CRACK IT Solutions

Solutions are welcomed from academics or SMEs from any scientific organisation with a potential 3Rs method or technology. There is no deadline for submitting potential Solutions to CRACK IT.

The process

1. Submit your Solution - submit a short form describing the scientific problem your Solution addresses, what your technology solution is, the need for collaboration and the benefit to the 3Rs. We recommend you review current Solutions to help inform your own submission.
2. Review - we will work with you to review your Solution, the technology and its potential uses, and to develop a pitch to maximise the chance of uptake from different sectors or fields.
3. Promotion - your Solution will be showcased through our extensive academic, SME and large company networks.
4. Collaborators - choose your partners for future work from the new contacts you have made and apply for Solutions funding.

How to submit a Solution?

Download and complete the 'Submit your Solution' form and email the completed form to crackitenquiries@nc3rs.org.uk

Potential Solution providers are encouraged to discuss their Solution ideas with NC3Rs staff prior to submission to ensure eligibility and fit to remit. Please contact the CRACK IT team at crackitenquiries@nc3rs.org.uk.

Additional information

CRACK IT Solutions Guide for Participants

CRACK IT Solutions - Submit your Solution form

Funding is available to support partnerships between Solution providers and potential collaborators. Up to £50k inclusive of VAT and EU reverse charges per Solution is available for projects of up to 12 months duration.

Who is involved?

• The Solution providers - academics or SMEs from any scientific organisation with a potential 3Rs method or technology.
• The collaborators - new partners or customers identified through CRACK IT Solutions.
• The funders - funding from the NC3Rs is available for new collaborations between Solution providers and collaborators.

Eligibility

Funding is only available for Solutions that have been submitted from an EU-based organisation and have identified a potential collaborator as a result of CRACK IT Solutions. Applications must be submitted within 12 months of the Solution going live on the CRACK IT website.

Submitting an application for funding

Applications should be made using the Solutions funding application form. Applications should be submitted by the Solution provider as the lead applicant. 

Full details about the funding scheme can be found in the Guide for Participants.

Review process

Applications can be submitted at any time of the year provided this is within twelve months of the Solution going live on the CRACK IT website.

Applications will be reviewed at the following quarterly assessment meetings:

Applications are reviewed by three members of the CRACK IT Solutions Funding Review Panel (detailed below) and the CRACK IT team.

Agreements

Awards are subject to the successful applicant’s organisation signing a non-negotiable agreement with the NC3Rs. If you intend to submit an application to access Solutions funding please read through the agreements and discuss them with your institution's research office before applying.

An agreement is also required between the successful applicant and the collaborator. The NC3Rs does not provide this.

Additional information

CRACK IT Solutions Guide for Participants

CRACK IT Solutions - Funding Application Form

CRACK IT Solutions - Contractor Agreement

Overview

We expect all NC3Rs-funded researchers to act as 3Rs ambassadors within their institutions and field, promoting the 3Rs outcomes of the research we support in publications, posters and presentations. In addition, CRACK IT Contractors are required to:

• Implement the principles in the cross-funder guidance Responsibility in the Use of Animals in Bioscience Research.
• Where non-human primates are used, implement the principles in the NC3Rs guidelines Primate Accommodation, Care and Use.
• Abide by the UKSBS/NC3Rs policy on preferred suppliers of antibodies.
• Abide by UKRI Terms and Conditions and additionally to the NC3Rs Terms and Conditions. Any additional NC3Rs conditions will be included in the Contractor Agreement.

Contractor Agreement extensions | Publications and open access publishing | Reporting requirements and evaluation

Contractor Agreement extensions

The NC3Rs does not routinely extend CRACK IT agreements, except for maternity leave, gaps in employment or staggered start dates. Extensions for these reasons may be requested through a direct request to a member of the CRACK IT team.

In exceptional circumstances, we may consider extending the agreement. The delays or shortfall must seriously threaten the delivery of a significant proportion of the science outlined in the original application. Contractors must be able to demonstrate that the delays could not have been anticipated, were outside their control and that every effort has already been made to mitigate them.

Extensions cannot be used for:

• The sole purpose of using remaining funds
• Starting new scientific work that was not outlined in the original application
• Managing RO or applicant changes to research plans and staffing
• Preparing new grant applications
• The purpose of writing up results

With the exception of multiple periods of maternity/paternity/sick leave, an agreement will be allowed no more than one extension. If an extension has already been approved, further requests will not normally be considered. 

Requests for additional funds will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. 

Publications and open access publishing

We have adopted the RCUK’s policy on open access of publications. We expect CRACK IT Contractors to disseminate their results by publishing in appropriate scientific journals, detailing the 3Rs impact of the work. The NC3Rs contribution to Article Processing Charges (APCs) will be paid for via the MRC contribution to the RCUK block grant.

Peer reviewed papers reporting research that is wholly or partially funded by the NC3Rs should:

• Make reference to the 3Rs implications of the research, including in the abstract and the main body of the text.
• Be published in journals which are compliant with the RCUK policy on open access.
• Include details of the funding that supported the research - NC3Rs support for an individual or research project should be acknowledged in all publications where such support has been significant (i.e. accounts for at least 20% of funding).
• Provide a statement on how the underlying research materials such as data, samples or models can be accessed.
• Be reported in accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines, taking into account the specific editorial policies of the journal concerned.

Guidance text for acknowledging the NC3Rs:

'We thank the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) for funding this work ([insert award number] to [insert author(s) initials]). Article processing charges were paid from the Medical Research Council contribution to the RCUK block grant to [insert name of institution].'

Please keep us informed of any publications or other material arising from an NC3Rs award by emailing a PDF copy to crackitenquiries@nc3rs.org.uk.  Ideally, we would like to be informed pre-publication to enable us to prepare publicity material as appropriate. Any publication arising from NC3Rs-funded research should be deposited into Europe PubMed Central at the point of publication or within six months at the latest and included in your Researchfish grant record.

NC3Rs blog: NC3Rs-funded research now available for all

Reporting requirements and evaluation

CRACK IT Contractors should report on the outputs and outcomes of the research we have funded on a regular basis. In line with the Research Councils, we use Researchfish to collect this information. Log-in details are provided by Researchfish Ltd. Outputs and outcomes data should be submitted during and after the lifetime of the award. Data can be inputted at any time. In addition, there is an annual compulsory data submission period. Information in Researchfish should also be updated shortly before the grant is due to end. Failure to update within three months of the grant end date will result in an automatic financial penalty.

We reserve the right to sanction a grant at any stage if unsatisfactory progress has been made.

Researchfish reporting requirements

Queries about our reporting requirements should be sent to crackitenquiries@nc3rs.org.uk

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