Innovate UK Smart Grant Programme has focused eligibility criteria to support SMEs and their partners to develop disruptive innovations with significant potential for rapid, economic return to the UK. Innovate UK Smart grants are available for game-changing and disruptive ideas from business, through a regular, competitive application process. Grants are for projects that can provide evidence for considerable potential to gain market share, generate economic impact and exports. Likewise, companies carrying out their innovation activity in the UK, or those intending to commercially exploit the results of the project from, or in, the UK.
Eligibility for the Innovate UK Smart Grant Programme
- Business of any size
- Intend to commercially exploit the project results from the UK
- Research and technology organisation (RTO)
- Carry out your research and development project activity (R&D)
- Be or involve at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
Innovate UK Smart Grant Programme, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £25 million in the best game-changing, and world leading ideas, designed for swift, successful commercialisation. Ideas need to be genuinely new and novel, not just disruptive within their sector. If a large company, or an RTO, is considering participating with other companies, public sector organizations or beneficiary organizations, it is essential to include at least one SME. Research and technology centres are also eligible.
Applications can come from any area of technology and be applied to any part of the economy such as:
- Net zero
- The arts
- Design and media.
- Health and wellbeing
To lead a project your organisation must:
- be an SME if you want to work alone
- be a UK registered business of any size or a research and technology organisation (RTO) if collaborative
- include at least one 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
- claim grant funding
- carry out all your project work in the UK
- intend to commercially exploit the results from or in the UK
