Innovate UK is offering up to £5 million to fund supply chain innovation projects aimed at improving efficiency, resilience, and sustainability across key industrial sectors. Grants between £50,000 and £100,000 support collaborative feasibility studies that align with high-growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital technologies, life sciences, and frontier industries like aerospace and batteries. UK-registered businesses and research organisations can apply to test innovative solutions and strengthen national supply chains.

Overview

The Innovate UK Supply Chain Innovation Fund provides financial support for projects that explore novel ways to improve supply chains across the UK’s high-growth and advanced manufacturing sectors. The programme seeks to enhance resource efficiency, resilience, and competitiveness while fostering cross-sector collaboration and innovation.

This initiative is part of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, targeting projects that can deliver measurable improvements in productivity, sustainability, and industrial growth.

Objectives of the Fund

The fund focuses on:

• Supporting feasibility studies that identify innovative supply chain solutions

• Addressing cross-cutting challenges across high-growth and frontier industries

• Enhancing resource efficiency and resilience within UK supply chains

• Encouraging collaboration between businesses and research organisations

• Driving innovation aligned with the Government’s Industrial Strategy and advanced manufacturing priorities

Funding Details

• Total competition budget: Up to £5 million

• Grant range per project: £50,000 – £100,000

• Eligible project focus:

  • Must align with at least two high-growth sectors: advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, creative industries, defence, digital and technologies, life sciences

  • OR focus on at least two advanced manufacturing frontier industries: automotive, batteries and energy storage, aerospace, advanced materials (including composites, metals, polymers, ceramics, glass, smart materials), agri-tech, space

• Project duration: Determined by proposal feasibility and scope

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• UK-registered businesses of any size

• UK-based research and technology organisations (RTOs) in collaboration with at least one UK-registered business

• Collaborative projects must include at least one business claiming funding

• RTOs cannot apply alone

Who is Not Eligible?

• Individual researchers or unregistered entities

• RTOs applying without a collaborating UK-registered business

• Projects not aligned with the specified high-growth or frontier sectors

How to Apply

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Confirm that your organisation and project meet the business or collaborative criteria and sector focus requirements.

Step 2: Define Your Project Scope

• Identify supply chain challenges your project addresses

• Ensure alignment with at least two sectors or frontier industries

• Plan for measurable outcomes in efficiency, resilience, and innovation

Step 3: Prepare Your Proposal

• Include detailed feasibility study plan

• Define project objectives, methodology, timeline, and expected impact

• Provide clear budget and financial projections within £50,000 – £100,000

Step 4: Submit Application

Applications must be submitted through the Innovate UK portal by the specified deadlines. Ensure all documentation, including collaboration agreements and business registration details, is complete.

Why This Fund Matters

• Strengthens UK industrial competitiveness by improving supply chain resilience

• Encourages cross-sector collaboration to tackle common challenges

• Supports sustainable and efficient resource use

• Provides businesses and RTOs the opportunity to test innovative solutions before scaling

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Focusing on a single sector instead of the required two-sector alignment

• Submitting proposals without a UK-registered business as the funding claimant

• Ignoring sector-specific challenges or feasibility requirements

• Providing incomplete budget or collaboration documentation

• Overlooking the need for measurable innovation outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the total funding available?

Up to £5 million is available for all eligible projects.

2. How much can a single project request?

Grants range between £50,000 and £100,000 per project.

3. Who can apply for funding?

UK-registered businesses of any size, and UK-based RTOs in collaboration with a business claiming funding.

4. Can a research organisation apply alone?

No, RTOs must collaborate with at least one UK-registered business.

5. Which sectors are eligible?

Projects must align with at least two high-growth sectors or two advanced manufacturing frontier industries.

6. What is the goal of the fund?

To support innovative solutions that enhance supply chain efficiency, resilience, and sustainability across UK industries.

Conclusion

The Innovate UK Supply Chain Innovation Fund provides an opportunity for UK businesses and research organisations to test and develop innovative supply chain solutions. By addressing sector-specific challenges and fostering collaboration, funded projects can enhance efficiency, resilience, and industrial growth, supporting the UK’s strategic industrial priorities.