Duncan McNeill-McCallum

🔈 Digital Innovation Fund Open Call - Funding Available to support digitisation in the manufacturing sector. Made Smarter Innovation - Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (funded by Innovate UK) is supporting manufacturers to capitalise on the productivity and growth gains that come with adopting the latest data-led digital technologies. 💡 Rapid Demonstrator - grant funding up to 50K 💡 National Lighthouse - grant funding up to 315K Projects should focus on manufacturing productivity, efficiency, sustainability, resilience and collaboration in order to: ☑ Gather, create, communicate, and deliver new knowledge ☑ Validate existing products, services and processes facilitate professional development ☑ Deliver business impact in real-life contexts For more info and application forms visit - https://smdh.uk/funding Closing date: 27th May 2024 #datadriven #smartmanufacturing #industry4 #iot #funding

15

Following the launch of the The Role of Professional Service Providers in Realising a Net-Zero Future Report, CAFA are attending the first country-level launch event on Tuesday the 29th of October, 2024. 🕒 8:30am - 10:30am (with networking until 11:30am) 📍 The Conduit Club, 6 Langley Street, London, WC2H 9JA The critical work seeks to align advice for the often-overlooked professional service sectors, like law, architecture, consulting, and advertising. And, offers key action areas for us to use our influence to drive climate action and accelerate the journey to net zero. CAFA were a part of the working group behind the report and collaborates closely with professional bodies representing PSPs (both firms and individuals). We recognise the critical role PSPs play in advancing meaningful climate action and shaping their clients' decisions and activities.  Event Highlights: - Explore ‘Serviced Emissions’ and key action areas with Oxford Net Zero and Race to Zero - A panel discussion with leaders from sectors already implementing the key action areas, paving the way for widespread adoption - Networking with C-suite leaders from professional service sectors 🔗 Professional bodies can register for the event here: https://lu.ma/w45xkjhy 📃 Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/e3iw5wxs #ClimateActionforAssociations #ProfessionalServiceProviders #ClimateAction #ClimateLeadership #Sustainability #ProfessionalBodies #RacetoZero #NetZero Alison Heppenstall b2b

1

Innovate UK and Catapults supporting innovative SMEs to scale their ideas and business 📈 We are today announcing a pilot scheme that will enable the Innovate UK Catapult Network to support innovative SMEs with disruptive technology in the early stages of their investment journey. The scheme combines convertible loans with wrap-around Catapult support, helping high risk early-stage UK start-ups deliver the proofs needed to secure equity investment from the market. The first three investments will go to Extend Robotics which will work with Digital Catapult, Evoralis which will work with CPI, one of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult centres, and an AI in Drug Discovery company working with the Medicines Discovery Catapult. Innovate UK’s Catapult Network provides a unique combination of cutting-edge R&D facilities and world class technical expertise to support UK business innovation. They are a critical element of Innovate UK’s portfolio of Products and Services – our overall offer to drive business innovation in the UK. Over the coming months, Innovate UK and the Catapults will develop a scalable pilot aiming to make at least 10 investments in 2024/25. This new initiative will enhance national capability across the UK, accelerating commercialisation and the early adoption of technologies and new approaches.

188

7 Comments

Tech report: Scotland 💡  Discover the full report ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eKzK79J2 🔗      Sponsored by KPMG UK.   #report #Scotland #techhubs #investors #startups #innovation #subsectors #fintech #techinnovation #funding #softwaredevelopment #UKtech

12

Kym at the Buckinghamshire Business First workshop, Presenting 'Top Tips – Grant preparation and application techniques' with Emma Fadlon, Investment Projects Lead and Programme Director CyberASAP, Innovate UK. One top tip: get advice on how to present your business case - not all innovators are experts on how to prepare a cash flow forecast!

2

1 Comment

The Innovate UK Investor Partnerships: SME round 7 is open for applications! This competition aims to support UK registered SMEs R&D efforts and provide the capital investment needed to bring the innovations to market. Despite the relatively open nature of previous rounds, in Round 7 only specific themes are included with remaining funding available in the following topics: ⚕️Health and wellbeing - Advancing life-changing cancer therapeutics, focussed on immunotherapies and paediatric oncology (Cancer Therapeutics) - The application of extended reality for digital mental health, including immersive content that could be delivered as a digital mental health therapeutic in formal healthcare settings. 🎨 Next generation digital technologies - Projects within the creative industries which are underpinned by innovative digital technology as well as sustainable innovations, such as circular fashion (Creative Catalyst) Providing that you fit one of the above themes, chance of success through the Investor Partnership programme in our experience will be excellent and substantially higher than other ‘bottom up’ schemes. However, before submitting an application, you must secure interest from one of the listed investors. For some applicants, there may be an existing relationship with one of the investors. If not, then it can take some time to find the right one for your business. Ask questions about their experience with the scheme, the process, level of funding that they would be prepared to offer, likely requirements in the due diligence process. Once interest has been secured , they will be required to complete an EOI form that must be submitted alongside the Innovate UK grant application. The full list of investor partners can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ehARb-dq The clock is ticking for the current round with a deadline for applications of 19th June. We can help you evaluate if your innovative project idea is suitable for this funding (and other schemes). Our experts would be happy to make time to talk to you. Feel free to contact us via: +44 (0)161 488 34 88 or info.UK@pnoconsultants.com. #Investor #Innovation #ResearchAndDevelopment #research #SME

8

Our new VCs Backing Sustainable UK Scale-Ups report is available to download 🎉 Get the full lowdown on the top investors backing ESG-driven startups and scale-ups – from industry mainstays like Balderton Capital and Octopus Ventures to relative newcomers like 2150 👇 #VentureCapital #Investment #Sustainable

17

FUTURE ECONOMY: Investor partnerships are aimed at supporting SMEs that seek support for R&D projects through Innovate UK grant funding and that also seek aligned investment from investor partners. Innovate UK currently has 115 investor partners, who are described in a directory 👉 https://lnkd.in/eaA83Sck The broad theme areas for this Investor partnership are: ▪ net zero ▪ health and wellbeing ▪ next generation digital technologies and technology families Potential SME applicants will be able to apply for grant funding for: ➡ feasibility studies, which can have eligible project costs from £50,000 to £300,000, can last between 6 and 12 months and will have grants of up to 70%, with at least the same amount of aligned investment from or led by an investor partner ➡ industrial research projects, which can have eligible project costs from £100,000 to £1 million, can last between 6 and 15 months and will have grants of up to 70%, with at least the same amount of aligned investment from or led by an investor partner ➡ experimental development projects, which can have eligible project costs from £250,000 to £2 million, can last between 12 and 15 months and will have grants of up to 45% for micro and small businesses or up to 35% for medium sized businesses, with at least twice the amount of aligned investment from or led by an investor partner Competition closes: Wednesday 15 May ❌ More details on how to apply 👉 https://lnkd.in/ebqmReR4 Are you thinking of entering this Investor Partnership but need a helping hand with your application? 💡 Innovaction Global's team is ready to boost your chances of success, get in touch via our website. https://lnkd.in/ewzjEM8w #investorpartnership #futureeconomy #netzero #SME #innovation #innovactionglobal #investment #innovateuk #partnership #economu #grant #privateequity

4

ECONOMIC IMPACT: Innovate UK is offering up to £25 million in loans to innovative SMEs 💷 The innovation loans are for highly innovative late stage research and development (R&D) projects with the best potential for the future. 💰 You can apply for a loan of between £100,000 and £2 million to fund your project’s eligible costs. Your project must: ✔ lead to innovative new products, processes or services that are significantly ahead of others currently available, or propose an innovative use of existing products, processes or services. It can also involve a new or innovative business model. ✔ focus on one or more of the future economy areas included in the Innovate UK plan for action. ✔ demonstrate a compelling innovative idea. ✔ show a clear route to commercialisation and economic impact. Competition details 👉 https://lnkd.in/ePbDZYCs Competition closes: Wednesday 28 August 2024 ⌛ Ever wondered what it’s like to receive expert knowledge and guidance whilst writing your Innovate UK application? At Innovaction Global we are here to ensure you receive this, reach out to us 🌐 https://lnkd.in/ewzjEM8w #innovationloans #success #guidance #innovateuk #innovactionglobal #funding #innovation #economy

5

Our latest blog for industry partner - techSPARK uk - explains how innovation funding in the tech sector can help to support growth. https://lnkd.in/e2xzABj4 #innovation #tech

8

As we mark the 30th anniversary of the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), it's clear how this key tax efficient investment scheme has bolstered innovation and supported startups in the UK. Since its launch in 1994, the EIS has attracted over £32 billion in private investment into more than 56,000 startups, helping to launch and grow successful companies like Revolut and Deliveroo and providing investors with over £9 billion in tax reliefs. In our latest article, we explore the following topics: ✅ The power of EIS to transform innovation ✅ The EIS's role in driving economic growth and job creation ✅ The siginifcant tax benefits the EIS has provided for investors over the years ✅ The bright future for the EIS Read it in full here: https://hubs.la/Q02Qzkx20

15

1 Comment

A strategic position paper for UK industry PEUK have published a strategy paper, highlighting how the Power Electronic sector can support UK economic growth and deliver on key Government policy objectives in line with HMG’s Invest 2035 industrial strategy. The process started with initial roundtable discussions followed by a SWOT analysis, survey, and interviews during the first half of this year to prepare the paper, highlighting the opportunities presented by the PE sector in the UK, to arrive at a set of recommendations as to how to exploit those opportunities and deliver UK growth as an input to the wider debate about Industrial Strategy. This paper is now available to download. Thank you to all those who contributed to this work. https://lnkd.in/e6EZGZb9 Simon Hart Pete James Phil Surman Phil Mawby Phil Townsend Sean Worrall Richard Gibson Mike Jennings Nigel Jakeman Paul Jarvie John Boston Charles Sturman Ben Jackson Jerome Perrier Colin Davidson Volker Pickert Steve Riches Geoff Haynes Alex Stewart Derek Boyd Will Drury Matt Boyle OBE FREng Ali Kazerooni Graeme Bathurst Praneet Bhatnagar Peter Green, PMP Imran Agha Mike Fletcher Iain Mosely Paul Hoy Chris Williams Jillian Hughes David Clark Dr Sven Knowles Ingo Lüdtke Paul Huggett Roozbeh Bonyadi, PhD Phillip White Jon King

48

5 Comments

🚨 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀: 𝗦𝗠𝗘 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟴💡 ⚖️ 𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗲: Your project’s total costs will depend on your research category and must be between £50,000 and £300,000 for feasibility studies, £100,000 and £1 million for industrial research, £250,000 and £2 million for experimental development. 🔓 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀: 20 June 2024 🔐 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀: 14 August 2024 at 11:00am Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, has selected a pool of investor partners. These investor partners have demonstrated that they have the credibility, capability, capacity and appetite to invest in innovative, technology-led businesses that align with our programmes. These programmes will focus on the future economy as described in our plan for action. The future economy investor partnership programme brings together: 1️⃣ Innovate UK’s expertise in identifying innovation and using grant funding to change the risk profile of businesses 2️⃣ investor partners’ aligned funding and expertise in identifying opportunities and teams that can best use extra investment finance Read more on the Government website via the link below👇 https://hubs.la/Q02CMSjk0 If you are looking for support with your grant application, you can book a free consultation call with one of our experts. Book using the link below 👇 https://hubs.la/Q02CMRjJ0

4

We are excited to announce the launch of Foresight Ventures VCT Plc, following the merger of Thames Ventures VCT 1 Plc and Thames Ventures VCT 2 Plc. Foresight Ventures VCT invests into a portfolio of emerging tech growth companies developing innovative and disruptive technologies which address the large market opportunity presented by some of the world’s greatest current challenges. For more information, including how to submit an application online, click here: https://lnkd.in/eayzMYFB Read the RNS here: https://lnkd.in/en4xcCAk #VCT #VentureCapital #Fundraising

57

2 Comments