Funding for Innovation in Manufacturing, Materials & Engineering

1. Local R&D Funding for Manufacturers
How to get started
Noel Brown
26 June 2018

2. IR&D Escalator – Investni.com

3. Design For Business
• DesignAdvice
• DesignActive
• DesignForward
• DesignAwareness
Please contact your Client Executive for more details or call 0800 181
4422 and ask for DesignAdvice.

4. Innovation Vouchers
 Worth up to £5000 - allows SMEs to access expertise from a public sector Knowledge
Provider (KP)
 Helps businesses to innovate, develop and grow.
 Typical projects include:
 Ideas for new or improved products, processes & services
 Product and service testing
 Access to information and expertise on new materials
 Tapping into research and scientific expertise
 KP - Universities, Colleges, Institutes of Technology and other public funded research bodies
 The Scheme is open to Invest NI clients and the wider business community.

5.  4 calls for applications per year.
 Individual SMEs may apply or collaborative groups (up to 5) may apply for a
‘pooled’ voucher to solve a common issue.
 Businesses may receive up to 3 vouchers for different projects but can only
have one ‘live’ voucher at any time.
 1st voucher (100% funded)
 2nd voucher (80% funded)
 3rd voucher (70% funded)
 Applicants pay all VAT
*Medium enterprises should not have received assistance through Invest NI’s R&D programme in the
past 5 years
Innovation Vouchers

6. Technical Advisory Unit (TAU)
 Mechanical
 Materials
 Electronic
 Chemists
 Software
 Quality systems
 Intellectual Property

8.  Who: Invest NI Client companies - SMEs only
 What: Investigating new technologies or processes
Product & process problem resolution
Product approvals eg. VCA; TuV; UL; CE Marking
Product/process improvement
Management systems eg. ISO9001; ISO27001; BRC;
Intellectual Property eg. Patents; Trademarks; licensing agreements
 How: Solutions provided by external suppliers of your choice
 Eligible Project cost range: £1,000 – £ 40,000
 Rate: 50%
 Cap: £10,000 (maximum TDI grant)
 Maximum of £15,000 of TDI grant support in a rolling 12 month period subject to Client Executive
approval
 Apply by completing TDI application form and submitting with quote from your chosen supplier
Technical Development Incentive (TDI)

9.  Aimed at proving the product and/or market.
 Concept Grants: Quarterly call for up to £10k grants to accelerate
product/solution validation and early prototype developments.
 Pathfinder Grants: Bi-annual call for up to £25k grants for
prototype/product refinement and further customer development.
 https://www.techstartni.com/grants
Proof of Concept – Techstart NI

10. IR&D Escalator – Investni.com

11.  Invest NI’s main R&D support mechanism, majority ERDF funded
 Project Definition and Main Grant for R&D
 Support technically challenging projects with potential for positive impact on Northern
Ireland economy
 Must incentivise new/additional R&D activity
 Project theme created by the customer not by Invest NI
 Support rates based on company size, level of innovation - collaboration encouraged
 Match funding required
Grant for R&D

12. Project Definition
 Help plan and define the project. This can include:
A scientific and/or technical literature review
Defining the market opportunity
Defining the technical objectives and risks
Defining the costs of the R&D and understanding the financial implications
Determining the potential benefits
 Funding capped at £30k (£15k for applying to IUK/H2020) of grant and a guidance of 5-
10% of main R&D project costs
 £24 hour labour rates
First region to get EU Commission approval
The actual employee(s) labour rate is vouched

13. Main Grant for R&D
R&D involves trials and testing with an uncertain outcome – inherently risky!
Can include:
Research or critical investigation aimed at producing new scientific or technical knowledge
Product or process development or improvements
Development of leading edge technology
Linking to a college, university or other company to collaborate on strategically important
projects

14.  Funding for Invest NI clients and potential clients - any size of business
 Caters for projects seeking grants <£50k and >£50k
 More detailed application form for >£50k
 Grant rates depend on; funding need, size of company and type of R&D
 Approval times dependant on size of project and information provided
 Support to prepare an application provided by Invest NI Innovation Advisors
- free of charge!
Grant for R&D

15.  Internal staff time/labour
 Consultancy
 Sub-contracting
 Materials
 Trials & Testing
 Intellectual Property
 Equipment Depreciation
 Travel & Accommodation
Grant for R&D Eligible Costs

16. Invest NI’s criteria for funding
Additionality
Strategic Fit
Level of Innovation
Mobility
Displacement
Viability – technical and financial
Risk
Value for Money for the Northern Ireland Economy

17. Aspects of Successful Applications
Project
 Level of Innovation
 Technical Risk and R&D Challenge
 Potential to create IP
 Exploitation Potential
 Company & Economic Benefit
Company / Applicant
 Management Ability & Staff Expertise
 Additionality
 Viability
 Track Record

18. IR&D Escalator – Investni.com

19. Targeting External Funding
 Economy 2030 – Industrial Strategy for Northern Ireland
 Northern Ireland Executive Innovation Strategy 2014
 Northern Ireland Horizon 2020 Strategy – target €145m
Enterprises that participate in National & EU projects:
 Increase their R&D and innovation capability by tapping into a broader knowledge base
 Gain access to national/international networks
 Faster access to new markets and customers
 Have access to qualified staff
 Increase their reputation and visibility on an national/EU level
 Receive attractive rates of funding - Horizon 2020 – up to 100% direct costs/25% overheads

20. Innovate UK
 Innovate UK are the UK’s innovation agency.
 Mission is to accelerate UK economic growth
through funding and connecting business-led
innovation throughout the UK
 Invest NI are partnering with Innovate UK to support NI
engagement

21.  EEN is funded by the European Commission, and in the UK, Innovate UK
 Global network facilitating innovation, collaboration and internationalisation
 65 countries, 600 partner organisations, 3000 staff
 Online database with thousands of brokered opportunities for business and research
collaboration www.enterprise-europe.co.uk
 Brokerage events at many international trade fairs
 Technology missions to centres of expertise
 Help SMEs improve their Innovation Management
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)

22. Horizon 2020
 The EU’s biggest ever programme for Research and Innovation
 €77 billion over 7 years
 Biennial work programmes
 Programme calls are competitive
 Mainly “top down” where the Commission defines the European “challenge” to be met
 Requirement for collaborative bids - 3 independent entities in 3 participating countries
(some exceptions e.g. SME instrument
 Invest NI is a UK NCP for SMEs and can provide support for applications to the SME
instrument and Fast Track to Innovation

24. Horizon 2020 covers the full innovation chain
Excellent
Science
Industrial
Leadership
Societal
Challenges
Basic
Research Technology
R&D
Large Scale
Validation
Demonstration
Prototyping Pilots
Market
outputs

25.  Promote external funding opportunities from Innovate UK and Horizon 2020
 Identify the most appropriate funding scheme for innovative businesses’ ideas and
research needs
 Provide advice on UK and EU funding rules, regulations and eligibility criteria
 Assist businesses to find the right partners
 Signpost to further specialist events and advice (EEN, KTN, NCP)
 Invest NI financial support for proposal preparation
Innovate UK/ Horizon 2020 - IRD can help:

26. IR&D Escalator – Investni.com

27. Competence Centres
Collaborative, strategic research, led by industry and resourced by qualified researchers
Higher-risk, longer-term research with funding typically 5 years
Stimulate Collaborative R&D and contribute to the “market focussed technology innovation
communities” envisaged by MATRIX
CASE, CHIC, NIAECC and Agri-Food Quest
Link to Innovate UK and Horizon 2020

28. Stay connected – Invest NI
can help you access the
right funding for your ideas!