Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £25 million in the best game-changing and world-leading ideas.

Ideas need to be designed for swift, successful commercialisation and be genuinely new and novel, not just disruptive within their sector.

All proposals must be business-focused, with deliverable, realistic, adequately resourced plans to achieve return on investment, growth and market share following project completion.

Applications can come from any area of technology and be applied to any part of the economy, such as, but not exclusively:

  • net-zero,
  • the arts, and
  • design and media.

To be in scope, your proposal must demonstrate (among other things):

  • a game-changing, innovative, and disruptive idea that will lead to new products, processes or services;
  • an idea that is significantly ahead of others in the field, set for rapid commercialisation; and
  • clear potential to positively impact the UK’s position, productivity and competitiveness within the global economy.

Innovate UK will fund feasibility projects, industrial research projects and experimental development projects, as defined in the guidance on categories of research.

Your application must include at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) as the lead or a collaborative grant claiming partner.

Read the full eligibility criteria and scope for Innovate UK Smart Grants.

The competition closes at 11am on Wednesday 17 January 2024.