.
The four 2023 Challenges are:
- Challenge 44 – SensOoChip: Increasing the reproducibility and predictive power of organ-on-chips through multiparametric real-time monitoring and data modelling (mega-Challenge).
- Challenge 45 – CrossDART: multi species in vitro developmental toxicity testing (Two Phase Challenge).
- Challenge 46 – FET4Thyroid: A Fish Eleutheroembryo Test for Thyroid Activity (Single Phase Challenge).
- Challenge 47 – aTRACKtive: Improved in vivo identification system for real-time, early-life individualised tracking and behavioural and welfare analysis in mice (Single Phase Challenge).
The SensOoChip mega-Challenge offers up to £1.6M funding and a research contract for up to 3 years, with the potential to secure further funding of £1M for an additional two year. The Two Phase Challenge CrossDART offers up to £1M funding and a research contract for up to three years. The two Single Phase Challenges, FET4Thyroid and aTRACKtive, both offer up to £100k and a research contract for up to 18 months. The specific budget and duration of each Challenge can be found in the Challenge briefs.
More details on the Challenges, the competition and how to apply can be found on the NC3Rs Innovation platform.
This Invitation to Tender should be read in conjunction with other documents associated with this competition. The Guide for Participants provides further details on the competition and includes the rules applying to Sponsors and applicants.
Competition opens: 11 September 2023
Application deadlines:
SensOoChip and CrossDART Phase 1 applications: Thursday 26 October 2023, 12.00 (BST)
FET4Thyroid and aTRACKtive Single Phase applications: Thursday 2 November 2023, 12.00 (GMT)
*The competition is open to any UK, European Union, European Economic Area and European Free Trade Association body public or private.
**The 3Rs: the replacement, refinement and reduction of the use of animals in research and testing.