Innovation competitions

You may be eligible for additional funding if your organisation is facing significant challenges due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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21 competitions

  • SBRI Competition - Next generation home vision testing

    Organisations can apply for a share of £100,000 inclusive of VAT, to develop remotely deployed vision testing.

    Eligibility

    To lead a project, you can:

    • be an organisation of any size
    • work alone or with other organisations

    Contracts will be awarded to a single legal entity only.

    Open now

    Opened:
    21 September 2020
    Closes:
    18 November 2020

  • 5G enabled road and rail transport trials in the West Midlands, round 2

    UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £2.5 million to support development of 5G enabled transport innovations. This funding is from West Midlands 5G (WM5G).

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to collaborations only.

    To lead a project your organisation must:

    • be a UK registered business of any size
    • collaborate with others
    • include a communications network provider (public or private) or communications integrator

    Open now

    Opened:
    16 September 2020
    Closes:
    2 December 2020

  • ATI Programme strategic batch: expression of interest September 2020

    The ATI Programme funds industrial research and investment aid for research infrastructures to make the UK civil aerospace sector more competitive.

    Eligibility

    To lead a project or work alone your organisation must:

    • be a UK registered business of any size to lead a research project
    • be a UK registered business of any size, an academic institution, or a research and technology organisation (RTO) to lead a capital infrastructure project
    • plan to carry out an aerospace research or technology development project in the UK
    • address the requirements of the UK Aerospace Technology Strategy
    • sign up to the Aerospace Technology Institute framework agreement

    Closing soon

    Opened:
    7 September 2020
    Closes:
    23 September 2020

  • Healthy ageing: investor partnership programme, round 2

    Investors can apply to partner with Innovate UK to align their investments with up to £12 million grant funding in UK registered SMEs delivering innovation in the healthy ageing market. This funding is from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

    Eligibility

    To be considered as an investor partner you must:

    • be an equity provider with a UK presence including charities and trusts with the power to make equity investments
    • demonstrate an interest in investment in innovative healthy ageing technologies, including products, services and business models
    • commit to exploring aligning investment in the portfolio of UK registered micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that you will identify and invite to the upcoming SME competition

    Open now

    Opened:
    7 September 2020
    Closes:
    4 November 2020

  • Innovation continuity loans: Strand 2 September 2020 follow-on competition

    Innovate UK can provide additional COVID-19 innovation continuity loans for the continuation of planned or existing innovation activity.

    Eligibility

    Innovate UK can fund organisations who are at risk of not continuing innovation activity due to a sudden shortage or even unavailability of funds directly related to COVID-19.

    To take on an innovation continuity loan for a project you must:

    • be a UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or a third sector organisation
    • be following on innovation and commercialisation activity from a project with an Innovate UK award that was completed in the last 36 months. An existing award does not guarantee success
    • be facing a sudden shortage or even unavailability of funding resulting directly form the COVID-19 pandemic
    • carry out your project in the UK
    • give evidence that your organisation is suitable to take on a loan

    Closing soon

    Opened:
    2 September 2020
    Closes:
    30 September 2020

  • The Sustainable Innovation Fund: round 3 (temporary framework)

    UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £10 million for new projects focusing on sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants and collaborations.

    To lead a project or work alone your organisation must:

    • be a UK registered business of any size
    • involve at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)

    Closing soon

    Opened:
    1 September 2020
    Closes:
    30 September 2020

  • Women in Innovation Awards 2020/21

    Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, is offering 10 Women in Innovation Awards to female entrepreneurs across the UK. The winners will receive a £50,000 grant and a bespoke package of mentoring, coaching and business support.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants only.

    To lead a project you must be a female founder, co-founder or senior decision maker within a UK registered micro or SME business that has been operating for at least one year by the competition closing date.

    Open now

    Opened:
    1 September 2020
    Closes:
    14 October 2020

  • Innovate UK Smart Grants: August 2020

    Opportunity for UK registered organisations to apply for a share of up to £25 million from Innovate UK to deliver disruptive R&D innovations that can significantly impact the UK economy.

    Eligibility

    To lead a project your organisation must:

    • be a UK registered business of any size or a research and technology organisation (RTO)
    • be, or collaborate with, at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
    • carry out your research and development (R&D) project activity in the UK
    • intend to commercially exploit the project results from the UK

    Open now

    Opened:
    28 August 2020
    Closes:
    25 November 2020

  • Sort and segregate nuclear waste: phase 1 (SBRI competition)

    Organisations can apply for a share of £3.9 million, including VAT, to develop an autonomous, integrated toolkit to sort and segregate nuclear waste.

    Eligibility

    To lead a project, you can:

    • be an organisation of any size
    • work alone or with others as subcontractors

    Contracts will be awarded to a single legal entity only.

    You will need to show that your proposed idea has a credible and practical route to market.

    Open now

    Opened:
    17 August 2020
    Closes:
    11 November 2020

  • APC 17: developing the UK’s low carbon automotive capability

    UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £27 million for UK-developed late stage R&D, to support growth in advanced low carbon propulsion capability in the automotive sector.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to collaborations only.
    To lead a project your organisation must:
    • be a UK registered business of any size
    • include in your consortium at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
    • include in your consortium a vehicle manufacturer or tier 1 supplier

    Open now

    Opened:
    17 August 2020
    Closes:
    14 October 2020

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