Please have a look at our FAQs below if you have any questions relating to this grant programme. If your question is not answered there, please contact [email protected] and someone from the team will get back to you.

What level of grant is available?

Grants of between £15,000 - £20,000 are available. This will be determined at the judging stage and will depend on the number of winners chosen. The overall funding pot is £100,000. There will be no fewer than 5 and no more than 10 winners.

What support will network members get?

As well as providing funding, Nesta will facilitate a curated programme of events, site visits and presentations with industry experts over the period of April - September.

Each funded project will be profiled across Nesta’s media channels, with media outlets in Scotland and showcased at events.

At the end of the funding period, Nesta will produce a publication, AI for Good, and each funded project will write about their project as well as submissions from industry experts and Nesta staff.

What date and time will applications close?

Applications will close on Friday 10th January 2020, at 12 noon.

Am I eligible to apply?

Please look at the criteria below to see if you are eligible to apply.

Eligibility criteria:

• Entries from organisations of all sizes and sectors will be considered, including; students, academics, start-ups, SMEs, public, private and third sector
• The project, research or initiative must be more than a concept or a research question - but does not need to be complete or fully demonstrable
• Entries must be able to articulate how their idea contributes to ‘social good’
• All entries must be based in the UK and have activity in Scotland
• All entries should have a strong emphasis on the societal impact of their work

We will also be hosting two Information webinars to find out more about the programme and ask questions.

• 5th December, 12:00 pm
• 17th December, 2:30 pm

When will we know if we’ve been shortlisted?

Applicants will be informed by Thursday 16th January if they have been shortlisted to pitch to our judging panel.

Applicants will be emailed in the first instance.

When is the judging day and what is involved?

The Judging day will take place towards the end of January, in Edinburgh. Shortlisted projects will be asked to provide additional input or answers to additional questions, either written or by video, to be provided to the judges.

Information on this will be included in the email confirming a successfully shortlisted project.

Do I need more than just an idea to enter?

Yes, you must apply with more than an idea but you can put forward an initiative at a very early stage. You will be asked about what stage you are at and you must be able to describe the steps you have taken to date.

Where does the funding for AI for Good fund come from?

Nesta is an innovation foundation and uses its cash reserves to fund innovative work for social good. Nesta is funding this programme internally and is the sole funder.

Will Nesta want to take IP, shares or capital?

No. Our aim is to support innovation. We do not take any IP, shares or capital.

How will applications be scored and by whom?

The shortlisting panel will each score the applications separately according to the assessment criteria.

Shortlisted applicants will be put forward to our judging panel which is made up of a range of stakeholders across academia, industry, and third sector. This panel will make the final decisions on which projects receive funding.

What criteria are you using to score the projects and how will the panel decide on the winners?

The assessment of ‘AI for Good’ takes in considerations across several factors:

• Is the problem a worthy social issue that needs new approaches?
• Is the proposed AI solution an appropriate way to address it?
• Is the proposed AI solution taking a new, ambitious or innovative approach?
• Does the team behind the idea have the right skills, motivations and ambition to realise the solution?
• Have fair considerations been made to address issues of bias, discrimnation, diversity and misuse?

Are you providing further information about the fund?

We will be hosting 2 Information webinars to find out more about the programme and ask questions.

• 5th December, 12:00 pm
• 17th December, 2:30 pm

Key dates

• Information webinar 1: 5th December, 12:00 pm
• Information webinar 2: 17th December, 2:30 pm
• Applications Open: Monday 25th November 2019
• Applications Close: Friday 10th January 2020, 12 pm
• Shortlist selected and informed by: Thursday 16th January 2020
• Judging Panel sits: Thursday 23rd January 2020
• Winners informed by: Monday 3rd February 2020
• Programme begins: March 2020
• Programme ends: September 2020

Once you have read all the documentation below, complete and submit your application form by Friday 10th January 2020, 12 pm.

• Read the full set of FAQs
• Read the terms and conditions
• Read our programme privacy notice
• Complete and submit your application form

Who do I contact if I have any more questions?

If your question is not answered in the FAQs above, please contact [email protected] and someone from the team will get back to you.