Tuesday, February 16, 2021

• Competition opens: Thursday 21 January 2021
• Competition closes: Wednesday 26 May 2021 11:00 am

Smart is Innovate UK’s ‘Open grant funding’ programme. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £25 million 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

Whilst the projects that overlap with the grand challenge areas are welcomed, this is not a requirement, as there is a keen interest to support projects in other areas. To monitor the impact of our work to promote equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) there is a need to collect relevant data and evidence. For this competition this means:

• all applicants are required to complete the EDI survey
• applicants are 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 competitive process. This competition closes at 11 am UK time on the deadline stated.

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 £2 million and must be collaborative.

Find out more and apply here.