Dates:
- Competition closes: 29 September 2021
- Interviews: 22 – 26 November 2021 (Strand 1 only)
- Applicants notified: 10 December 2021
- Project start date & duration: 01 February 2022 for between 3 – 12 months
Scope
Projects must address the resource productivity or energy performance opportunities of the sector and its supply chains. Projects must focus on the development of new: markets; business models; products and services manufactured by the sector; products and services created by suppliers to the sector; processes.
Specific Themes (non-exhaustive list)
- energy costs and optimisation such as heat or energy recovery and reuse
- process measurement, optimisation and digitisation, such as sensor technology or digital tools
- waste recycling, utilisation and symbiosis, such as reuse of waste or industrial symbiosis
Projects that will not be funded
- focus on fuel switching or greenhouse gas capture technology
- do not focus on foundation industries and their immediate supply chains
- respond only to the skills needs of foundation industries
- are capital or infrastructure projects
- have total eligible project costs of below £25,000 or above £75,000
- are dependent on export performance, for example giving a subsidy to a baker on the condition that it exports a certain quantity of bread to another country
- are dependent on domestic inputs usage, for example giving a subsidy to a baker on the condition that it uses 50% UK flour in their product
Eligibility
- Strand 1 projects must be led by a UK-registered SME
- Strand 2 projects can be led by a UK-registered business of any size but must include an SME
- R&D work must be carried out in the UK and project results exploited from UK.
- Subcontractors are allowed (preferably UK-based), with fully justified and appropriate costs
Funding Rates
- Total eligible project costs between £25,000 and £75,000 (Strand 1) and £75,000-250,000 (Strand 2).
- For feasibility studies you could get funding for your eligible project costs of:
- up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation
- up to 60% if you are a medium-sized organisation
- up to 50% if you are a large organisation
- For Industrial Research and Experimental Development you could get funding for your eligible project costs of:
- up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation
- up to 60% if you are a medium-sized organisation
- up to 50% if you are a large organisation
- Research organisations in your consortium can share up to 30% of the UK total eligible project costs.
