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Innovate UK

https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/

Mission
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s national innovation agency.  Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate

Budget
Approximately €1.9 billion per year core funding – with approximately the same amount of funding again used to deliver programmes on behalf of a range of UK Government departments and other organisations.

Activities
Innovate UK provides a broad range of R&D and innovation support which includes the following –

  • Funding and financing
    • Grants to single companies and collaborations for R&D and innovation projects. These are delivered through challenge type programmes as well as more technology focused competitions.
    • Innovation loans to single companies
    • Investor partnerships – combination of grants and investment from private investors.
    • Pre-commercial procurement contracts through Contracts for Innovations (was previously called SBRI)
  • Innovation support
  • Innovate UK Business Growth – provides tailored advisory support to innovative UK SMEs looking to grow and scale in the UK and globally. Over 450 innovation and growth specialists across the UK work with businesses on an individual basis providing a range of support against the needs of the business.  Innovate UK Business Growth portfolio includes the IUK Scaleup programme and membership of the Enterprise Europe Network.
  • Innovate UK Business Connect – helps businesses connect with experts outside their usual networks and industry, including with academics, government and other businesses. Was previously the Knowledge Transfer Network.
  • Catapult centres – not-for-profit, independent technology and innovation centres that connect businesses with the UK’s research and academic communities. They were established and are overseen by Innovate UK to bring together the best people in their fields.
  • Global programmes – includes programmes to accelerate the global journey of high growth and scaling business such as the Global Business Innovation Programme and Global Incubator Programme as well as bilateral R&D funding calls and supporting businesses through membership of Eureka. Innovate UK also has a number of National Contact Points – helping businesses access opportunities through Horizon Europe.

Innovate UK looks to ensure a dynamic innovation ecosystem in the UK and works with a range of partners such as the British Business Bank, London Stock Exchange Group and the ScaleUp Institute.   It also covers areas such as design, responsible innovation, innovation talent and skills, and Equality, diversity and inclusion.

Staff
Approximately 900.  A number of functions (e.g. project assessors and monitoring) are contracted out, so are not included in the staff number. Most staff have a business background.

Contact
David Golding
Head of Global Innovation Partnerships
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1FL
UK

E-mail: David.golding@iuk.ukri.org