Smart programme from Innovate UK

The Innovate UK Smart programme looks for ambitious projects that could disrupt a global industry or market.

Innovate UK’s Smart programme is for the very best ideas from business, no matter what field they are in or the stage of innovation they are at ‚Äì from testing the feasibility of an idea through to development and prototyping.

The programme is for business innovation projects that offer a major step-change, either to what’s already available or by developing an entirely new technology, service or process.  Innovate UK is looking for new game-changing or disruptive processes or services that have the potential to improve and transform people’s lives, industries and the world.

These ideas should have a considerable positive impact to UK productivity and the economy and a high potential for commercialisation within the UK and wider global markets.

The current round of Innovate UK’s Smart programme closes on 24 July.

All proposals must be business focused, rather than pure research. Applications can come from any area of technology (including arts, design, media or creative industries), science or engineering and be applied to any part of the economy. Businesses may wish to submit a project that aligns with the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, overlaps with one or more of the grand challenge areas, or is outside of these entirely.

Working in these areas is not part of the eligibility criteria. The most important thing is that the idea and proposal demonstrate strong evidence for significant potential return on investment if it works.

You can find an overview of Smart funding here.

Find out more about the current round of Smart here.