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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.

Cement factory in Cumbria UK

»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

Updates to this page

Published 30 October 2019