An overview of available Innovation funding in the UK. Innovate UK, Catapults, Knowledge Transfer Network and what do they do. Any questions? Hit us up on Twitter (@GrantTree) or get in touch in e-mail: team@granttree.co.uk

1. A 20(ish) minute guide
Richard Wigley Gary Bridgeman 19 May 2015
UK Innovation Funding

2. It was to help tackle market failures and innovation bottlenecks the Technology
Strategy Board was set up in 2004, becoming independent in 2007 and changing
name in 2014.
Their role is to help accelerate economic growth through the stimulation and
support of business-led innovation. Innovate UK works across business, academia
and government, helping companies take concepts through to commercialisation.
This means supporting business innovation through:
tackling the barriers to innovation,
reducing financial and technical risk,
promoting collaboration,
helping knowledge exchange,
encouraging open innovation,
creating a more effective innovation environment, using our convening power
and connections to bring different partners together.

3. £42 Million committed for 2014/15 a 38%
increase in total budget for 15/16
Grant funding distributed via competitive bidding
Administration of _connect online networks

4. A programme to stimulate innovation and growth in the digital sector, based in Shoreditch
Funding competitions, drop-in business advice, knowledge sharing and networking events
Innovation contests match start-ups and SME’s with large industry partners
Competitions are generally for circa £25k
Total funding for the year is £2.3m
Physical centres for innovation that connect businesses with the UK’s research and academic
communities, funded through TSB and commercial activity, based across the UK
Designed to offer commercial and technical advice, access to facilities, match-make
partnerships and contract R&D
NOT funding
Cell Therapy, Connected Digital Economy, Future Cities, High Value Manufacturing, Offshore
Renewable Energy, Satellite Applications, Transport Systems, Precision Medicine, Energy
Systems

5. Small Business Research Initiative, a conduit to connect government departments with
innovative start-ups and SME’s
Competition based funding with the Government acting as the lead customer
Current competitions include; Portable Renewable Energy Generation, The Long Term Care
Revolution, Power Take Off Systems for the Wave Energy System
Contract values vary from £50k to £2m
Designed to connect innovation communities across the UK, via 16 theme networks and the
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships facilitate exchange of knowledge between business, academia
and graduates. No direct funding is available and the average cost to business is £20k p/a
Biosciences, Built Environment, Chemistry, Creative Industries, Defence and Security, Electronics
Sensors Photonics, Energy Generation and Supply, Forensic Science, HealthTech and Medicines,
ICT, Industrial Mathematics, Materials, Nanotechnology, Resource Efficiency and Environmental
Services, Space, Transport

6. Priority Areas 2015/16:
Space / Built Environment / Energy
Agriculture and Food / High Value Manufacturing
Digital Economy / Urban Living
Transport / Health and Care / Biosciences
Advanced Materials / Electronics, Sensors & Photonics
Emerging Technologies / Resource Efficiency
Information and Communication Technologies

7. 80 to 90 competitions this year
£50m allocated to SMART over 6 rounds
Collaborative R&D / Catalyst Funding around 28
competitions, funding between £150k and £2m
Access to funding and finance

8. What are they looking to fund?
Projects not companies
Work that is in the future
Well planned projects with defined outcomes
A large and growing market
Evidence of the ability to match the funding