The Department for International Development (DFID), the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) are to invest up to £13 million in innovation projects to address the global need for clean, affordable and secure energy.

The aim of the Energy Catalyst competition is to support highly innovative, market-focused energy solutions in any technology or sector or international market.

Proposals must address all 3 elements of the energy trilemma:

• cost
• emissions
• security of supply

The competition is open to any UK organisation and may also include international partners. You should apply into the stream most closely aligned with your project. Universities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to apply. Research organisations may lead early-stage feasibility projects.

There are 3 options to apply into this competition. These are referred to as streams and will be run in parallel. The streams are dependent on the stage your project is at:

• early stage
• mid-stage
• late stage

You should choose the stream that broadly reflects the technical and commercial readiness of your project.

Early-stage competition stream

These are technical feasibility projects. Projects can last up to 1 year, with total costs ranging from £50,000 to £300,000. Research organisations may lead early-stage projects, in partnership with at least one UK business. UK SMEs can lead early-stage projects with or without partners.

Mid-stage competition stream

These are industrial research projects. Projects can last up to 3 years, with total costs ranging from £50,000 to £1.5 million. Mid-stage projects must be collaborative and led by a UK business.

Late-stage competition stream

These are experimental development projects. Projects can last up to 3 years, with total costs ranging from £50,000 to £10 million. Late-stage projects must be collaborative and led by a UK business.

All projects must include at least one UK business. We expect most projects to start on 1 January 2018.

Up to £470,000 is available for organisations with innovative projects that lead to people walking and cycling more. Innovations may include technology, infrastructure, manufacturing or behavioural change.

This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition. It has 2 phases. Up to £170,000 is available for phase 1, and up to £300,000 for phase 2.

Natural choice for shorter journeys

The government’s vision is for cycling and walking to become the natural choice for shorter journeys. The Department for Transport (DfT) is funding this competition and is inviting proposals which:

• remove current barriers to walking and cycling
• encourage people to make more journey stages to by bicycle or on foot

Removing the barriers

To meet these aims, DfT intends to focus on:

• better safety – safety and safety perceptions are among the biggest barriers for people wanting to take up cycling and walking

• better mobility – to make cycling and walking normal, easy and enjoyable, we need better links and networks to key destinations

• better streets – well-designed and accessible streets can encourage people to walk or cycle more as part of their daily routine

Competition information

• this competition opens on Wednesday 19 April 2017, and the deadline for registration is midday on 7 June 2017
• this competition is open to individuals, groups and organisations, but is particularly suitable for early-stage, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• industry partners such as local government, independent and third sectors can carry out the project on their own or with others
• total project costs can vary between £25,000 and £100,000 and up to 15 weeks to up to 9 months, depending on the phase

Environment Agency officers checked more than 400 rod licences in an Easter weekend crackdown on illegal fishing.

Officers patrolling North East river banks checked 421 anglers, reporting 29 offences.

Of these, 21 were for rod licence offences, 7 were byelaw and close season offences and one offence under the Theft Act.

It’s currently the close season for coarse fishing, which means fishing for coarse fish on rivers and streams is not permitted. This is done to protect breeding fish, helping to safeguard stocks for the future.

Kevin Summerson, Fisheries Enforcement Technical Specialist at the Environment Agency, said:

It’s encouraging that the vast majority of anglers abide by the law, but there are still too many that we find during patrols that are fishing illegally.

We take illegal fishing very seriously – it’s not fair on other anglers and endangers the future of the sport.

Our work is intelligence led and we work closely with our partners at the police and Angling Trust to target known hot spots and where illegal fishing is reported to us.

We carry out enforcement work all year round and will be continuing throughout the coming weeks, including the upcoming Bank Holiday weekends.

We really want people to get outdoors and enjoy what is a fantastic sport, and the rod licence is great value for money for all the family.

I’d urge people to help us protect the health of our fisheries by reporting any suspected illegal activity to us.

All the money from rod licence sales goes back into maintaining the health of fisheries and waters, angling projects and much more.

Anyone caught fishing without a valid licence could be fined up to £2,500 and fishing during the close season attracts a fine of up to £50,000.

Coarse fishing is still allowed on most still waters and canals, depending on fishery owner agreement, though a valid fishing licence is still required. You can check which still waters and canals still have a close season in operation by checking the byelaws which apply in your area at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-fishing-byelaws

Anyone who wants to go fishing needs to buy a fishing licence. A full annual licence costs £30 (short term and some concessionary licences are also available) and are available online at www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence.