New £15m manufacturing and materials grant throug...

Introduction

The aim of this competition is to stimulate and broaden innovation in manufacturing and materials. Innovate UK will fund a range of projects that address technical or commercial challenges in this scope. These aim to lead to increased business productivity, competitiveness and growth, especially for SMEs.

Innovate UK have allocated up to £15 million to fund innovation projects in this competition. Up to £5 million available for projects lasting up to one year, £5 million for projects lasting up to 2 years and £5 million for projects up to 3 years. Your project may focus on technical feasibility, industrial research or experimental development. This will depend on the challenge you identify.

Project Scope

A project must follow one of the following areas:

·  innovation in a manufacturing system, technology, process or business model e.g. process engineering, industrial biotechnology, mechanical conversion processes, coatings, textiles, supply chain management, new product introduction processes or remanufacture

·  innovation in materials development, properties, integration or reuse e.g. light-weighting, energy generation and storage (such as heat and electricity), electronics/sensors or for operation in demanding environments

Specific Themes

This competition is due to be run multiple times per year and Innovate are particularly interested in seeing applications featuring:

·  the novel application of a digital technology or approach to manufacturing or materials development (such as automation, modelling and simulation, data analysis)

·  design for manufacture, use and end-of-life

Out of scope

·  Additive manufacturing projects that focus on innovation in the additive process or its application – there is an upcoming competition for this soon

Eligibility

·  Project must be led by a UK-based business

·  Must involve at least 1 SME

·  SME can work alone if project costs are less than £100k

·  Project must be collaborative if project costs are over £100k

·  Project must last between 6 months and 3 years

Funding

For technical feasibility studies and industrial research, you could get up to:

·  70% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business

·  60% if you are a medium-sized businesses

·  50% if you are a large business

For experimental development projects, which are nearer to market, you could get up to:

·  45% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business

·  35% if you are a medium-sized business

·  25% if you are a large business

Key Dates

·  Competition open now

·  Briefing events; London – 23^rd May, West Midlands – 26^th May, Manchester – 27^th May

·  Application deadline – 13^th July 2016

What next?

Since May 2016, Innovate UK have changed their application forms and marking criteria. If you are interested in finding out more about this particular competition or would like to discuss scoping an application, please contact TBAT Innovation.