Innovate UK, GB and other funders: Smart grants

28/07/2022

26/10/2022

Innovate UK invites applications for its smart grants. These support disruptive research and development innovations in any area of technology with a potential to make a significant impact on the UK economy. All projects must be business focused. Applications should demonstrate realistic and significant potential for global markets, and take customer and user needs into account to deliver more desirable and useful solutions. The total budget is £25 million. Projects with a duration of between six and 18 months and with total eligible costs of between £100,000 and £500,000 may be single or collaborative. Projects with a duration of between 19 and 36 months and with total eligible project costs of between £100,000 and £2 million must be collaborative.

They may come from any area of technology and be applied to any part of the economy, such as: •net zero; •the arts, design and media.

Applications must include at least one SME, therefore only SMEs may work alone. Other UK-based businesses of any size or research and technology organisations (RTOs) may also lead projects, but must collaborate with at least one SME and one business of any size. They must have a credible route to market for the output of the project, which is expected to be through the partners rather than through the RTO itself. Academic organisations, charities and public sector organisation may also participate in projects. Applicants must carry out their R&D project activity in the UK and intend to commercially exploit the project results from or in the UK. As project partners, RTOs may participate as either a research organisation and receive 100 per cent of the grant, or as a business entity and be reimbursed a percentage of their eligible costs. Applications may include partners that do not receive funding.