Transforming foundation industries: apply for a fast start project
UK businesses can apply for a share of £5 million for fast start projects to improve the resource and energy efficiency of foundation industries.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp aim of this competition is to bring businesses from different foundation industries together to work on common resource and energy efficiency opportunities.
Foundation industries are:
- cement
- paper
- glass
- ceramics
- metals
- bulk chemicals
We will fund cross-sector and collaborative research and development projects aimed at improving the productivity and competitiveness of the sectors� companies and supply chains, and encourage companies to stay in the UK.
Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £5 million in innovation projects for the foundation industries through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.
Project details
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappse will be cross-sector, collaborative, fast start, short duration, industrial research and development (R&D) projects.
Your project can focus on any part of the manufacturing process, including:
- feedstock inputs
- production
- material product development
Your project must not focus on fuel switching or technologies for the capture of emissions, such as carbon capture and storage.
Eligibility
Your project must:
- have total eligible costs between £50,000 and £500,000
- be collaborative
- be led by a UK registered business of any size, or a research and technology organisation
- include at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
- include at least 2 businesses, of any size, from at least 2 foundation industry sectors
- last between 3 and 12 months
- be ready to start in July 2020
You do not need to be in the foundation industries to lead the consortium.
Competition timeline
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp competition is open for applications and closes on 5 February 2020 at midday.
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappre are briefing events for potential applicants:
- 14 November 2019: London
- 20 November 2019: Wales
- 21 November 2019: Northern Ireland
- 22 November 2019: Online
- 27 November 2019: Scotland