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Competition brief: global cooperation feasibility studies

Updated 21 September 2016

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This competition is no longer open. Search current funding opportunities.

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-competition-global-cooperation-feasibility-studies/competition-brief-global-cooperation-feasibility-studies

1. Dates and deadlines

Competition opens 5 August 2016
Registration deadline Noon 21 September 2016
Application deadline Noon 28 September 2016

2. The competition scope

The aim of this competition is to support innovative UK small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to carry out short international cooperation feasibility studies. These studies should build new international business networks. This can enable commercial research and innovation partnerships, and future collaboration.

We are looking to increase the international engagement of innovative UK SMEs. The competition will focus on supporting companies that have strong innovative ideas.

The proposed activities or studies should show the development potential of an idea. They should also show the opportunities available from international partnerships and access to new markets. The feasibility studies can focus on any global market. You must explain the reasons for pursuing a specific market. Applications should also detail the potential impacts and follow-on activities envisaged.

The purpose of these studies is not to implement projects. It is to enable innovative UK SMEs to collaborate with other businesses, organisations and stakeholders (such as customers and/or end users). This will involve spending time abroad to develop ideas and explore market opportunities. Collaboration will help speed up the commercialisation of innovative ideas in fast-growing global markets.

There can be a link between the studies and market-focused innovation projects with private or public funding. For example, European programmes or Innovate UK’s Newton/Official Development Assistance funding activities, focused on funding new solutions to major global challenges.

We will fund SMEs to support the costs for their involvement in activities such as:

  • meetings with partners in the UK or other countries
  • travel and subsistence, including travelling abroad to meet partners, attend brokerage or exhibition events and gain a better understanding of market opportunities and user/customer needs
  • due diligence work on partners and markets
  • staff time for proof of market or concept work
  • sub-contracting services (limited to up to 10% of costs)

3. Projects that we won’t fund

In this competition, we are not funding projects led by anyone other than a UK-based SME.

4. Find out if you are eligible to apply

To lead a project, you must:

  • be a UK-based business
  • be an SME

5. Funding and project details

We have allocated up to £1.2 million to fund innovation projects in this competition.

An SME must lead the project. We will not fund the costs of potential project partners from other countries. But, where more than one UK SME is involved, the costs of each SME will be eligible, subject to appropriate justification.

You could get:

  • up to 70% of your eligible project costs if you are a small business
  • up to 60% if you are a medium-sized business

Find out if your business fits the EU definition of an SME.

We expect projects to last up to 4 months. We will fund projects with total eligible costs of up to £30,000 for each project. You must complete the work, incur and pay all costs before the end of March 2017.

6. How to apply

To apply:

We will not accept late submissions. Your application is confidential.

Read the general Guidance for Applicants carefully before you apply. It will help your chances of submitting a quality application.

7. Background and further information

Innovate UK helps UK innovators launch, build and grow successful businesses. Innovation is vital to future growth. As 95% of R&D and innovation takes place outside the UK, UK businesses need to access global knowledge, markets, skills and partners. Companies that internationalise have strong growth.

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