Innovation Vouchers: Technology Strategy Board (TSB)
Innovation Vouchers are designed to encourage businesses to look outside their current network for new knowledge that can help them to grow and develop.
Start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses from across the UK can apply for an Innovation Voucher.
A grant of up to £5000 is available to businesses to work with a supplier for the first time and is used to pay for knowledge or technology transfer from that supplier.
The voucher has three key criteria:
- The idea that you want help with should be a challenge for your business that means you need to look for specialist help
- This should be the first time that you have worked with the knowledge supplier
- Your idea should be applicable to one of the three priority sectors: Agrifood, Built Environment and Energy, Water and Waste
For more information: https://vouchers.innovateuk.org/
Innovation Vouchers: Universities South West (USW)
An Innovation Voucher provides funding for your business to work with an external expert from a University, College or Public Sector Research Establishment for the first time, gaining new knowledge to help your business innovate, develop and grow.
Key information
- Available if you are a start-up, micro, small and medium-sized business (as defined by the EC*) located anywhere in the South West England Competitiveness Area (not Cornwall)
- Your idea should be innovative
- Your business should be in an ERDF-eligible sector (i.e. not agri-food, textiles or retail)
- Up to 40% support for projects with a total value ranging from £3,000 to £10,000 for your business to buy in external expertise to develop ideas and improve performance
- Open for applications at any time between 1 October 2012 to early in 2015
What kinds of activities can be funded?
We are interested in any innovative approach to the specific challenge you identify. We can support most types of innovation - for example ideas for new or improved products, processes and services, or using design to improve your business. The key issue you need to be clear on is that this should represent a real innovative challenge for your business, not just a small improvement or change to what you currently do.
For more information: http://universitiessouthwest.ac.uk/newsampinfo/tabid/122/newsId/275/Default.aspx
For a list of all available Innovation Vouchers, check here: https://vouchers.innovateuk.org/innovation-vouchers-listing
