Find out if you’re eligible for this unique grant-investment hybrid competition from Innovate UK.
The latest round of Innovate UK’s Investor Partnership competition has just opened, offering climate and clean energy innovators the opportunity to secure transformative sums of grant and equity funding.
In this blog, I’ve explained who’s eligible for this competition and how to submit an application.
Right from the off, it’s worth noting that the Investor Partnerships scheme is only open to companies that will be able to secure funding from one of Innovate UK’s approved investors. This stipulation is unique to this competition and, as it will prevent otherwise eligible companies from applying, I wanted to mention it sooner rather than later.
If you will be able to secure funding from an approved investor and want to know whether you qualify and stand a good chance of winning, my colleagues and I at GrantTree can perform a free, no-commitment assessment of your eligibility and competitiveness. We’ll tell you:
- Whether you’re eligible
- Your chances of winning
- Other grants you’re eligible for
- What other types of government funding are available to you
Key details about the investor partnership competition
- Offers up to £900,000 in grant funding
- Open to UK-registered SMEs
- Equity allocations must at least match the amount of grant funding
- The application deadline is 2 July
Who is eligible for the Investor Partnerships competition?
Like all startup grants, eligibility for the Investor Partnerships competition hinges on both your company and the kind of project you’re looking to get funded. Of course, this competition also has the added requirement that you need to be able to secure funding from certain investors.
Your project
Your project must look to advance a cutting-edge technology that can make a “significant contribution” to mitigating emissions. It must have the potential to disrupt existing markets or create new ones.
Here’s how much your project can cost and how long it can last:
| Project Type | Length | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility Study | 6 to 12 months | £50,000 – £300,000 |
| Industrial Research | 6 to 24 months | £100,000 – £1 million |
| Experimental Development | 12 to 24 months | £250,000 – £2 million |
For a detailed explanation of the different project types, check out this handy guide from Innovate UK.
Your company
To qualify for the investor partnership competition, your company must:
- Be a UK-registered SME. More information on the definition of an SME for UK grants here
- Intend to exploit the results of your project in the UK
- Undertake your project alone, not as part of a consortium
How much funding can I apply for?
The table below explains how much grant funding you can apply for based on your company’s size and the type of project you’re looking to complete. The percentages are relative to the cost of your project.
| Micro/Small | Medium | |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility and Industrial Research Projects | 70% | 60% |
| Experimental Development Projects | 45% | 35% |
Investment
You’ll also need to secure private investment, equalling:
- At least the same amount as your grant, if you’re conducting a feasibility study or industrial research project
- Twice as much as your grant, if you’re looking to complete an experimental development project
How do I apply for the Investor Partnerships?
Your investor will invite you to apply after they’ve submitted an expression of interest to Innovate UK.
The application has four sections:
- Project details, where you provide a range of background information about your company and project. This isn’t scored.
- Application questions, 10 questions, the first four of which aren’t scored, covering various aspects of your planned R&D. This is the most important part of the application.
- Finances, where you’ll provide a breakdown of your project costs
- Project impact, which covers what you hope to achieve with your project
Your application will be judged by three independent assessors, like those who provide our clients with detailed guidance on strengthening their application via our Grants Review service.
Let GrantTree give you the best possible chance of success
The Investor Partnerships competition is a fantastic opportunity for companies working on groundbreaking climate and clean energy technologies to secure grant and equity funding at the same time.
However, like all Innovate UK competitions, Investor Partnerships grants are extremely competitive, with only a small percentage of applicants receiving funding.
GrantTree can maximise your chances of success. We’ve engaged with this popular scheme since its inception and have secured funding for multiple projects ranging in size from £700,000 to almost £1.5 million.
We’ll leverage this extensive experience and our unmatched insight into Innovate UK’s assessors to help you develop a compelling application that proves that you deserve funding.
We offer a range of services designed to suit different budgets and support requirements, and we only work with companies we know have an excellent chance of winning funding.
To learn more about how GrantTree can help you secure a game-changing grant for your company, just get in touch. My colleagues and I will be right with you.
