Inclusive Innovation Award 2022 to 2023

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £2.5 million for Inclusive Innovation Awards across the UK.

The aim of this competition is to support micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SMEs), who have a track record and demonstrable positive impact for the target audience. This must be in developing innovations centred on equality, diversity and inclusion in their design and development.

We are looking for SMEs that can be role models for inclusive innovation, encouraging other businesses to see the many benefits. The awards are for businesses that have been operating for at least one year.

Your project can come from any area of technology and be applied to any part of the economy such as, digital and technologies, net zero, healthy living and agriculture. This list is not exhaustive.

Your proposal must be business focused and demonstrate how your previous innovations have supported equality, diversity and inclusion. You must highlight how an award will further develop your work on inclusive innovations.

Your project must:

• have a total grant funding request of £50,000
• start on 1 April 2023
• end on 31 March 2024
• last 12 months
• carry out all of its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

Your company must be able to commit to:

• provide at least 5 days over the duration of the award to be a role model for inclusive innovation, expenses for these activities can be included in the project costs
• spend up to two days supporting development of the Innovate UK partners resources to support inclusive innovation

To lead a project your organisation must:

• be a UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise
• be a business that has been operating for at least 12 months from the competition close date
• not have exceeded your £315,000 limit of de minimis or minimal financial assistance funding during the current and previous two fiscal years
• have a track record delivering an inclusive innovation

Each micro, small or medium-sized enterprise can only lead on one application.

Award

Up to £2.5 million has been allocated to fund innovation projects in this competition. Each organisation must apply for a grant of £50,000.

You can claim 100% of your eligible project costs of £50,000. The funding will be paid in 3 increments:

• £33,333 upfront in March 2023
• up to £11,667 at the mid-point in October 2023
• the balance of the funding will be received at the end of your project on receipt of a completed statement of expenditure by April 2024

Scope

The aim of this competition is to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who have a track-record and demonstrable positive impact for the target audience. This must be in developing innovations centred on equality, diversity and inclusion in their design and development.

We are looking for SME’s developing innovative products processes or services that can be role models to other businesses.

Your proposal must clearly explain:

• the equality, diversity and inclusion challenges identified
• how your previous innovations have addressed these challenges
• the societal and economic impact of your innovations
• your plans for a new project to further develop inclusive innovations
• how you will act as a role model to other businesses

Your new project must:

• centre on equality, diversity and inclusion in the design and development of products, processes or services
• involve a diverse team, as appropriate to the project
• demonstrate business growth and successful economic impact
• deliver demonstrable societal impact

Your proposal can be from any area of innovation, where innovation is defined as the commercially successful exploitation of ideas, and be applied to any part of the economy.

As part of your application, you must share with us a short video, up to 3 minutes long. This must be uploaded to YouTube and provided as an unlisted link as part of your application. If the assessors cannot view your video or it is hosted on a platform other than YouTube, the assessors will be unable to assess this question and your application will be ineligible.

A briefing event was held on 26th September: click here to view the recording (available soon).

Working with Innovate UK KTN

Innovate UK KTN has a wide network, deep sector expertise, and can connect you to people and organisations to help accelerate your ideas and project.

Visit the Inclusive Innovation programme page on the Innovate UK KTN website to:

• learn more from the briefing event
• learn more about inclusive innovations
• read frequently asked questions