Funding: New year, new opportunities
7 February 2022
With the evenings getting lighter, the days getting warmer and the funding starting to flow, now is the time to apply for grants to kick-start or progress your innovation.
Applying for grant funding can be daunting; from finding the right fund to preparing an application, support is available to you. Reach out to your Innovation Advisor today, to find out more about how we can help you reach your innovation and business goals in 2022.
100% Funding Grant Alert
SBRI Competition for Open Digital Solutions for Net Zero Energy
Innovate UK and the Small Business Research Initiative are welcoming applications from organisations of any size (and a wide range of organisation types) to apply for a share of £1.2m, for open software, hardware and data solutions that accelerate the transition to net zero energy in the UK. Projects must demonstrate their solutions can help citizens and organisations accelerate to a net zero energy system, stimulate collaborations across the energy sector, and increase the transparency of digital solutions in the energy sector.
Projects are expected to last 9 months and each project must have at least 50% of the value attributed directly and exclusively to R&D services. Projects can cost up to £300,000, applications must be submitted by 9th March, and more information can be found here.
Funding for International Collaborations
UK-Singapore Collaborative R&D
The aim of this competition is to fund business led collaborative R&D between organisations in the UK and Singapore. Projects are expected to result in a new product, industrial process or service and they must involve a technological risk, and have high market potential in both countries. At least one partner from each country must participate in the project.
Applications relating to the following sectors are particularly welcome:
- Advanced manufacturing and materials
- Agrifood tech
- Mobility and transport
- Cybersecurity
- Health and life sciences
Grants of up to £350,000 will be awarded to UK applicants and applications must be submitted by 20th April. More information can be found here.
UK-South Korea Collaborative R&D
Innovate UK, in partnership with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), will invest up to £2m in collaborative R&D projects focused on industrial research. Projects must focus on one or more of the following sectors:
- Advanced manufacturing and materials
- Artificial intelligence
- Clean energy; specifically battery technologies, hydrogen mobility technologies, and future vehicles
Projects can last between 24 and 36 months, and must include at least one business registered in South Korea that is a separate, non-linked entity. UK project partners must carry out the majority of their work in the UK and intend to exploit the from or in the UK. UK applicants can apply for up to £350,000 and more information can be found here.
Honourable Mention
Advertised quarterly, the Smart Grant is Innovate UK’s open competition for businesses. UK businesses can apply for a share of £25m towards game-changing, innovative, disruptive and ambitious ideas that will lead to new products, processes or services. Projects can range from 6 to 36 months, with between £100,000 and £2m available per project (depending on project timescales and whether they’re collaborative).
Applications must be submitted by 13th April and more information can be found here.