Smart is the new name for Innovate UK’s ‘Open grant funding’ programme.
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing up to £25 million in the best game-changing and commercially viable innovative or disruptive ideas. All proposals must be business focused.
Applications can come from any area of technology and be applied to any part of the economy, such as but not exclusively:
Whilst we welcome projects that overlap with the grand challenge areas, this is not a requirement, as we are also keen to support projects in other areas.
Your application must include at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
Your project must start no later than October 2020 and end no later than October 2023.
Your project must follow different rules depending on its duration:
If you want to submit a project between 19 months and 36 months with total project costs between £2 million and £3 million as a permitted exception, you must email support@innovateuk.ukri.org. You must give full justification at least 10 days before the competition closes. Do not submit your application until IUK write to approve your request.