Innovate UK: Made smarter innovation – sustainable smart factory

04/11/2021

26/01/2022

Innovate UK invites applications for its made smarter innovation – sustainable smart factory programme. This supports the development of digital innovations to improve the resource efficiency and energy efficiency of manufacturing processes in factories. The total budget is worth up to £20 million. Projects may last for between one and two years. The project’s total eligible costs must be between £1m and £8m. Funding is worth up to 50 per cent of total eligible costs.

Ubiquitous Computing; Manufacturing Processes & Technologies; Machine Learning; Virtual, Simulated & Augmented Reality; Energy Conservation & Efficiency; Robotics; Artificial Intelligence; Manufacturing Process Management; 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing; Advanced Manufacturing

The lead organisation must be a UK registered business of any size and must collaborate with other UK-registered organisations including at least one SME. Collaborators must be a UK registered business of any size, academic institution, charity, non-profit organisation, public sector organisation or research and technology organisation. Academic institutions cannot lead or work alone. Projects must include both manufacturing and digital technology capabilities in the consortium, be applicable to at least one manufacturing sector, and involve either a single factory or multiple factories. The project must be carried out in the UK and the results must be exploited from or in the UK.