Innovation continuity loans: Strand 2 August 2020 follow-on competition

Innovate UK is offering up to £210 million in loans to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and third sector organisations that have a challenge in continuing, completing or following on an innovation project. Loans are for organisations that find themselves facing a sudden shortage or even unavailability of funds resulting directly from the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are two parallel strands for innovation continuity loans:

• strand 1: for applicants who are continuing and completing a live project with an Innovate UK award – click here for details
• strand 2: for applicants who have a new project that follows on from a project with an Innovate UK award that was completed in the last 36 months (this competition)

We are looking to support highly innovative late stage projects with a clear route to commercialisation and economic impact.

Your project must aim to develop new products, processes or services which are significantly ahead of anything similar in the field. You can also propose an innovative use of existing products, processes or services.

Your proposal can use any technology from any part of the economy.

Your project must focus on commercialisation, growth or scale up. We will give priority to proposals likely to lead to growth and gains in productivity.

You must be able to show that you:

• are facing a sudden shortage or even unavailability of funds resulting directly from the COVID-19 pandemic
• can cover interest payments
• will be able to repay the loan on time
• need public funding

The competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated.

We expect to open one or more further competitions monthly to allow applicants the opportunity to apply at a time that suits their organisation’s needs. Innovation continuity loans will be available for commitment until 31 December 2020.