Successful applicants will benefit from an intensive 9-12 month, three phase programme with bespoke support from an innovation and growth specialist throughout.

• Get ready: A two-day preparation workshop to build knowledge and understanding of the market and opportunities, including cultural aspects, how to do business, protecting Intellectual Property, and support to better articulate your value proposition.
• Visit the market: Explore the innovation opportunities first-hand through pre-arranged matchmaking events, meetings with key contacts, research organisations and potential collaborators and partners.
• Exploit the opportunity: An exploitation workshop and one-to-one bespoke support from an innovation and growth specialist to help you follow-up and maximise the opportunities identified through the programme.

To apply for this GBIP, you must be:

• a UK-based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and scale globally
• a company with fewer than 250 employees
• the CEO, founder, or senior decision maker in the business
• able to attend all workshops and complete all activities

This GBIP is targeted at technology providers with the capability to deliver innovative solutions for the manufacturing sector. This is one of five GBIPs running between now and end March 2026 as part of the Made Smarter Innovation Challenge (MSI). The four other GBIPs are focused on:

• Additive Manufacturing, Germany (Visit mid-Nov 2025)
• Robotics & Automation in Manufacturing, Japan (Visit Jan 2026)
• Robotics & Automation in Manufacturing, South Korea (Visit Mar 2026)
• AI Enhanced Manufacturing – US (date tbc)

A business can apply to the five MSI GBIP’s but can only, if selected, participate in a maximum of two of the five. The representative from the business for each GBIP needs to be able to complete all stages of the GBIP.

Businesses that have been on a previous GBIP (in the same market and/or technology area) will need to demonstrate they have exploited the previous opportunity to be considered and how this programme will add significant additional benefit. Preference may be given to businesses that have not participated previously.

Unless there are exceptional circumstances, a business can only take part in two GBIPs in any rolling 12-month period (measured by the date of the Get Ready Workshop).

Innovate UK is committed to improving the diversity of who we support. We welcome applications from under-represented groups.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance.We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this GBIP’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the application deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email (support@iuk.ukri.org) or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Manufacturing in Singapore: Innovation and Opportunity

Manufacturing is a key driver of Singapore’s economy, contributing around 20% of GDP and forming the backbone of its export sector. The Singaporean government has taken proactive steps to transform the manufacturing landscape through innovation, digitalisation, and sustainability. Strategic investments have been made to support smart manufacturing and advanced production technologies.

Singapore’s industrial strategy focuses on R&D in areas such as advanced design technologies, IIoT platforms, software-integrated operations, smart sensors, robotics, and data-driven manufacturing systems. National initiatives like the Smart Industry Readiness Index and Manufacturing 2030 aim to position Singapore as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and digital transformation.

To support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), agencies such as Enterprise Singapore and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) offer funding, technical support, and innovation programmes. These efforts are designed to accelerate the adoption of smart technologies and ensure SMEs remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global market.

With a strong emphasis on SME innovation, international collaboration, and UK-Singapore bilateral funding opportunities, the Singaporean market presents significant potential for UK SMEs offering advanced manufacturing technologies.

Digital Supply Chain for Manufacturing

Singapore is at the forefront of developing and implementing digital supply chain solutions to enhance manufacturing efficiency, resilience, and agility. The integration of digital technologies into supply chain management is a key component of the country’s strategy to future-proof its manufacturing sector.

Digital supply chains leverage technologies such as AI, blockchain, IoT, cloud computing, and advanced analytics to enable real-time visibility, predictive planning, and automated decision-making. These systems help manufacturers optimise inventory, reduce lead times, and respond swiftly to disruptions.

Government initiatives such as the Supply Chain 4.0 programme and partnerships with global technology providers are accelerating the adoption of digital supply chain solutions across industries including electronics, biomedical, precision engineering, and logistics. Singapore’s Open Innovation Platform, delivered by IMDA, has run challenges in these areas on behalf of large enterprises, demonstrating end user demand in the region.

For UK companies developing digital supply chain technologies—such as predictive analytics platforms, digital twins, smart logistics solutions, and supply chain visibility tools—Singapore offers a highly connected, innovation-driven market with strong demand for collaborative solutions and scalable technologies.

We welcome applications from new or established innovative technology providers with capability to deliver digital manufacturing solutions in the following technology areas:

Digital technologies with clear links to Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chains within Manufacturing such as:

• Supply Chain visibility, tracking and traceability
• Connectivity (including Industrial Internet of Things, Sensors)
• Digital product identity, Digital thread, Digital passports
• Data sharing, Systems of trust
• Distributed Ledger Technology (including Blockchain & Immutable Data)
• AI-driven forecasting and supply chain optimisation
• International Logistics
• other technology adaptation opportunities into this topic area

The scope of the above contributes to the delivery of the following aim:

Resilient supply chains – develop digital technologies for manufacturing supply chains to become more efficient, sustainable, productive, flexible and resilient through the development of digital approaches to better integrate and optimise performance and flow of information, materials or money across supply chain nodes.

• Build market knowledge and intelligence
• Seed new business partnerships, develop RD&I collaborations, and identify partners for bilateral funding calls
• Introductions to senior figures and influential contacts
• Raise your profile and stimulate new business opportunities and ideas
• Improve your value proposition, hone your skills, and grow in confidence to tackle global markets
• Connect with peers, expand your network, and learn from like-minded, ambitious businesses

• Applicant briefing – Tuesday 16 September 2025, 10am-11am UK time, online. Watch recording above and download briefing slides.
• Application deadline – 5pm Monday 20 October 2025
• Application outcome – Friday 24 October 2025
• Get ready workshop – Tuesday 25 & Wednesday 26 November 2025
• Market Visit – Monday 26 January to Friday 30 January 2026 in Singapore (Travel from UK Saturday 24 January to Sunday 1 February 2026)
• Exploit the opportunity workshop – Wednesday 18 March 2026

• Introductory briefing with the British High Commission
• Visits to research and technology organisations
• Attending a relevant industry event
• Company visits and meetings with key contacts
• High quality networking opportunities

Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation, inmarket travel and conference fees for successful applicants. Innovate UK will also pay for any reasonable adjustments throughout the initiative. Only one representative from each company will be funded and the same person is required to participate in all parts of the programme.

On acceptance to the programme, a commitment fee of £1000 will be obtained from each participant. This will be refunded on completion of the full activities (Get ready workshop, Visit, Exploit the opportunity workshop, and active engagement with an innovation and growth specialist) and agreed work plan.

Non-completion after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all of the commitment fee.

Applicant briefing – Tuesday 16 September 2025, 10am-11am UK time, online. See above for recording: download briefing slides.

If you have any questions, we are happy to help; email us at trevor.marshall@iukbg.ukri.org.