Innovate UK Smart grants: January 2024

To lead a project or work alone your organisation must:

• be a UK registered SME if you want to work alone
• be a UK registered business of any size, or a research and technology organisation (RTO) if your proposal is collaborative
• include at least one grant claiming SME if you are a large business or RTO and wish to collaborate with other UK registered businesses, research organisations, academic organisations, public sector organisations or charities

If the lead organisation is an RTO it must collaborate with at least 2 two businesses (one SME, and one business of any size) and there must be a credible route to market for the output of the project. Since the purpose of RTOs is to speed up the process of those using their services this is expected to be through the other project partners, rather than the RTO itself.

To collaborate with the lead, your organisation must be one of the following UK registered:

• business of any size
• academic institution
• charity
• not for profit
• public sector organisation
• research and technology organisation (RTO)

A business or research and technology organisation (RTO), can only lead on one application but can be included as a collaborator in two further applications. All others can collaborate on any number of applications.

The eligibility criteria for the Smart January 2024 round of the competition are different to previous rounds of the Smart grant. You must ensure your application meets the new eligibility criteria or it will not be sent for assessment.

Your project must:

• start by 1 October 2024
• end by 30 September 2026
• include at least one micro, small or medium enterprise (SME) as the lead or a collaborative grant claiming partner
• follow specific rules depending on its duration
• carry out all of its project work in the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

If your project’s duration is 6 to 18 months, it:

• must have total eligible project costs between £100,000 and £500,000
• can be single or collaborative

If your project’s duration is 19 to 24 months, it:

• must have total eligible project costs between £100,000 and £1 million
• must be collaborative

The Innovate UK Smart grant supports SMEs and their partners develop the best game changing and world-leading innovative R&D projects. It offers funding where other opportunities are not available or appropriate, and where timing is key to ensure swift and successful commercialisation post-project completion.

To be in scope your proposal must demonstrate:

• a ground-breaking and innovative idea for brand new products, processes or services
• an idea that is significantly different from already available products, processes or services globally
• an idea that is set for rapid commercialisation following project completion
• clear potential to positively impact the UK’s position, productivity and competitiveness within the global economy
• a clear, evidence-based business plan to deliver significant economic impact, return on investment (ROI) and growth through commercialisation, as soon as possible after project completion
• why Smart funding is the right potential funding for your project, and the journey you have already been on to reach the point of application
• a team with the necessary skills and expertise to deliver the project successfully and on time, and to achieve rapid commercialisation
• awareness of all the main risks the project will face with realistic management, mitigation and impact minimisation plans for each risk
• sound, practical financial plans and timelines that represent good value for money, including the funding of post-project activities

Your project must focus on:

• taking customer and user needs into account to deliver more desirable and useful solutions
• identifying who is ready to buy your innovation
• being developed, planned and resourced beyond the end of the Innovate UK funded project, taking into account the focus of any project partners and their existing commitments
• fitting in with and complementing your ongoing business planning and development, product offerings and organisational structure to maximise chances of success

Innovate UK will hold an online briefing at 12 noon on Thursday 25 January: click here for the joining link.

If you would like help to find a project partner, please contact the relevant sector team at Innovate UK KTN.