Women in Innovation Awards 2021/22

Overview

Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, is offering at least 20 Women in Innovation Awards to female entrepreneurs across the UK. The winners will receive a £50,000 grant and a bespoke package of mentoring, coaching and business support.

Scope

The aim of this competition is to fund and support a diverse portfolio of Women in Innovation Award winners:

who will be relatable role models for women from all backgrounds
from regions across the UK
who are solving a range of pressing societal, environmental and economic challenges
in a variety of innovation areas.

Your proposal must identify clearly evidenced pressing societal, environmental or economic challenge(s), and how your project and innovation can help solve them.

Applications can come from any area of innovation (where innovation is defined as the commercially successful exploitation of ideas) and be applied to any part of the economy.

Innovate UK are looking for women who clearly explain how they will benefit from the full package of funding and support on offer and who can describe how this will add value to them and their business.

Innovate UK are particularly encouraging applications from women who:

have the potential, capability, experience and personal drive to become leaders in business innovation
want to be a role model for others, including in their region, sector and to young people
have a clear vision for their business
are looking to develop a game changing novel idea or business innovation
know what they are hoping to achieve from the award and how to measure success

Interested in applying for this competition?

Book a 30-minute consultation

Our team are available to discuss your innovative business, your project ideas and how we can help you to write a successful application for this Grant Funding opportunity.

Use the calendar to select and book a consultation with one of our experts, at a time that’s convenient for you.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an award you must:

be a female founder, co-founder or senior decision maker within a UK registered micro or SME business which has been operating for at least 12 months by the competition closing date
carry out your project work in the UK
intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

be legally and contractually able to use the funding
be available to attend an online interview panel during the week beginning 6 December 2021
attend 2 bootcamps over one and a half days each on the 16 and 17 March 2022 and in September 2022.
be fully committed to work as a role model for up to 5 days over the duration of the award

Applications from UK-registered social enterprises operating economically will be eligible if they meet all other criteria.

Your project must:

start on 1 April 2022
end on 31 March 2023
last 12 months

Funding Costs

Innovate UK have allocated at least £1 million for at least 20 awards at £50,000 each. They will also provide a bespoke package of mentoring, coaching and business support.

The funding will be paid in 3 increments:

£33,333 upfront in March 2022
£11,667 at the mid-point in October 2022
£5,000 at the end of your project on receipt of a completed statement of expenditure by April 2023.

For more information on company sizes, please refer to the Company accounts guidance. This is a change from the EU definition unless you are applying under European Commission De minimis.

If you are applying for an award funded under European Commission Regulations, the definitions are set out in the European Commission Recommendation of 6 May 2003.

In addition to the grant funding, all award holders will receive a package of support tailored to their needs.

The expert advice available includes, but is not limited to:

funding and finance options and how to access these, including introductions to investors and training on pitching
media and communications, such as branding
intellectual property
developing new business models
evaluating market opportunities
finding new partners
growth and scale up
developing international collaborations and accessing global markets
business planning strategy

Access to relevant world-leading facilities and equipment will also be provided where this is appropriate.

Exclusions

Innovate UK are not funding projects that:

do not intend to use the full package of support on offer
have a negative impact on the environment or society
have a detrimental effect on equality, diversity and inclusion
do not involve any research and development or innovation, for example, the creation of information-only websites
do not meet the competition eligibility or scope
involve exports or imports
involve primary production in fishery and aquaculture
involve primary production in agriculture
not allowed under De minimis regulation restrictions
not allowed under Special Drawing Rights (SDR)
include activities relating to the purchase of road freight transport
are dependent on export performance – for example giving an award to a baker on the condition that they export a certain quantity of bread to another country.
are dependent on domestic inputs usage- for example if we give an award to a baker on the condition that they use 50% UK flour in their product.

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