News story: Shanghai-UK collaboration on industry challenges: apply for funds

Innovate UK has up to £5 million to invest in UK businesses to work with partners in Shanghai municipality, People’s Republic of China on collaborative research and development projects that address industrial challenges.

The Science and Technology Commission Department of Shanghai Municipality will allocate funding for research and development companies in China. The programme is being delivered according to the 2016 memorandum of understanding signed between Innovate UK and the department.

Funding opportunities

Projects applying under this competition should meet one of the following 2 areas:

• future cities, in particular solutions that address the challenges brought on by rapid urbanisation, demographic and social change, resource scarcity and climate change
• transformational or disruptive innovation that lead to novel, new products, processes or services. These can be drawn from any technology, engineering or industrial area, but there is a particular interest in healthcare and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and energy and green technology

International collaboration for innovation

Innovation is vital for the future growth of businesses and the economy. Companies that internationalise are also known to have strong growth. With 95% of research, development and innovation taking place outside of the UK, businesses need to access global knowledge, markets, skills and partners.

Shanghai is an historic commercial and financial centre of China. It is a global hub for the life sciences with 13 of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies by turnover with operations in Shanghai, as well as playing a key role in China’s heavy industries and automotive manufacture.

In this competition there should be demonstrable benefits of cooperation between the UK and China for the participants from both countries.

Competition information

• this competition is open, and the deadline for registration is 21 June 2017
• projects must be business-led and involve at least one organisation from the UK and one from Shanghai. Academic and research entities in the UK are eligible to join as partners
• projects should last up to 36 months and range in size up to £500,000
• businesses could attract up to 70% of their project costs
• a webinar briefing event will be held on 21 April 2017 for potential applicants