Grant funding rounds are coming thick and fast in the first months of 2023.
Here is the first Catax Grant Tour for 2023, taking a look at the funding opportunities with deadlines in January, February, March and April.
This time, there are 13 grant competitions to consider, covering robotics in farming, medicine, nutrition and much more.
If any of these grant calls stand out to you, then get in touch. Even if you can’t see a competition that works for you yet, if funding is part of your strategy then it is always worthwhile getting grant ready.
1.
Grant: Made Smarter Innovation: Industry Ready Robotics and Automation
Maximum grant value: £2 million
Deadline: 5 April 2023
UK-registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £6 million from Innovate UK for late-stage robotics and automation innovation projects. This is to develop industrially ready solutions deployable within manufacturing processes in factories. This competition is open to collaborations only.
2.
Grant: Future Flight: Closing the Skills Gaps
Maximum grant value: £50,000
Deadline: 1 February 2023
The future flight challenge wants to develop initiatives that tackle skill gaps in the UK aviation industry. The purpose is to build awareness of emerging markets in flight and fill gaps in the UK workforce’s talent and training capabilities. Projects can focus on school engagement, apprenticeships and internships, upskilling the current workforce, vocational training or undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional development.
3.
Grant: DCMS Create Growth Fund: Competition 1
Maximum grant value: £30,000
Deadline: 8 February 2023
Grants are available to SMEs and micro businesses in the creative sector in Greater Manchester, the West of England, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Kent, Essex, East, West Sussex and the North East of England. The funding is designed to help creative businesses explore new innovation projects that have a route to commercialisation.
4.
Grant: Creative Catalyst 2023
Maximum grant value: £50,000
Deadline: 15 February 2023
This competition is open to SMEs and micro businesses in the creative industries, with the aim of helping them grow. Applicants should have a clearly innovative and ambitious idea that could create a new revenue stream. Proposals that are particularly encouraged are those that support the fashion industry’s transition to a circular model, improve transparency and accountability in online advertising, or create new revenue streams and fan engagement activities in the music sector. Projects that demonstrate how advanced digital technologies, including Metaverse, blockchain and AI, can transform the publishing sector are also encouraged.
5.
Grant: Biomedical Catalyst 2023 Round 1: Industry-led R&D
Maximum grant value: £2 million
Deadline: 1 March 2023
Grants are available to UK registered businesses developing innovative solutions to healthcare challenges. Projects can focus on disease prevention, management of chronic conditions, or earlier detection and diagnosis of disease. Other focuses can include tailored treatments or cures, development of digital health technologies or transforming the delivery of healthcare. Lead applicants must be a UK SM
6.
Grant: APC23: Industrialising Net-Zero Automotive Technology
Maximum grant available: £20 million
Deadline: 15 March 2023
This grant is looking for late-stage R&D projects that help accelerate the UK towards a net-zero automotive future. This competition is open to collaborations only. To lead a project your organisation must be a UK-registered business of any size. You must involve at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), and have evidence of a clear route to market.
7.
Grant: Farming Futures: Automation and Robotics
Maximum grant value: £1.5 million
Deadline: 15 March 2023
This grant aims to develop ways for automation and robotics to play a part in farming and agriculture. There are two strands, the first of which focuses on industrial robotics and automation research, while the second is dedicated to accelerating the deployment of these technologies. Businesses of any size can apply, but they must collaborate with other UK organisations.
8.
Grant: Better Food for All: Innovation for Improved Nutrition
Maximum grant value: £1 million (varies by strand)
Deadline: 29 March 2023
UK organisations can apply for a share of up to £20 million over the three strands of this competition, which aims to address significant nutrition challenges. Projects can focus on improving the nutritional quality of foods and ingredients, foods with health benefits, products aimed at particular demographics or plant-based alternative proteins. Funding is also available for schemes focusing on preservation, packaging and processed foods. Projects which have the potential to improve nutrition in commonly eaten products, including convenience and fast food, and which are affordable and accessible to all are particularly encouraged. Eligibility varies among the different strands, though UK businesses can lead projects in all three.
9.
Grant: Advancing Precision Medicine
Maximum grant value: £20 million
Deadline: 8 March 2023
There are two rounds to this competition, which looks to fund industry-led collaborative R&D projects focusing on developing digital and data-enabled tools as well as multi-modal approaches for more accurate diagnosis and treatment stratification. Your proposal must demonstrate how it addresses an unmet clinical need or responds to NHS demand signalling.
10.
Grant: Innovation Loans Future Economy Competition: Round 8
Maximum grant value: £25 million
Deadline: 8 March 2023
Businesses can apply for loans for innovative projects with strong commercial potential to significantly improve the UK economy. You must be able to show that you need public funding, can cover interest payments and will be able to repay the loan on time. This competition is open to single small and medium sized enterprise (SME) applicants registered in the UK.
11.
Grant: Novel, Low-Emission Food Production Systems: Feasibility Studies
Maximum grant value: £16 million
Deadline: 19 April 2023
This grant will support UK businesses to engage with and benefit from the UK’s excellent research base to grow and scale innovations. This competition is part of Innovate UK’s funding support for growing the future economy, as outlined in Innovate UK’s Plan for Action. This funding also includes the Better Food for All competition, early, mid and late stages. You must ensure you apply for the most relevant competition for your project.
12.
Grant: Innovate UK Smart Grants
Maximum grant value: £2 million
Deadline: 26 April 2023
UK-registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovations that can significantly impact the UK economy.
13.
Grant: Innovative Technologies for Intracellular Drug Delivery
Maximum grant value: £1 million
Deadline: 22 February 2023
The aim of this competition is to stimulate the development and manufacturing of a range of innovative formulations. Your grant proposal must show how it will improve the productivity, competitiveness and growth for at least one UK micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) involved in the project.
To enquire about making a grant application, call 0300 303 1903 or email Grants Regional Development Director, Chris Parkhurst, at Chris.Parkhurst@catax.com.