UK Government Announces New Innovation Strategy
The UK Government has announced a new Innovation Strategy, setting a long-term plan for delivering innovation-led growth. It aims to secure the UK’s position as a world leader in science, research and innovation by boosting private sector investment in R&D and creating the right conditions for all businesses to innovate.
But what does that mean in practice?
Firstly, the government will identify a series of ‘innovation missions’ to set clear direction, urgency and pace on some of the largest challenges facing the world today. These will be determined by the new National Science and Technology Council and supported by the Office for Science and Technology Strategy.
The strategy also identifies seven strategic technologies to prioritise and build on existing R&D strength: 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.
Significantly, the strategy outlines four main areas of support for innovative businesses and institutions:
- Unleashing Business
- People
- Institutions and Places
- Missions and Technologies
They include the following measures:
- Increase annual public investment in R&D to a record £22 billion
- Ensure government procurement is both proactive and supportive, providing a route to market for innovative new products and services
- Consult on how regulation can ensure that the UK is well-placed to extract the best value from innovation
- Commission the Regulatory Horizons Council to consider how best to support innovation through regulation
- Introduce new High Potential Individual and Scale-up visa routes, as well as revitalise the Innovator route, to attract and retain high-skilled, globally mobile innovation talent
- Undertake an independent review to assess the landscape of UK organisations undertaking all forms of research, development and innovation
- Reduce complexity for innovative companies by developing an online finance and innovation hub between Innovate UK and the British Business Bank
- Expand IP education programme for researchers and launch International IP Services
- Publish a new action plan on ‘Standards for the Fourth Industrial Revolution', therefore promoting standards that enable innovation to flourish
- Invest £200 million through the British Business Bank’s Life Sciences Investment Programme in order to target the growth-stage funding gap
- Support 30,000 senior managers of small and medium-sized businesses through Help to Grow: Management to boost their business’s performance, resilience, and long-term growth
We look forward to seeing the impact of the Innovation Strategy in the coming months. Where grant funding opportunities arise, we will of course highlight them on our blog and in our monthly newsletter.
Source: UK Government
How does the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) framework apply to grant funding?
When you are applying for grant funding, it is important that you have a clear idea of your project’s technical maturity, which can be categorised through use of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) framework.
NASA introduced the framework in the 1970s to assess whether its emerging technology was ready for space exploration. It is based on a scale from 1-9, with 9 representing the most mature technology. The 9 levels are:
TRL 1 – Basic principles observed
The lowest level of technology readiness, where scientific research commences its journey to research and development. Activities include paper studies of the technology's basic properties.
TRL 2 – Technology concept formulated
Once you've observed the basic principles, research and development can begin. At this stage, all applications will be speculative.
TRL 3 – Experimental proof of concept
Then, analytical and laboratory studies should take place to validate the technology’s feasibility and achieve proof of concept.
TRL 4 – Technology validated in lab
Once the technology has achieved proof of concept, its components should be tested together.
TRL 5 – Technology validated in relevant environment
Next, the components should be integrated with realistic supporting elements and tested in a simulated environment.
TRL 6 – Technology demonstrated in relevant environment
At TRL 6, you should develop and test a model or prototype in a relevant environment.
TRL 7 – System prototype demonstration in operation at environment
The prototype should be operated in its operational environment to demonstrate performance.
TRL 8 – System complete and qualified
At this stage, the technology has been tested and proven to work in its intended operational environment.
TRL 9 – Actual system proven in operational environment
Lastly, the technology should be applied in its final form and under mission conditions.
How do TRLs apply to grant funding?
Today, many of the main innovation funding programmes use the Technology Readiness Level framework, including both Innovate UK and Horizon Europe. Check out our list of how TRLs apply to some of the most popular competitions below:
European Innovation Council
- EIC Pathfinder
The EIC Pathfinder focuses on progression from TRL 1-4. It provides grants of up to €3 million to achieve proof of principle and validate the scientific basis of the breakthrough technology.
- EIC Transition
Bridging the gap between the Pathfinder and Accelerator, the EIC Transition funds activities from TRL 4-5/6. Grants are available to validate and demonstrate technology in a relevant environment, as well as develop market readiness.
- EIC Accelerator
The EIC Accelerator provides blended finance, comprising both investment and grant components, to support progression from TRL 5-8.
Innovate UK
Innovate UK supports the following research categories:
- Feasibility Studies - TRL 1-3
Analysis and evaluation of a project’s potential to uncover its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and potential threats.
- Industrial Research - TRL 4-6
Planned research or critical investigation to gain new knowledge and skills. According to Innovate UK, projects can include the creation of component parts to complex systems, as well as prototypes in a laboratory or environment with simulated interfaces.
- Experimental Development - TRL 6-8
The use of existing knowledge and skills to develop a new or improved product, process or service. This includes activities such as prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation in environments representative of real-life operating conditions.
More grant support is available for projects at early technology readiness levels. For example, grants may cover up to 70% of the costs involved in feasibility studies and industrial research. But as the technology gets closer to market, it will involve less risk and hence less funding will be available. As a result, the maximum grant amount available for an experimental development project is 45%.
Eureka Eurostars
Eureka Eurostars supports early-stage R&D projects to transition from TRL 4 until TRL 6. As a decentralised programme, each Eureka country administrates its own participation, meaning every country has its own rules, regulations, and grant rate. For example, the UK provides grant funding of up to €360,000 (or 60% of eligible costs) for SMEs.
If you are struggling to identify your technology's stage of development and eligibility for funding, please contact us to arrange a free consultation.
i4i Connect: Funding Available for SMEs Developing MedTech Projects
The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme will launch the fifth round of its Connect Awards on 17th August 2021. This round will have two funding streams: 1) Connect awards and 2) Children and Young People’s Mental Health Awards.
i4i Connect provides funding for SMEs developing medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and digital health technologies which have a clear patient benefit and are intended for NHS use. The funding is to help companies reach the next stage in the development pathway. This will enable them to apply for further funding, such as the i4i Product Development Award.
Eligibility Criteria
- Projects must be led by an SME
- The lead applicant must be based in England
- The project value must be between £50,000 and £150,000
- Projects must last 6-12 months
- Applicants need to demonstrate evidence of proof-of-concept
- Projects should address a clearly defined unmet clinical need
- The project must start between 1st January 2021 and 1st March 2021
Application Process
i4i Connect has a two-stage application process:
- Stage 1 – Expression of Interest
- Stage 2 – Business Plan and video pitch
Firstly, applicants must submit an Expression of Interest form by 14th September 2021. Applicants will be notified of their submission outcome in October and, if successful, they can proceed to Stage 2.
Stage 2 requires applicants to submit a business plan with a maximum of 15 pages and a 3-minute video pitch by 2nd November. This will be reviewed by the i4i Connect Selection Committee, and applicants will be notified of their submission outcome later in November.
More Information
You can find more information in the competition document. If you are looking for bid writing support and would like to arrange a free consultation with a member of our team, get in touch today.
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Innovation Funding Opportunities to Support Healthy Ageing
Innovate UK’s latest competition, Healthy Ageing Social Ventures, will invest £4 million in the development of products and services to support healthy ageing. The funding is from UKRI’s £98 million Healthy Ageing Challenge. It aims to help people remain active, productive, independent and socially connected for as long as possible.
All projects must deliver social impact and address one or more of the seven themes of the Healthy Ageing Challenge Framework:
- Living well with cognitive impairment
- Sustaining physical activity
- Maintaining health at work and work in later life
- Managing the common complaints of ageing
- Design for age-friendly homes
- Creating healthy active places
- Supporting social connections
This is phase 1 of a potential 2-phase competition, where only successful applicants from phase 1 will be eligible to apply to take part in phase 2. In phase 1, funding will be split across two strands:
-
Feasibility Studies
Up to £50,000 is available per feasibility study, which should involve planned research or critical investigation to gain knowledge and skills for developing new products, processes or services. Projects should last no longer than 12 months. They must start by 1st March 2022 and end by 28th February 2023.
-
Industrial Research
Organisations can apply for a share of £3 million and propose projects that last up to 24 months. Successful applicants will receive between £50,000 and £150,000 for prototyping and evaluation work. Projects should start before 1st March 2022 and end by 29th February 2024.
More information
Both strands open for applications on 19th July and close on 15th September 2021. More information is available on the competition pages: feasibility studies and industrial research. Prospective applicants can also attend a webinar on 15th July to learn more about the fund.
If you’re thinking of applying and want to increase your chances by working with a grant funding specialist, get in touch today.
Funding Available for Automated Vehicle Projects
The Department for Transport and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles are working with Innovate UK to find and fund three automated vehicle projects. A total of £1.5 million will be available for the continued development of technologies and assurance processes to enable the safe use of fully automated vehicles.
Scope
Your project can focus on one or more of the following themes:
- Automated driving system (ADS) development, to reduce safety driver intervention requirements
- Sensing and perception system development to reduce safety driver intervention requirements
- Remote monitoring or remote operation
- Scenario development or scenario application for intended deployment area
- Strategies for coping with scenarios that exceed operational design domain
- Automated incident detection (including “near misses”), automated monitoring, and associated data handling
However, this is not an exhaustive list, and Innovate UK will consider other areas of focus. Where this applies, you should also read the list of projects that Innovate UK will not fund.
Eligibility
Firstly, all projects should have total eligible costs between £25,000 and £1 million. Work should begin by 1st October 2021 and end by 31st March 2022, lasting between 3 and 6 months.
Secondly, the lead organisation must:
- Be a UK registered business of any size, a research organisation or a research and technology organisation (RTO)
- Be an autonomous driving systems (ADS) developer
- Have an existing automated driving system that has been tested and demonstrated on the UK public roads under the UK Code of Practice: Automated vehicle trialling (Feb 2019)
- Collaborate with other UK registered businesses, research organisations, public sector organisations or charities
- Collaborate with a potential autonomous vehicle service provider, or fleet customer who will operate the automated vehicles for example a local authority
- Carry out its project work in the UK and intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
This competition is open from Monday 28th June until Wednesday 28th July. For more information and to apply, visit the competition page. Alternatively, please contact us if you'd like to discuss your application with one of our advisers.
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DASA Launches Defence Innovation Loans for SMEs
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is introducing Defence Innovation Loans to find and fund solutions to defence themed problems. The new competition will receive support from Innovate UK.
Funding
A total of £10 million will be available this year. From this, SMEs can apply for loans of between £250,000 and £1.6 million. These loans can cover up to 100% of eligible project costs to aid the commercialisation of their innovative solution. They will have a below-market interest rate of 7.4% per annum and a maximum loan term of seven years.
Scope
The Defence Innovation Loan is open to innovative ideas to improve the defence of the UK, which can come from any area of technology. However, there must be a strong defence requirement for the capability. In addition, innovations must be at TRL 6 or above to ensure you can commercialise your solution within the time scale of the Innovation Loan.
Eligibility
To apply for a Defence Innovation Loan, you must fulfil the following criteria:
- Be a UK registered SME
- Intend to exploit the results in the UK or overseas to make a significant and positive impact on the UK economy and/or productivity
- Give evidence that your business is suitable to take on a loan
As a result, individuals, academic institutions, research organisations and large companies are not eligible to apply for Defence Innovation Loans.
How to Apply
There are two elements to the Defence Innovation Loan application: firstly, an Innovation Proposal – submitted through the DASA submission service and secondly, an Innovation Loan Request Application (Business and Financial Assessment) – submitted through Innovate UK. The first deadline for applications is 11th August, with another to follow on 20th October.
For more information, please see the competition document. Alternatively, contact RedKnight if you’re looking for external support with the Innovation Proposal.
If you're looking for grant funding, you may also be interested in DASA’s Open Call for Innovation.
DASA Launches £2 Million ‘Space to Innovate’ Campaign
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has launched a ‘Space to Innovate’ campaign in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Space Programme.
The campaign aims to promote space resilience and operational effectiveness. Therefore, it seeks proposals for the development of new space technologies that will enhance and protect space military and civil potential. In contrast to other DASA competitions, the ‘Space to Innovate’ campaign comprises space-related challenges that will be released in “drops” throughout 2021 and 2022.
Alpha Challenge Drop
The first challenge drop is open until 4th August 2021. It focuses on two challenges:
Challenge 1: Visualisation tools to enable space operators to exploit information gathered from multiple data sources
Firstly, DASA is looking for novel solutions that could help to address the following issues:
- enhancing the situational awareness around an object
- understanding and monitoring manoeuvres and changes of objects in orbit
- streamlining ingestion issues with multiple data sources and different naming conventions
- using machine learning to enhance our understanding and interrogation of the data presented & make sense of results
- visualising uncertainty in data
Contracts of up to £125,000 are available for projects that last no longer than six months. By the end of the contract, projects should reach TRL 3-6.
Challenge 2: Novel methods for characterising objects in space and their intent
Secondly, DASA is interested in proposals that help to characterise objects in space and their intent, including:
- detecting changes of state (e.g. translational manoeuvres, transmissions, attitude changes, form factors, spawned objects, ‘active / inactive’) and predicting future changes
- exploiting non-traditional sensor configurations including bi- or multi-static configurations and the repurposing of existing facilities
- technologies that allow resolution of individual features on an observed satellite, inferring information regarding payloads
- observing the interaction and cooperation between satellites in formation in LEO or geostationary Earth orbit (GEO)
- satellite overflight warning of Earth observation missions (featuring electro-optical, synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence or other technologies) primarily in LEO
- asset protection for high-value satellites operating in GEO
Funded projects should again reach TRL 3-6. Contracts of up to £125,000, £200,000 and £400,000 are available for this challenge, depending on project length.
For more information on both of the challenges, please see the competition document. If you’re thinking of applying but need bid writing support, contact us to arrange a free consultation.
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The EIC Accelerator Application Process
The EIC Accelerator is the European Innovation Council’s flagship programme for start-ups and SMEs. It provides blended finance to support the development of cutting-edge innovation projects with high growth potential.
Under Horizon Europe, the EIC Accelerator has a new 4-step application process:
1. Diagnostic Module
The Diagnostic module is a mandatory step in the application process. At this stage, you will answer a series of questions on your innovation. The Diagnostic will then assess the details you have provided to give an idea of your chances of success.
2. Short Application
There are five sections to complete within the short application:
- Firstly, you must supply general information about your proposal.
- Provide information about your company and CEO.
- Next, you should upload a pitch deck in pdf format. While there is no pre-defined template, it should not exceed ten slides.
- Upload a video up to 3 minutes long. In this video, the core members of your team (up to three people) should explain your innovation and the main motivation behind your application.
- Lastly, you must answer a series of questions that comprise a 5-page form. They cover the details of your innovation, your potential market, and your team. There is a limit of 1000 characters per section.
Your short application will be assessed remotely by four expert evaluators and you will receive the outcome within four weeks. They will each give a GO or NO GO. If at least two evaluators give a GO, your short application has been successful and you can move forward.
If you were unsuccessful, you can resubmit your proposal. You should make improvements in line with the feedback you received, as if your next application is rejected, you will not be allowed to resubmit for 12 months.
3. Full Application
The full application is in the form of an online questionnaire, comprised of three modules: Ideation, Development and Go 2 Market. You can find an indicative template of questions in the Guide for Applicants.
In addition, you will need to:
- Define the type of funding you are applying for - please note that UK entities are only eligible for the grant component.
- Submit a pitch deck – this should be different from the one in your short application. There is no pre-defined template nor limit of slides. However, remember that you will present this pitch deck if you get through to the face-to-face interviews.
- Complete the Financial Annex and use the 10 extra pages allowed to provide Letters of Intent or similar.
Full applications will be assessed after the set cut-off dates by three remote experts. To be successful, you will need all 3 of the remote experts to give a GO for all the criteria.
If 1 or more give a NO GO under any of the criteria, your application will be rejected. However, you will be eligible to resubmit an improved full application to one of the next two cut-offs. If rejected again, you may submit a new or significantly improved short application after 12 months.
4. Face to Face Interview
Interviews will take place remotely or in Brussels, approximately 8-9 weeks after the cut-off date. You can send a maximum of 3 representatives to the interview, where they will be assessed by a panel of up to 6 jury members.
The interview will last up to 40 minutes and include 10 minutes of presentation and a 30 minute Q&A to clarify aspects of your proposal. Following the interview, the jury members will prepare an Evaluation Summary Report that includes i) the evaluation outcome and ii) specific comments related to the three award criteria.
You will learn the interview outcome within 2-3 weeks. Successful applicants will then negotiate terms and sign an initial agreement for the grant component. If you requested an investment component, your company will simultaneously be subject to a due diligence process by the EIC Fund.
If your proposal is unsuccessful, you may resubmit based on the following rules:
- First rejection: resubmit an improved full proposal to the remote evaluation at one of the two following cut-offs
- First rejection and the jury decides your proposal is a potential GO after improvements: you will be able to resubmit a revised proposal directly to one of the next two interview sessions
- Second rejection: after 12 months, you may submit a new or significantly improved short application
About RedKnight
Our team can support both short and full applications. Contact us to arrange a free consultation where we can discuss your project’s suitability for the EIC Accelerator.
Source: EIC Accelerator Guide for Applicants
Horizon Europe Releases Main Work Programme
The European Commission has adopted the main Horizon Europe work programme for 2021-2022! Over the next two years, the European Commission will invest €14.7 billion in the research and innovation priorities set out in the Strategic Plan.
What will it fund?
The work programme shows a clear intention to accelerate Europe’s green and digital transitions while working towards a sustainable post-coronavirus Europe.
Of the funding available, over a third - €5.8 billion - will be invested in research and innovation to support the European Green Deal, while another €4 billion will fund the development of core digital technologies. Finally, around €1.9 billion will fund research and innovation to help repair the immediate economic and social damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said:
“With 40% of its budget devoted to making Europe more sustainable, this Horizon Europe work programme will make Europe greener and fitter for the digital transformation. Horizon Europe is now fully open for business: I would like to encourage researchers and innovators from all over the EU to apply and find solutions to improve our daily lives.”
Background
Horizon Europe is the EU’s €95.5 billion research and innovation programme for 2021-2027 and the successor of Horizon 2020. Significantly, the UK will have ‘Associated Country’ status. This means that UK entities will be able to access funding on equivalent terms as organisations in EU countries.
The programme has three ‘pillars’: 1) Excellent Science, 2) Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness and 3) Innovative Europe. For more information about what comes under each pillar, click here.
Funding is available for a wide variety of research and innovation areas, such as health, ICT and climate change. In addition, funding is available to all sectors through the European Innovation Council.
Next Steps
The first calls for proposals will open on the Commission’s Funding and Tenders Portal on 22nd June. Additionally, Horizon Europe Information Days targeting potential applicants will take place between 28th June and 9th July.
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“My Innovate UK application was unsuccessful – what should I do next?”
You invested significant time in preparing an Innovate UK grant application, only to receive a rejection. If you've found yourself in this situation, you might be wondering, what next?
This is a question that we have begun to hear more and more often, with grant funding competitions now more competitive than ever before. From our experience, we would recommend taking the following steps:
1. Put it into perspective
Even excellent proposals can be rejected. RedKnight has supported a number of applications that have passed the competition threshold but haven’t received funding. Remember that rejection is not always because of your proposal; the competition's budget may not be large enough to fund every worthy application.
2. Work through the feedback
The assessors that read your application will score your answers to questions 2 to 11. You will receive feedback for each of these questions which will help you to understand why your application was unsuccessful.
We recommend taking some time to digest the feedback that you’ve received. Make sure that you understand all the points that the assessors have made and start to identify the areas of your application that need work. If numerous assessors were critical of a particular section, this is a good place to start.
3. Consider a resubmission
You can make a maximum of 2 applications to Innovate UK with any given proposal. If your first attempt was unsuccessful but scored quite well, this might be a good option for you. Use the feedback that you received from the assessors to improve your application, thereby increasing your chances of success.
4. Consider alternative innovation funding competitions
Are your chances of success better elsewhere? For instance, if you applied for an Innovate UK Smart Grant, you would have been in competition with applications from many different areas of technology. Instead, you could look into sector-specific competitions, as they tend to receive fewer applications. For example, the Biomedical Catalyst is a good option for companies developing innovative healthcare products, technologies, and processes.
If you have already received two rejections from Innovate UK, you could also consider alternative funding streams. Some European funding competitions may be suitable, such as the EIC Accelerator.
5. Ask for help
If you lack the time or expertise to make the improvements needed to your application, a grant funding specialist will be able to help. This takes the stress out of your hands, while also increasing your chances of success. They can also recommend alternative competitions that better suit your project.
Contact us
Our team of grant funding specialists has over 50 years of experience, working with over 150 organisations and accessing more than £50m of grant funding. They would be pleased to help you prepare a resubmission, increasing your chances of securing funding next time. If you’ve recently been rejected for Innovate UK funding and would like our help, please contact the team to arrange a free consultation.
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