Proposal Must:

• Show a clear path to market and a link to innovation.

• Prove capability to form a team for delivery.
• Establish registration in the UK as an SME by contract award time.
• Complete the aligned investment required through the investor partner.
• Demonstrate significant market impact, scalability, and attractiveness to equity investors upon funding.

Future Economy Focus Areas:

• Net zero
• Health and wellbeing
• Next generation digital tech and tech families

Encouragement:

• Applications from diverse backgrounds, especially those historically under-represented such as regions outside London, Oxford, and Cambridge; ethnic minorities; women; disabled people; and those with non-traditional educational backgrounds.

Specific Themes:

• Net Zero: Technologies such as offshore wind, hydrogen, civil nuclear, and more.
• Health and Wellbeing: Solutions to health challenges, cancer therapeutics, and digital mental health innovations.
• Next Generation Digital Tech: AI, machine learning, and other digital technologies for business productivity.
• No Limits (EDI): Innovations from under-represented founders or decision-makers.

Exclusions:

• Create Growth Programme (DCMS)
• Novel low-emission food production systems
• Farming Innovation (Defra)

Research Categories:

• Feasibility, industrial research, and experimental development projects.

Projects Not Funded:

• Projects not by SMEs
• Collaborative R&D projects
• Projects not part of growth plans

• Projects unable to show ROI and growth potential
• Projects not working with an investor from the selected pool