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)
• not have previously been awarded funding from the Round 1 MFA competition strand for this Launchpad for Coventry and Warwickshire
• be growing your innovation activities in the immersive and creative industries cluster centred on Coventry and Warwickshire
• 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.

We 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 for Coventry and Warwickshire.

If you apply to the CR&D strand of this competition, as well as this MFA strand, each project must be clearly distinctive and separate. We will monitor closely for this separation if you are awarded funding in both competition strands.

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
• requests grant funding of less than £25,000 or more than £100,000
• are led by businesses who led a successful application to the Launchpad: immersive & creative, Coventry & Warwickshire – R1 MFA competition

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 £4.35 million to fund innovation projects across the two strands of this Launchpad competition for Coventry and Warwickshire.

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 total 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 a reference to any additional voluntary contribution in your application answers. It must not be detailed in the finance section.