Innovate UK SMART grants - August 2021 open on 26th

UK-registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.

Smart is Innovate UK’s ‘open grant funding’ programme.

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £25million in the best game-changing and commercially viable innovative or disruptive ideas. All proposals must be business focused.

Applications can come from any area of technology and be applied to any part of the economy, such as, but not exclusively:

• The arts, design and media

• Creative industries

• Science or engineering

While Innovate UK welcome projects that overlap with the grand challenge areas, this is not a requirement, as they are also keen to support projects in other areas.

To monitor the impact of their work to promote equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), all applicants are required to complete the EDI survey. Applicants are also prompted to consider EDI as part of the application process

EDI considerations are highly encouraged where appropriate in the proposal. Applications will continue to be assessed on their innovation merit, where innovation is defined as the potential for commercially successful exploitation of ideas.

In applying to this competition, you are entering into a highly competitive process where your chance of success in securing funding will depend on the number and quality of applications submitted.

Projects of 6 – 18 months must have total eligible project costs between £25,000 and £500,000 and can be single or collaborative. Projects of 19 – 36 months must have total eligible project costs between £25,000 and £2million and must be collaborative.

Competition opens Thursday 26th August and closes at 11am on Wednesday 6th October. If you are a SETsquared Bath member we recommend you contact your dedicated Entrepreneur in Residence, either Garry Pratt, Pete Keevill or Sean Devane for support and to arrange a time to speak with our Grant-writer-in-residence.