Innovation competitions

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12 competitions

  • Young Innovators Awards 2021/22

    Young people can apply for an award to make their business idea a reality, which includes a grant for £5,000, a living allowance, and tailored business support.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to sole applicants only.

    To be eligible applicants must:

    • be a UK resident who has the right to work in the UK, or will have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the award
    • be aged from 18 to 30 on the date of competition closing
    • be able to commit on average 2 days (15 hours) per week to working on the award
    • attend two bootcamp sessions

    Open now

    Opened:
    14 June 2021
    Closes:
    28 July 2021

  • Biomedical catalyst 2021: early and late stage awards

    UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £18 million to develop innovative healthcare products, technologies, and processes.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants and collaborations.
    To lead a project your organisation must be a UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
    For more information on company sizes, please refer to the company accounts guidance. This is a change from the EU definition unless you are applying under State aid.

    Open now

    Opened:
    7 June 2021
    Closes:
    26 August 2021

  • Innovate UK Smart Grants: May 2021

    UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants and collaborations. To lead a project your organisation must:

    • be a UK registered business of any size or research and technology organisation (RTO)
    • carry out your research and development (R&D) project activity in the UK
    • intend to commercially exploit the project results from the UK
    • be or involve at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
    For more information on company sizes, please refer to the company accounts guidance. This is a change from the EU definition unless you are applying under State aid.

    Open now

    Opened:
    28 May 2021
    Closes:
    25 August 2021

  • Automotive Transformation Fund Expression of Interest: Round 11

    UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £1 billion for capital centric investment projects that help industrialise the electrified automotive supply chain at scale in the UK.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants and collaborations.
    To lead a project your organisation must:
    • be a UK registered business of any size
    • carry out its project work in the UK
    • exploit the results from or in the UK
    For more information on company sizes, please refer to the company accounts guidance. This is a change from the EU definition unless you are applying under State aid.

    Closing soon

    Opened:
    24 May 2021
    Closes:
    16 June 2021

  • ISCF smart sustainable plastic packaging: business-led R&D

    UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £7 million for R&D projects with the potential to significantly impact the 2025 UK Plastic Pact targets. This funding is from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants and collaborations.
    To lead a project your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size.
    For more information on company sizes, please refer to the  company accounts guidance. This is a change from the  EU definition unless you are applying under State aid.

    Open now

    Opened:
    18 May 2021
    Closes:
    8 September 2021

  • SBRI Competition – Fusion Industry Challenges

    Organisations can apply for a share of £2 million, inclusive of VAT, to develop solutions that accelerate fusion power plant design and reduce their fuel requirements.

    Eligibility

    To lead a project, you can:

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

    Contracts will be awarded to a single legal entity only

    You must:

    • develop a solution fit for use in the UK and carry out any demonstration work in the UK
    • work with and have the involvement a lead customer throughout the life of your project

    Open now

    Opened:
    17 May 2021
    Closes:
    30 June 2021

  • Creative industries fund: fast start business growth pilot

    UK registered micro and small businesses in the creative sector can apply for a package of support to grow their business. This package includes ongoing support from Innovate UK EDGE and funding of up to £25,000 for innovation projects.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants only.

    To lead a project your organisation must be a UK registered micro or small business that has not previously received funding from InnovateUK.

    Closing soon

    Opened:
    17 May 2021
    Closes:
    16 June 2021

  • Hydrogen Transport Hub: demonstration

    UK registered businesses can apply for a share of £2.5 million to demonstrate how green hydrogen can be used to power transport solutions for end users.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to UK businesses and collaborations.
    Your project
    Your project must:
    • have total eligible costs between £200,000 and £1 million
    • start by 1 September 2021
    • end by 31 March 2022
    • include at least a 3-month demonstration

    Closing soon

    Opened:
    11 May 2021
    Closes:
    16 June 2021

  • Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2021 to 2022, round 2

    UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £6 million to fund innovation projects with businesses or not-for-profits.

    Eligibility

    To lead a project your organisation must:

    • be a UK registered higher education or further education institution, research and technology organisation (RTO) or Catapult
    • collaborate with a UK registered business, of any size, or a not-for-profit organisation

    The business must contribute to the project’s costs.

    Open now

    Opened:
    19 April 2021
    Closes:
    30 June 2021

  • IETF energy efficiency and decarbonisation studies, Spring 2021

    Organisations can apply for a share of up to £40 million to carry out feasibility and engineering studies into energy efficiency and decarbonisation technologies for industrial processes.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants and collaborations.


    To lead a project or work alone you must:

    • be a business of any size registered in England, Wales or Northern Ireland
    • be the end beneficiary of the study, and operate a site in England, Wales or Northern Ireland which fits into the following categories of activity: manufacturing, (SIC Codes 10000 through to 33200) or data centre (SIC code 63110) .

    Businesses are allocated a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code at the time of registering with Companies House.

    Open now

    Opened:
    8 March 2021
    Closes:
    14 July 2021

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