Notice

Competition brief: emerging & enabling technologies round 1

Updated 30 November 2016

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-competition-emerging-enabling-technologies/competition-brief-emerging-enabling-technologies

1. Dates and deadlines

Competition opens Monday 3 October 2016
Launch event for applicants London, Friday 30 September 2016
Briefing events Manchester Monday 10 October 2016
Belfast Friday 14 October 2016
Cardiff Thursday 20 October 2016
Bristol Wednesday 26 October 2016
Glasgow Wednesday 26 October 2016
Registration deadline Noon on Wednesday 30 November 2016
Application deadline Noon on Wednesday 7 December 2016

2. The competition scope

Our Emerging and Enabling Technologies programme (E&E) identifies and invests in new technologies and the underpinning capabilities that improve existing industries. Our aim is to inspire the new products, processes and services of tomorrow; those with the potential to unlock billions of pounds of value to industry and disrupt existing markets.

An emerging technology is one that is progressing in, or has recently emerged from, the research base. It allows us to do something that was not possible before. Because of this, it disrupts existing markets and enhances value to customers. It can improve our lives and lead to new sources of wealth generation.

Enabling technologies underpin the development of high-value products and services in many industrial sectors and markets. They improve performance and productivity.

The aim of this competition is to help businesses broaden out innovation activities, to find new sources of revenue from new products, processes or services. Projects will:

  • harness E&E technologies across the economy
  • develop and scale-up research and development to bring ideas, processes and products closer to availability at scale and commercial release
  • use design processes to understand customer motivations and behaviour and use that insight to create better products, services and processes

We are looking to fund a portfolio of projects that include:

  • technical feasibility
  • industrial research
  • experimental development

We will choose a portfolio that achieves a balance across topic areas, timing and costs.

If your project falls outside these guidelines, please contact us at least 5 working days before the registration deadline to discuss further.

Projects must clearly show high-growth potential innovations in one or more of the following areas:

  • any emerging technology that can demonstrate a step change in performance and the potential to disrupt existing industrial approaches; we are particularly looking to fund projects in energy harvesting, imaging technologies, graphene or biofilms
  • any enabling technology in: satellite applications; electronics; sensors; photonics; digital; internet of things; data; cybersecurity; virtual or augmented reality; and distributed ledger technology

The type of innovation project will depend on the challenges and opportunities your business faces.

Proposals must show how project success will improve business growth and productivity and/or encourage export opportunities, including for at least one UK small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) involved in the project.

3. Specific competition themes

We welcome applications in one or more of the following areas:

Innovation in emerging technologies that show significant industry and commercial improvement in novel applications of:

  • energy harvesting
  • imaging technologies
  • graphene
  • biofilms
  • other areas of emerging technology

Innovation in enabling technologies that:

  • show benefits across multiple industrial sectors or markets
  • provide new products and services
  • allow new applications for existing products and services
  • enable new capabilities or business models

We are particularly encouraging proposals that address:

  • systems that combine multiple technologies to deliver a focused, real-world outcome, for example, combining earth observation data from satellites with other technologies to improve business performance
  • smart sensor systems that allow intelligent decisions to be made by looking at miniaturisation, low-power processing and communications
  • smart technology that provides a richer and more informative output to the end user
  • photonics for manufacturing, healthcare and imaging
  • digital technologies with substantial potential to change and disrupt sectors of the economy; for example, distributed ledgers, or augmented and virtual reality.

We also encourage proposals to include user/customer perspectives or participation. Applications should clearly state the market opportunity and the barriers that the project addresses. Proposals should show how successful completion of the project will accelerate business growth. They should also include customer research and explain how that insight will be used to design more desirable products and solutions.

4. Projects that we won’t fund

In this competition we will not fund applications in the following areas:

Note: machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) is covered by the Innovate UK Robotics and autonomous systems competition and so is out of scope.

5. Find out if you are eligible to apply

To lead a project, you must:

  • be a UK-based business (of any size)
  • have at least one SME involved in your proposal
  • carry out your project work, and intend to exploit the results, in the UK
  • work alone or in collaboration with others (businesses, research base and third sector)

6. Funding and project details

We have allocated up to £15 million to fund innovation projects in this competition.

All projects must involve at least one SME and a business must lead the project.

Stream 1: Project costs of up to £100,000

If you are an SME and expect your eligible project costs to be up to £100,000, you may deliver the project on your own. You may also work with other businesses or research organisations.

Stream 2: Project costs of £100,000 or above

If you expect your eligible project costs to be more than £100,000 you must collaborate with at least one other organisation. At least one company in the collaboration must be an SME.

Project types

Your project may focus on technical feasibility, industrial research or experimental development. This will depend on the challenge.

For technical feasibility studies and industrial research, you could get:

  • up to 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business
  • up to 60% if you are a medium-sized business
  • up to 50% if you are a large business

For experimental development projects which are nearer to market, you could get:

  • up to 45% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business
  • up to 35% if you are a medium-sized business
  • up to 25% if you are a large business

Find out if your business fits the EU definition of an SME.

We expect projects to last 6 months to 3 years. We expect them to range in size from total costs of £35,000 to £2 million, depending on the type of project.

7. How to apply

To apply:

We will not accept late submissions. Your application is confidential to Innovate UK and potential Research Councils UK co-funders.

External, independent experts assess the quality your application. We will then select the projects that we fund, to build a portfolio of projects as described in the competition guidance for applicants. Please read this carefully before you apply.

Also please read the general Guidance for Applicants carefully before you apply. It will help your chances of submitting a quality application.

8. Background and further information

Technology is transforming our lives and brings great opportunity. The UK is strong in fundamental research across many different disciplines. However, we sometimes struggle to fully commercialise the opportunities. The most promising emerging technologies and industries need to be guided through the innovation process to market success.

Enabling technologies or capabilities have the potential to make a difference in many sectors. Yet, they can be slow to spread through target industries. They need support to realise that potential. Some might need to be tailored to excel in the most important markets and sectors.

The government’s Emerging Technologies and Industries strategy aims to provide investment to help companies explore the potential of completely new technologies in their particular markets. It aims to disrupt markets and bring the potential for significant commercial results. Small early investments are followed by increased financial and wider support. This can be seen in areas with very high potential, such as quantum technologies.

The Enabling and Enabling Technologies programme brings together technology and end users to enhance productivity and efficiency across the UK economy. The programme provides opportunities for innovative companies to develop and use multiple technologies. Applications include disrupting markets and finding new sales routes. This could be through well-established systems integrators and manufacturers.

In 2016 and 2017 the programme will support companies through investments such as this competition. We will invest in enabling technologies by concentrating on innovative applications and/or service-led solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, data, satellite earth observation, electronics, sensors, photonics, the internet of things and robotics and autonomous systems.

The Emerging and Enabling Technologies sector group supports the Digital Catapult and Satellite Application and is establishing a new Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult in Wales. Companies wishing to access the available equipment and expertise are invited to partner with the Catapults in this competition.

If you want help to find a project partner, contact the Knowledge Transfer Network.

If you need more information, contact the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 or email us at support@innovateuk.gov.uk

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