Innovate UK – Manufacturing and Materials Innovation Competition

Key Features

The aim of this competition is to stimulate and broaden innovation in manufacturing and materials. Innovate UK will fund a range of projects that address technical or commercial challenges in this scope. These aim to lead to increased business productivity, competitiveness and growth, especially for SMEs.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     from £30k - £1m

Opens: 9th May 2016

Closes: 13th Jul 2016

! This scheme is now closed

Innovate UK have allocated up to £15 million to fund innovation projects in this competition. Up to £5 million available for projects lasting up to one year, £5 million for projects lasting up to 2 years and £5 million for projects up to 3 years. Your project may focus on technical feasibility, industrial research or experimental development. This will depend on the challenge you identify.

A project must follow one of the following areas:

  • innovation in a manufacturing system, technology, process or business model e.g. process engineering, industrial biotechnology, mechanical conversion processes, coatings, textiles, supply chain management, new product introduction processes or remanufacture
  • innovation in materials development, properties, integration or reuse e.g. light-weighting, energy generation and storage (such as heat and electricity), electronics/sensors or for operation in demanding environments

This competition is due to be run multiple times per year and Innovate are particularly interested in seeing applications featuring:

  • the novel application of a digital technology or approach to manufacturing or materials development (such as automation, modelling and simulation, data analysis)
  • design for manufacture, use and end-of-life
  • Additive manufacturing projects that focus on innovation in the additive process or its application – there is an upcoming competition for this soon

For technical feasibility studies and industrial research, you could get up to:

  • 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business
  • 60% if you are a medium-sized businesses
  • 50% if you are a large business

For experimental development projects, which are nearer to market, you could get up to:

  • 45% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business
  • 35% if you are a medium-sized business
  • 25% if you are a large business
  • Competition open now
  • Briefing events; London – 23rd May, West Midlands – 26th May, Manchester – 27th May
  • Application deadline – 13th July 2016