Loans for game-changing innovations with strong commercial potential that will significantly improve the UK economy.
Competition opens: Monday 9 April 2018
Registration closes: Wednesday 6 June 2018 12:00pm
Innovate UK is to offer up to £10 million in loans to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Loans are for highly innovative late stage projects with the best game changing and/or disruptive ideas or concepts. There should be a clear route to commercialisation and economic impact.
Projects should aim to develop new products, processes or services (or innovative use of existing ones) believed to be significantly ahead of anything similar in the field.
Your proposal can come from any technology (including arts, design, media or creative industries) and any part of the economy.
Projects must focus on commercialisation, growth or scale up. Priority is given to proposals likely to lead to growth, gains in productivity and/or access to new overseas markets through export.
Projects should last up to 5 years, of which up to 3 years can focus on late stage research and development (R&D), and up to 2 more years on establishing a clear route to commercial success. Loan repayments will be required over a further period of up to 5 years.
Businesses must be able to show that they:
- can cover interest payments
- will be able to repay the loan on time
- need public funding
This is the first in a series of 3 open loan competitions. A further 2 competitions are planned later in the year.