Launchpad - Net zero - CR&D - Tees Valley

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with businesses to invest up to £6 million on innovation projects. This will support outstanding innovation projects led by businesses who are active or growing their work activities, in the net zero innovation cluster centred on Tees Valley.

This competition supports the Government’s goals in the Levelling Up White Paper. The projects will also contribute to Tees Valley’s ambitions to become a net zero industrial cluster by 2040 and global leader in clean energy.

Your proposal must align to the competition scope criteria.

This competition is split into 2 strands:

• Launchpad – Net zero Collaborative Research & Development (CR&D) – Tees Valley (this strand)
• Launchpad – Net zero – Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) – Tees Valley (the MFA strand is only for SMEs, with project costs £25k-£100k)

For the CR&D strand, your project must:

• have a total grant funding request between £150,000 and £1 million
• start by 1 December 2022
• end by 30 November 2024
• last between 6 and 24 months
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

To lead a project your organisation must:

• be a UK registered business of any size,
• be active, or growing your work activities, in the net zero innovation cluster centred on Tees Valley
• be or involve at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)

Projects can include UK registered collaborators. The contribution of project partners must add to the economic growth of the net zero innovation cluster centred on Tees Valley.

A business can only lead on one application but can be included as a collaborator in a further 2 applications. If a business is not leading any application, it can collaborate in any number of applications.

An academic institution, research and technology organisation (RTO), charity, nor-for-profit or public sector organisation can collaborate on any number of applications.

If you apply to the MFA strand of this competition, as well as this CR&D strand, you must make sure each project is clearly distinctive and separate. This will be monitored.

Scope

The aim of this competition is to support outstanding innovation projects by businesses active, or growing their work activities, in the net zero innovation cluster centred on Tees Valley.

This geographical requirement is set because this competition aligns to the Government’s goals in the Levelling Up White Paper.

Your project must be innovating within the specific net zero themes for this competition.

Your project must commercialise knowledge through innovation activities, and lead to increased investment into research and innovation. It must contribute to growing business activities and generating economic impact in the net zero cluster centred on Tees Valley.

We also want you to consider how your team and project will contribute to the Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity of the innovation cluster.

Specific themes

Your project can focus on one or more of the following:

• hydrogen
• carbon capture and storage
• offshore engineering
• battery materials
• the circular economy

Projects can also consider key enabling themes:

• digital technologies
• the regulatory framework
• skills requirements
• collaboration building
• innovative business models

Briefing event

An online briefing event will be held at noon on Tuesday 27th September.

Other funding support

Businesses active in the targeted innovation cluster are advised that Innovate UK is also investing additional resources. These are aimed at enabling innovative, ambitious businesses to benefit from the facilities and expertise provided by Catapults and Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs). Suitable projects can be awarded a grant for 100% of eligible costs to a maximum of £15,000. To access that grant, businesses do not need to apply to this competition and must instead make an enquiry through Innovate UK EDGE.