Innovate UK – MSI: SME resource and energy efficiency – feasibility studies
Through the Made Smarter Innovation (MSI) programme, Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will invest up to £15.5 million across the two strands of this competition. This is subject to a sufficient number of high quality applications being received. These awards will be for feasibility studies or industrial research projects.
The aim of this competition is to explore new industrial digital technologies (IDTs) for manufacturers. The IDTs will improve the sustainability, resilience and productivity of UK micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) manufacturers by improving energy or resource efficiency.
Your project must focus on the innovation of digital solutions relating to one or more of the energy or resource efficiencies listed in the Specific Themes section, and must be affordable, easy to use, and scalable across SMEs.
There is no limit to the number of processes or technology solutions you may address in your proposal and there is no advantage in using more than one. Energy or resource efficiency innovations that use processes other than that listed will also be considered.
This competition is split into two strands:
- MSI: SME resource and energy efficiency – Feasibility Studies (project costs of £25k to £150k, 3-6 months, projects can be single or collaborative)
- MSI: SME resource and energy efficiency – Industrial Research (project costs of £200k to £1m, 6-12 months, projects must be collaborative)
Strand 1 – Feasibility Studies
To lead a project your organisation must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) operating as a technology developer. If collaborative, the consortium may contain one or more UK registered SME operating as a manufacturer claiming grant funding on this application.
It is your responsibility to ensure you submit your application to the correct strand for your project. You will not be able to transfer your application and it will not be sent for assessment if it is out of scope.
Experience from similar competitions suggests that you could have a 30% chance of success.
Visit the Innovate UK site to view the full eligibility criteria, scope, and exclusions for your project.