This week, Innovate UK announced a brand new series of grants worth £30 million to fund innovation in net zero and healthcare. Grants of up to £50,000 will be available for UK start-ups developing highly innovative products, processes and services across seven technology areas:
- advanced materials and manufacturing
- AI, digital and advanced computing
- bioinformatics and genomics
- engineering biology
- electronics, photonics and quantum
- energy and environment technologies
- robotics and smart machines
Scope
Projects must focus on how one of the seven technology areas can enable affordable, adoptable, and investible solutions for achieving net zero or self-driven healthcare. You can find more information on both challenge themes here. Innovate UK is particularly interested in proposals that help:
- develop both the idea and the business
- create a new revenue stream
- evidence and enable market, funding and commercialisation plans
- show what’s feasible, helping the business decide whether to pursue the idea further
- catalyse further innovation on the path to commercial success
- respond to changing market conditions
Eligibility
To lead a project, your organisation must be a UK-registered micro or small business. You must not have exceeded your £315,000 limit of de minimis or minimal financial assistance funding during the current and previous 2 fiscal years.
All projects must have total project costs between £25,000 and £50,000. They should last between 3 and 6 months, starting by 1st November 2022 and ending by 30th April 2023.
Fast Start: Innovation grants are only available for businesses that have not previously received Innovate UK funding. Successful applicants will also receive tailored business support through Innovate UK EDGE.
More Information
This competition is open from 11th July until 26th July. For more information, please see the competition document and watch the pre-recorded applicant briefing. Innovate UK is also holding online Q&A events on 12th and 18th July if you have any questions.
