Launchpad: net zero industry, South West Wales

Overview

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with Welsh Government and its agencies including Net Zero Industry Wales to invest up to £1 million in innovation projects.

This funding is from Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme which supports the UK government’s goals for local economic growth. This Launchpad is also supporting Net Zero Industry Wales as the local cluster management organisation.

Scope

The aim of this competition is to support outstanding innovation projects led by businesses. Your business must be growing your innovation activities in the net zero industrial cluster in South West Wales. This region consists of Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and the City and County of Swansea.

Your project must focus on the markets for industrial decarbonisation in South West Wales and globally.

Your project must contribute to growing your innovation activities in the cluster, both during and after your project.

This could be demonstrated by:

your local innovation activities
the value that your innovation activities create in the cluster
your engagement with other innovation active organisations in the cluster, such as with Net Zero Industry Wales, this Launchpad’s cluster management organisation

Your application may be considered ineligible if you do not describe clearly how your main project activities and work packages meet the scope of this competition. This includes the main project activities of any subcontractors. If you do not describe how your activities in the cluster will continue after your project, then you are unlikely to be offered funding in this competition.

The geographical requirement is set to align this competition to the UK Government’s goals for local economic growth.

Portfolio approach

Following the independent assessment, all applications scoring over 70% will be reviewed by a panel including Innovate UK and our local partners on this Launchpad. The panel will review the applications in line with the portfolio criteria, which will inform Innovate UK’s decision on the funding awards offered.

Innovate UK want to fund a variety of projects across different categories. Innovate UK call this a portfolio approach.

Innovate UK reserve the right to prioritise projects that demonstrate:

more innovation activity or value creation in the cluster or outside the Greater South East of England, during and after the project
more engagement in the innovation cluster, during and after the project
closer alignment to this competition’s scope and specific themes

Specific Themes

Your project can focus on one or more of the following:

offshore renewable generation
novel onshore renewable generation
carbon dioxide capture, distribution and storage
nature based solutions to achieving net zero, excluding primary production in fisheries, aquaculture, and agriculture
the circular economy
fuel switching
electrification

Projects can also consider the following:

offshore wind (FLOW) Celtic Sea
sustainable fuel and platform chemical production
low carbon heat distribution and utilisation
mini grid community systems
innovation in skills development
advances that empower your business to start your journey to net zero
innovation that enables other businesses to learn from you and replicate your example

These lists are not exhaustive. Where you can show your proposal fits within the scope of this competition you can focus on other themes.

Eligibility

Your project must:

have a total grant funding request between £25,000 and £100,000
last between 6 and 12 months
carry out all of its project work in the UK
intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
not start before 1 April 2025
end by 30 June 2026

Projects must always start on the first of the month, even if this is a non-working day. You must not start your project until your Grant Offer Letter has been approved by Innovate UK. Any delays within Project Setup may mean we need to delay your project start date.

You must only include eligible project costs in your application. See our overview of eligible project costs. For specific guidance, see the eligibility section in this competition.

You will be made ineligible if you exceed the Minimal Financial Assistance limit. You must submit a complete declaration as part of your application.

Lead organisation

Your business must:

be a UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
be growing your innovation activities in the net zero industry innovation cluster in South West Wales
not have previously been awarded funding from the Round 1 MFA competition strand for this South West Wales Launchpad
have a demonstrable ambition for business growth

More information on the different types of organisation can be found in our Funding rules.

Subcontractors

Subcontractors are allowed in this competition.

Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK and you must select them through your usual procurement process.

Innovate UK expect all subcontractor costs to be justified and appropriate to the total eligible project costs. We will not accept a cheaper cost as a sufficient reason to use an overseas subcontractor.

Number of applications

A business can lead on only one MFA strand application for this competition. Any subsequent applications submitted by the same business will be ineligible and will not be forwarded for assessment.

You are not eligible to apply to this Round 2 MFA competition if you led a successful application to the Round 1 MFA competition for this Launchpad in South West Wales.

Sanctions

This competition will not fund you, or provide any financial benefit to any individual or entities directly or indirectly involved with you, which would expose Innovate UK or any direct or indirect beneficiary of funding from Innovate UK to UK Sanctions. For example, through any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any entity as lead, partner or subcontractor related to these countries, administrations and terrorist groups.

Use of animals in research and innovation

Innovate UK expects and supports the provision and safeguarding of welfare standards for animals used in research and innovation, according to best practice and up to date guidance.

Any projects selected for funding which involve animals will be asked to provide additional information on welfare and ethical considerations, as well as compliance with any relevant legislation as part of the project start-up process. This information will be reviewed before an award is made.

You can use a previously submitted application to apply for this competition.

Exclusions

Innovate UK are not funding projects that:

do not meet the competition eligibility or scope requirements
request grant funding of less than £25,000 or more than £100,000
are led by a business who led a successful application to South West Wales Launchpad MFA Round 1 competition
do not evidence potential for the proposed innovation to lead to significant and positive economic or societal impact

Innovate UK cannot fund projects that:

involve primary production in fishery and aquaculture
involve primary production in agriculture
have activities relating to the purchase of road freight transport
are not allowed under De minimis regulation restrictions
are not eligible to receive Minimal Financial Assistance
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

Funding Costs

Innovate UK have allocated up to £1 million to fund innovation projects through this Launchpad competition for South West Wales.

Funding will be in the form of a grant.

The total funding available for this Launchpad competition can change. The funders have the right to:

adjust the funding allocations between all Launchpad competitions and strands
apply a ‘portfolio’ approach

Your total project costs will be up to 100% funded up to the maximum grant of £100,000. If your grant funding request exceeds the £100,000 maximum then your application will be made ineligible. Your project costs can be higher than your grant funding request.

You can make reference to any additional voluntary contribution in your application answers. It must not be detailed in the finance section.

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Launchpad: net zero industry, South West Wales – Rd 2 MFA