Investor Partnerships

The Investor Partnerships programme brings together:

• Innovate UK’s expertise in identifying innovation and using grant funding to change the risk profile of businesses
• Investor Partners’ aligned funding and expertise in identifying opportunities and teams that can best use additional investment finance

The aim of this competition is to provide innovative SMEs with support for research and development alongside access to the capital investment they need to develop, commercialise and scale their innovations.

This competition targets SMEs with strong growth and scaling potential that have an innovative project aligned with the competition scope.

Innovate UK also provides wider business support, including investment readiness and connections to relevant investors through Innovate UK Business Growth, Innovate UK Business Connect and Catapults.

Competition overview and scope

Innovate UK will be investing up to £5 million for materials innovation projects delivered through the Investor Partnerships programme across the six high growth themes (energy solutions, future healthcare, structural innovations, advanced surface technologies and durability, next generation electronics, telecoms and sensors and consumer products, packaging and speciality polymers) identified in the National Materials Innovation Strategy and one strategic opportunity theme (metamaterials and metasurfaces).

The aim of this competition is to provide support for research and development and access to the capital investment needed to develop and commercialise innovation, aiding translation and adoption of advanced materials innovations across the eight growth driving sectors identified in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy (IS-8).

This funding is part of the National Materials Innovation Programme, delivered by Innovate UK and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council as part of UKRI’s IS-8 Advanced Manufacturing Programme.

Competition scope

The competition supports advanced materials research and development alongside aligned private investment, helping innovative SMEs develop, commercialise and scale their innovations. Projects must align with the competition scope across the six high-growth themes and the strategic opportunity theme of metamaterials and metasurfaces, supporting translation and adoption across the UK’s eight growth-driving sectors.

Key dates:

• competition opens: 2 November
• application deadline: 19 January, 11am
• project start from: 1 June

Who should apply?

Your organisation must be the sole applicant and must:

• be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized business (SME)
• carry out its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
• be invited to apply by your investor partner
• have discussed and agreed your proposal with your investor partner before submitting your application

Read more about the available funding.