Innovate UK is offering up to £100,000 in grants for companies and research organisations working on supply chain innovation projects.
Closing on 11 March, the Advanced manufacturing supply chain innovation competition will fund feasibility studies for technologies designed to make supply chains more efficient and resilient.
Below are the key things you need to know about this competition, including who’s eligible and how to apply.
Want an answer fast? Book in an Eligibility and Competitiveness assessment, and in 25 minutes I’ll tell you:
- Whether you’re a strong candidate for this competition
- Other grants you may be eligible for
- What other sources of funding we can help you secure
Who is Eligible for this Competition?
Your Organisation
To lead a grant application, you must be a UK business of any size or a UK-registered research and technology organisation (RTO).
Your consortium must include at least one UK company; RTO’s cannot work alone.
Your project team can include:
- Academic institutions
- Charities
- Other businesses and RTOs
- Not for profits
- Public sector organisations
Your Project
To apply for this competition, your proposal must address at least two of the following six high-growth sectors or be aligned to at least two of the following advanced manufacturing frontier industries.
High-growth sectors
- Advanced manufacturing
- Clean energy industries
- Creative industries
- Defence
- Digital and technologies
- Life sciences
Advanced manufacturing frontier industries
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Advanced materials including, composites, metals, polymers, ceramics, glass, and smart materials
- Agri-tech, manufacturing and processing technologies for the agri-food value chain
- Batteries and energy storage
- Space
In addition, your project must:
- Be a feasibility study*
- Last no more than nine months
- Start on 1 July 2026
- End by 31 March 2027
*Feasibility studies determine whether an early-stage technology works in laboratory or simulated conditions.
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How Much Funding Can I Apply For?
You can apply for £50,000 to £100,000 in grant funding for your project.
In terms of your individual organisation, the amount you can apply for depends on what type of organisation you are.
Applying as a Business
As a business the amount of your project costs your grant can cover depends on your size.
| Micro and Small | Medium | Large | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of Costs Covered | 70% | 60% | 50% |
So if you were a large company with a £150,000 project, you could apply for up to £75,000 in grant funding.
More on the official definition of micro, small, medium and large companies.
Non-Economic Activity
If you’re applying for funding for non-economic activity, e.g. research that would be conducted by a university, you can apply for a grant covering:
- 100% of your costs if you are an RTO, charity, public sector organisation, or research organisation
- 80% of your full economic costs if you are a JE-S registered institution such as a university
How Do I Apply?
The application for the Advanced manufacturing supply chain innovation competition has four sections:
- Project details – This section isn’t scored but provides your assessors with valuable context that will help them understand and mark your project
- Application questions – Comprising 16 questions, the final 9 of which are scored, this is the most demanding section and where you’ll be spending most of your time. Most answers are limited to 400-500 words
- Finances – This is where you submit detailed information about the cost of your project. This must be completed by all project partners.
- Project Impact – This final section isn’t scored but again gives your assessors a useful understanding of the broader implications of your proposed work. This must also be completed by all project partners
Let’s Get You Funded
Thinking about applying to this competition?
GrantTree can significantly increase your chances of success. Calling on 15 years’ experience winning lucrative innovation grants, our experts will ensure you put forward the strongest possible application, explaining why you deserve funding.
Worried about budget? Let’s talk. We have a wide range of services designed to suit a variety of different investment levels.
To find out more about how GrantTree can help you, just get in touch.
