Notice

Competition brief: manufacturing and materials round 3

Updated 22 May 2017

This notice was withdrawn on 21 September 2017

This competition is no longer open. Search current funding opportunities.

1. Dates and deadlines

Competition opens	Monday 8 May 2017
Briefing event for applicants in London	Monday 8 May 2017
Briefing event in Belfast	Friday 12 May 2017
Briefing event in Edinburgh	Tuesday 16 May 2017
Briefing event in Newcastle	Thursday 25 May 2017
Application deadline	Midday Wednesday 12 July 2017

2. The competition scope

The aim of this competition is to stimulate and broaden innovation in manufacturing and materials. Innovate UK will fund a range of projects that address identified technical or commercial challenges.

Projects should increase productivity, competitiveness and growth for UK businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

A project may focus on technical feasibility, industrial research or experimental development. The categorisation will depend on the type of challenge being addressed.

Innovation is required to grow UK manufacturing productivity, increase material efficiency and sustain our competitiveness in the long term.

For example, this may be achieved by:

• developing more flexible and efficient processes
• developing processes that enable faster and greater customisation of products to satisfy consumer demands
• developing materials for ease of manufacture
• addressing the manufacturing readiness of growing sectors
• developing materials for targeted performance specifications
• diversifying product and service lines to address new markets
• developing novel services and/or business models, that open up new sources of revenue from manufacturing

A project must cover at least one, from either of, the following areas:

• innovation in a manufacturing system, technology, process or business model. For example, in process engineering, additive manufacturing, industrial biotechnology, mechanical conversion processes, coatings, surface engineering, textiles, supply chain management, new product introduction processes or remanufacture, or application of digital technology to a manufacturing approach
• innovation in materials development, properties, integration or reuse. For example, materials for light-weighting, energy generation and storage (heat and electricity), electronics/sensors, bonding and joining technologies, or operation in demanding environments. Also includes the use of digital technologies to reduce time for material development, evaluation and assurance

For this competition, materials include but are not limited to:

• nanomaterials
• ceramics
• metals and inter-metallics
• polymers
• composites
• coatings
• smart materials
• joining of dissimilar materials

You must show how your proposal will enable a step change in competitiveness and productivity for at least one UK SME involved in the project.

Your project must focus on a manufacturing or materials innovation, rather than a product innovation. This means the main challenge and risk in the project will be in the manufacturing process or materials development.

An element of production innovation could be in scope. For example, a process or materials innovation could depend on a product innovation, such as a tool or piece of equipment. The main purpose of that product innovation would be to enable the manufacturing process or materials innovation.

We encourage projects for manufacturing and/or materials innovations with the potential to impact on more than one application sector.

2.1 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

As part of this competition, we also welcome applications for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). For further information please see the guidance for KTPs.

For KTPs we are accepting applications across all disciplines and applications within materials and manufacturing which drive productivity and growth.

KTP applicants are subject to the same application deadline. However, KTP applicants should follow the specific guidance for KTPs. Interested parties should contact the relevant KTP adviser for more details.

3. Projects that we won’t fund

In this competition, we are not funding:

• product or prototype development where the main innovation, challenge or risk is not in the manufacturing process or materials
• projects that apply existing and well-known manufacturing processes to develop a new product, without significant innovation challenges in the processes themselves
• projects that involve choosing a suitable material for a product from a library of known materials, where there is no further significant technical development of the material or innovation in the manufacturing process

For example, the following projects would be in scope:

• a project focused on developing new material properties for a sensor or probe to allow it to operate in a harsh environment
• a project using sensor data to optimise a manufacturing process (for example, in a factory or refinery)

But a project developing a new sensor or probe, without a focus on manufacturing or materials challenges, would not be in scope.

4. Find out if you are eligible to apply

To be eligible you must:

• be a UK-based business or research and technology organisation (RTO) working within the limits provided in the general guidance for applicants
• carry out your project work, and intend to exploit the results, in the UK
• be an SME if you wish to work alone on a project no longer than 12 months and with costs of less than £100,000
• work in collaboration with others (businesses, research base and/or third sector), if your project has costs over £100,000 and/or is longer than 12 months

An RTO may lead a project providing:

• they are able to articulate clearly why they, and not one of the business participants, should lead the project
• they collaborate in the project with at least 2 or more businesses (one must be an SME)
• their involvement is no greater than 30% of the total eligible project costs
• the project shows a compelling route to market, most likely through the non-lead partners

Projects may include non-grant-receiving partners (for example, non-UK businesses), but they will not count as collaborators for projects with costs over £100,000. There have to be 2 grant-claiming partners.

In addition, organisations can only:

• lead 1 project per competition
• be involved in up to 3 applications to this competition but may only be the lead in 1
• apply twice with the same project to any competition, that means 1 re-submission only

Research organisations (not RTOs) can be partners in as many applications as they wish. This includes academics.

5. Funding and project details

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

This is divided up as:

• up to £5 million for projects lasting up to 1 year
• up to £5 million for projects lasting up to 2 years
• up to £5 million for projects lasting up to 3 years

All projects must involve at least one SME. A business or RTO must lead the project.

Project costs of up to £100,000

If you are an SME and expect your eligible project costs to be up to £100,000 and the project to last no longer than 12 months, you may run the project on your own. You may also work with other businesses or research organisations.

Project costs of £100,000 or above

If you expect your eligible project costs to be more than £100,000 or the project to last longer than 12 months, you must work with other organisations. At least one of these must be an SME.

We expect projects to last 6 months to 3 years. We expect them to range in size from total costs of £50,000 to £2 million. This will depend on the type of research activity you are carrying out. Please contact us at least 10 days before the registration deadline to discuss further if your project falls outside this range.

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 receive:

• up to 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a micro or 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 that are nearer to market, you could receive:

• up to 45% of your eligible project costs if you are a micro or 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.

6. How to apply

Apply online. The lead applicant must create an account. They will be able to invite collaborators to the application.

Attend one of the briefing events for potential applicants:

• in London on Monday 8 May 2017
• in Belfast on 12 May (a link will be provided once available)
• in Edinburgh on 16 May
• in Newcastle on 25 May

Watch the recorded briefing event.

We will not accept late submissions. Your application is confidential.

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. It will help your chances of submitting a quality application.

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.

7. Background and further information

All industrial sectors rely on manufactured products, materials and associated services. The UK ranks as the ninth largest producer in the world (output of US$247 billion). It accounts for 3% of global manufacturing output. Manufacturing accounts for 11% of UK GVA (gross value added). It represents 50% of exports and 69% of business research and development.

The manufacturing process and the materials used can be sources of competitive advantage. New manufacturing technologies or new materials can enable new types of products or service. This can drive productivity and profitability by increasing output or reducing inputs required. This competition is seeking to support manufacturing and materials as enablers of product innovation.

The High-Value Manufacturing Catapult is the catalyst for the growth and success of UK advanced manufacturing. It helps industry speed up the journey from technology concept to commercialisation. The 7 Catapult Centres work with companies of all sizes and sectors. They offer open access to industrial-scale cutting-edge equipment, expertise and collaborative opportunities.

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.