Innovate UK: Sustainable Innovation Fund - Competition Guidance
16 July 2020
Andrew North, Senior Business Innovation Advisor, breaks down the new Innovate UK Sustainable Innovation Fund launched to support the UK’s sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19.
As part of the £191m Sustainable Innovation Fund, Innovate UK have recently released two funding opportunities aimed at supporting the recovery of all UK Research and Innovation sectors in the aftermath of the global health pandemic COVID-19.
A summary of the two funding opportunities is available below:
1. The Sustainable Innovation Fund: Round 1 (temporary framework)
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £55 million for new projects focusing on sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19.
Competition opens: Monday 29 June 2020
Competition closes: Wednesday 29 July 2020 11:00am
The aim of this competition is to help all sectors of the UK recover, grow and create new opportunities from the aftermath of the global health pandemic.
- Proposals must show evidence of key challenges as a direct consequence of COVID-19, and how projects can help solve them
- In addition, proposals must consider any impact on climate change and/or environmental sustainability.
Scope & Themes:
- All sectors, industries, markets are included
- There must be a clear challenge as a consequence of COVID-19
- You do not need to just focus on clean and sustainable innovations, but it must be considered if it is applicable.
Innovate UK are looking to fund a portfolio of projects, across a variety of technologies, markets, regions, technological maturities and research categories, including the themes listed below.
- Decarbonisation, circular economy and/or biodiversity
- Climate change and environmental sustainability
- Geographic or regionally targeted innovation
- Innovation that is aimed at commercial or residential users
- Innovations that work across more than one sector
- Follow-on international opportunities that help the UK lead the world
2. The Sustainable Innovation Fund: SBRI phase 1
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £10 million, including VAT, to help UK businesses and the public sector recover from COVID-19 in a sustainable manner.
Competition opens: Monday 29 June 2020
Competition closes: Wednesday 5 August 2020 11:00am
- SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) is a structured process enabling the public sector to engage with Innovative Suppliers
- Open to all organisations - No limit around size or type of company
- Development Contract - 100% funded R&D (Procurement Contract for R&D Services)
- Contract with prime supplier - May choose to sub-contract elements
- IP remains owned by supplier - Companies are encouraged to exploit IP and will be assessed on this
Scope Challenge:
Solutions must help businesses and/or public sector in the UK recover from COVID-19 pandemic in a sustainable manner, demonstrating the impact and potential of a clean growth led recovery and transition to net zero.
Structure and Project Size:
Phase 1 Feasibility
- £10m total funding
- Projects up to £60k (inc VAT)
- Up to 3-month project Duration
Phase 2 Prototype Development & Testing
- Restricted to Phase 1 projects
- £70m total funding
- Projects up to £3m (inc VAT)
- Up to 12-month project duration
Call Overview
|
The Sustainable Innovation Fund: round 1 (temporary framework) |
The Sustainable Innovation Fund: SBRI phase 1 |
|
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Eligibility |
• UK Registered business to lead or work alone • At least one SME • UK project • Exploit outcomes in the UK • Be able to conduct project under COVID-19 restrictions |
• UK or EEA based organisation • Academic institutions & Registered Charities can apply but must be able to demonstrate commercialisation plan • Contracts awarded to Individual Organisation, but work can be sub-contracted • Must benefit UK public sector or business |
|
Cost |
£100,000 - £500,000 |
Up to £60,000 inc VAT |
|
Length |
3-9 Months |
Up to 3 months |
|
Start/Notification Date |
Start 1st October 2020 |
Notified by 1st Oct |
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Call Website Link |
Innovate UK Funding Competitions
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If you are based in Greater Manchester and seeking innovation support, product or service development, The Hub’s Innovation team can provide expert advice, funding and tailored resources.
More information is available on the UK Government’s Coronavirus Business Support website. For more personalised advice call us on: 0161 237 4128 or email us at: BGH@growthco.uk
Andrew North, Senior Business Advisor – Eco-Innovation Specialist
Andrew’s current role as Senior Eco-Innovation Adviser at the GC Business Growth Hub sees him supporting a wide variety of business activity across the field of innovation. Helping businesses to grow, disrupt and add value to world with novel products and services.
Trained as a product designer, Andrew has spent the last 19 years working professionally in design research and innovation. His experience spans managing a portfolio of clients and projects across all disciplines within industry and academia. Encouraging multi-disciplinary collaboration wherever appropriate and applying a strategic user-centred design approach to tackle business challenges.
As a firm believer in the school of ‘Design Thinking’, Andrew prides himself on supporting the development of new products and service offerings that address real-world needs. He thrives on pushing the boundaries and challenging assumptions of how things should be done, using design as a key tool for success.
Andrew provides support through the full design process from concept to commercialisation. Always with a focus on the full life cycle of a product and having a positive effect on the environment and society we live in.
Andrews goal is to help develop the culture of innovation in organisations, and creatively maximise business growth potential.
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The information provided is meant as a general guide only rather than advice or assurance. GC Business Growth Hub does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and professional guidance should be sought on all aspects of business planning and responses to the coronavirus. Use of this guide and toolkit are entirely at the risk of the user. Any hyperlinks from this document are to external resources not connected to the GC Business Growth Hub and The Growth Company is not responsible for the content within any hyperlinked site.