UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £2 million to undertake industrial research and enhance UK and German collaborations in emerging fields of technology. You must collaborate with at least one German SME applying under the equivalent German ZIM programme.
DATES:
Competition closes: 6th December 2024, 11:00 am.
Applicants notified: 6th May 2024.
Project start date & duration: Last between 18 and 36 months, starting by 1s August 2025.
SCOPE – proposals must demonstrate
- A clear game-changing or disruptive innovative idea leading new products, processes, or services.
- A strong business proposal with sound, practical financial plans and timeline.
- Good value for money, with significant return on investment and growth through commercialisation.
- Benefits to participants from the different countries and how this adds value.
- Clear definition of IP ownership and route to market within 2-3 years of project completion.
SPECIFIC THEMES
Applications from the following emerging technology areas are particularly encouraged:
- Quantum, AI, Semiconductor Applications, Engineering Biology, Future Telecommunications, Green technologies (including hydrogen and battery technologies). This list is not exhaustive.
OUT-OF-SCOPE
Projects will not be funded if they do not have a genuine collaboration with a German SME who has been successful in the corresponding German ZIM programme. Projects must meet Innovate UK’s eligibility criteria.
ELIGIBILITY
- There must be a project lead, and this may be either a UK or German eligible organisation.
- You must be, or involve, at least one grant claiming UK micro, small, or medium-sized SME.
- Consortium must include at least one SME registered in Germany, separate legally and not linked to the UK partners.
- The majority of the work must be undertaken in the UK and Germany, with UK partners carrying out the majority of their project work in the UK and intending to exploit the results from or in the UK.
- Your project must demonstrate a balanced technological contribution by the participants from both countries and must be equally significant to all participants.
FUNDING RATES
- The UK partners grant funding request can be up to £500,000. No one country or project partner can represent more than 70% of the total project costs on the UK application.
- German partners will be funded by AiF in Germany upon successful parallel application.
- Subcontractors are allowed, no more than 20% eligible UK costs and preferably from the UK.
| Organisation size | Industrial Research (TRL3-5) |
| Micro/small business | <70% |
| Medium sized business | <60% |
| Large business | <50% |
- Up to 100% funding of eligible costs for RTOs, charity, not for profit, public sector, or research organisations.
How PNO can support you
The UK team has a strong track record in securing some of the most competitive national and European grants on behalf of its clients, with a full understanding of how a project should be presented to stand the highest chance of success. Each year in the UK alone, we are responsible for the submission of more than 100 funding applications across all sectors and priority areas. Based on this extensive experience, through careful project selection and using key insight into how a project should be best positioned, we consistently achieve success rates that are more than 5 times the typical success rates for UK and EU programmes.
For further information or to discuss a project idea please contact PNO Consultants
0161 488 3488 | info.uk@pnoconsultants.com
