1. First, we assess your suitability for development or innovation funding
2. Then we gather data and information from you on your project
3. We write the grant application
4. You receive the grant money

Once you receive your grant, we can provide an experienced project manager to oversee the project and deal with the administration of the grant, allowing to you continue focusing on your business and ensuring the process is as efficient and stress free as possible.

Our team are experienced technology development and innovation specialists who have run their own businesses, which gives them a unique ability to understand what our clients need, as well as having a proven track record in successfully winning grants.

We know that each funding application is different, depending on the project scope and scale. We operate on a shared risk-basis where we negotiate a small setup fee and success bonus on a project by project basis. For example, an application for a £100k OPEN grant would incur a £2k setup fee and 10% success bonus.

Innovate UK’s new Sector based and OPEN funding competitions effectively replaces the previous SMART grant that was very popular among SMEs. Open grants are available twice a year and businesses can apply for anything between £25k and £1m. More info on Innovate UK website.

You can apply for the funding within one of four major sectors, or open funding that is open to all innovation projects:

• emerging and enabling technologies
• infrastructure systems
• health and life sciences
• manufacturing and materials
• open funding

The projects that eligible are divided into three categories:

• Market research (feasibility study, early days), £25k+ 100% funding
• Technical feasibility (proof of concept, proving the tech but no product yet), £25k-£1m, 50%-70% funded*
• Experimental development (prototype development, trialing the solution), up to £25k-£1m, 25%-45% funded*

*Match funding = Innovate UK will cover this percentage of the total project cost. For example, if you are a small company and your total project cost is £556k and you apply for Prototype Development (45% match), then Innovate UK will give you £250k and you will pay the other £306k.

Horizon 2020 is the EU’s largest ever research and innovation programme. Part this of program focuses on small to medium size businesses and technology innovation, making it ideal for games and creative digital companies who are developing technology products or services. Our grant application specialists can assess if your project is suitable, and help you apply.

Within the H2020 programme, there is a section called ‘The SME Instrument’, which has €3bn allocated to it between 2014-2020, specifically for SMEs (small to medium size businesses). Most of the rest of the funding is not suitable for SMEs. The SME Instrument has rolling submissions every 3 months, with an open brief. More info on H2020 SME Instrument website.

Within the SME Instrument there are 3 types of grants available:

• Phase 1 – Feasibility Assessment: Up to €50k
• Innovation Project: €500k-€2.5m
• Commercialisation: No fixed budget

Companies can apply for all of them or just for one. All grants are 70% match funded* (in some exceptional cases they may fund 100%).

*Match funding = The fund will cover this percentage of the total project cost. For example, if your total project cost is £1m, then they will pay £700k (70% match) and you will fund the other £300k.