Deadline: 2-Nov-22
Investors can apply to partner with Innovate UK to invest in innovative SMEs aligned with grant funding.
Innovate UK is inviting investors to partner with it. Together everyone will support growth in UK micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by aligning Innovate UK’s grant funding for R&D projects alongside your investment.
There is no Innovate UK funding awarded to applicant investors. Grant funding will be awarded to applicant companies (SMEs) to cover a proportion of eligible project costs alongside your aligned investment. The investment will typically be in the form of equity but may include other forms of funding, like convertible loans.
Innovate UK aims to create a broad “pool” of investor partners to invest in SMEs innovating across the future economy investor partnership programme and at all stages of business growth. The investor partnership programme will cover the breadth of the future economy, as described in Innovate UK’s plan for action, in particular net zero, health and wellbeing, next generation digital technologies and the technology families.
You will be asked to indicate the scope of your investment strategy for the next 3 years.
Scope: SME Projects
Themes
Innovate UK is looking to support projects that focus on the future economy areas included in the Innovate UK plan for action. SME projects must focus on one or more of the following themes:
- Net zero
- Health and wellbeing
- Next generation digital technologies
- Technology families
During the investor partnership programme, Innovate UK will identify further areas of specific scope focus. These are likely to include:
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Net Zero
- Green finance.
- Critical circular materials.
- Resource efficiency for materials and manufacturing.
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Health and Wellbeing
- Innovative solutions to health and healthcare challenges (Biomedical Catalyst).
- Improved delivery of mental health and wellbeing services, through the application of immersive technologies.
- Novel low emission production systems, including vertical farming and alternative proteins.
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Next generation digital technologies
- Innovation in the creative industries (Creative Catalyst).
- Adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in targeted industries.
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Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Diverse founders of innovative businesses.
- Innovative products or services that support diverse groups.
- Diverse investors.
Eligibility Criteria
Innovate UK is seeking investor partners who want to invest in high growth potential micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Your organisation must be an investor or be able to demonstrate that you can directly facilitate investment.
To be selected you must demonstrate that you:
- Are a credible investor, or can facilitate investment, with a clear investment strategy aligned to the Innovate UK plan for action for the future economy and have the ability to generate returns and add value to your portfolio businesses beyond financial support.
- Have the capacity to invest in companies that are successful in their application to the investor partnerships programme.
- Either have the capacity to follow your investment or to encourage other investors to fund further rounds of investment as and when required.
- Have the capability to successfully transact investments and manage your portfolio.
- Are in a position to lead the investment.
For more information, visit Innovate UK.
For more information, visit https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/1335/overview/21bb0745-5dfb-41bc-9957-2c357bba9065