IUK Launches Grants for New Manufacturing Hubs

Innovate UK (IUK) is investing in organisations to set up and manage two new manufacturing innovation hubs, through two separate funding competitions.

One competition is investing in a hub focusing on manufacturing supply chains, digitally optimised and integrated from end-to-end. The other will invest in a smart factory hub focusing on manufacturing operations within the factory, looking to digitally enable and connect operations from the factory floor through to the enterprise level.

The purpose of the hubs is to enable a dramatic transformation of UK manufacturing through the use of digital technologies, increasing UK productivity growth, flexibility, resilience and sustainability. They will develop a national network or cluster of existing facilities, accessible by industry to develop, demonstrate and test solutions, aiding the innovation and deployment of innovative digital systems.

Grant funding of up to £10 million (Digital Supply Chain competition), and up to £20 million (Smart Factory competition) will be provided for organisations to set up and run the hubs over the four years of their lifetimes (June 2021 to March 2025).

The competitions are open to single applicants and collaborations. To lead a project or work alone the organisation must be a UK registered business of any size, not-for-profit, public sector organisation, academic institution or research and technology organisation (RTO). Applicants must have experience and insights into the use of digital technologies for smart manufacturing and be able to manage a complex network of demonstration, living lab and test bed facilities.

Both competitions close to applications on 13 January 2021 (11:00 GMT).

More information about this funding opportunity and the application process is available on the GRANTfinder funding information platform. GRANTfinder provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on funding news and policy. To find out more about how GRANTfinder can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.