Innovative business ideas for new products: apply for funding

Up to £25 million is available through Innovate UK’s Smart programme to invest in innovative business projects across any technology area.

Smart is an open grant funding programme that supports the best UK business ideas whatever area they come from.

Projects must be game-changing in their field

Projects must show that they will exploit game-changing ideas to develop new products, processes and services that will have significant economic impact.

We are particularly looking for ideas that have significant potential for global markets. Projects should also make sure they take account of customer and user needs.

Applications can come from any area of technology, science and engineering and can include the arts, design, media and creative industries.

They can be in line with the grand challenges of the government’s Industrial Strategy, but we also welcome game-changing ideas from outside these areas.

Competition information

• the competition opens on 9 January 2020, and the deadline for applications is at midday on 22 April 2020
• businesses of any size may apply, and all applications must include a micro, small or medium-sized company
• projects can range in size from £25,000 to £2 million and last between 6 and 36 months