Feasibility studies for Artificial Intelligence solutions: Series 2

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £5 million in innovation projects. Funding for this opportunity is subject to business case approval by the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and HM Treasury.

These will be to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) driven solutions that address a business challenge or opportunity in target industry sectors:

• construction
• transport, including logistics and warehousing
• creative industries (excluding marketing and advertising)
• agriculture and food processing

The aim of this competition is to support innovative projects prompted by a challenge to business in an area of operations that can drive improvements in business productivity.

This competition supports the Government’s goals in the National AI Strategy in the transition to an AI-enabled economy through wider AI adoption across sectors.

Your proposal must:

• be an AI solution
• address a business challenge in construction, transport including logistics and warehousing, creative industries or agriculture and food processing
• demonstrate an increase in business productivity

Eligibility

Your project must:

• have a grant funding request between £25,000 and £50,000
• last between four and six months
• carry out its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
• start by 1 October 2024
• end by 31 March 2025

To lead a project your organisation must:

• be a UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
• collaborate with one other UK micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or academic institution

The lead SME can only be involved in one application.

If an SME is not leading any application, it can collaborate in up to two applications. If you are successful in both applications you will be contacted and will need to justify you have the resources to deliver both projects.

An academic institution can collaborate on any number of applications.

Scope

The aim of this competition is to support innovative projects prompted by a challenge to business in an area of operations that can drive improvements in business productivity.

Your project must:

• develop responsible and trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven solutions
• demonstrate an increase in business productivity
• be led by an SME facing a challenge or opportunity to be addressed in collaboration with another SME or an academic institution

Specific themes

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

• data driven decision making
• automation of administrative tasks
• project management optimization
• supply chain optimisation and forecast models
• waste management
• intellectual property (IP) management
• design

Briefing and support

An online briefing is being held on 28 March between 10:00 and 11:30. Click here to register for the event.

If you want help to find a project partner, contact Innovate UK KTN’s BridgeAI or appropriate sector teams (AI, construction, transport, creative industries, agrifood).