The UK has clear potential to become a world class destination of choice for advanced and sustainable manufacturing.
The three strategic imperatives for this vision are that UK materials and manufacturing will be:
- net zero and resource efficient
- resilient and responsive
- technologically advanced and digital
The Innovate UK materials and manufacturing vision 2050 provides background for the three strategic imperatives.
The aim of this competition is for UK materials and manufacturing organisations to be net zero, and resource efficient. We encourage simultaneous demonstrations on how the sectors will be more resilient, sustainable or technologically advanced.
We also encourage proposals for innovation in seaweed processing.
Your proposal must focus on at least one of the following:
- resource efficient and sustainable materials and manufacturing (including smart design and bio-based materials)
- seaweed processing innovation aiming to deliver a significant improvement in the yield, efficiency or value per tonne of seaweed processed using material that has either been harvested or cultivated in the UK and its territorial waters
Experience from similar competitions suggests that you could have a 20% chance of success.
Funding is subject to a sufficient number of high quality applications being received. Innovate UK reserve the right to adjust funding allocations for any of our competitions under exceptional circumstances, for example, in response to changes in policy, portfolio funding considerations, or broader government funding decisions.
For additional information, click here to watch a video briefing for the event (recorded 22 Sep).
Eligible Projects
Your project must:
- have total costs between £10,000 and £25,000
- have a grant funding request that matches your total project costs
- last between 1 and 2 months
- start on 1 February 2026
- end by 31 March 2026
Any funded organisation needs to carry out their project work in the UK and must intend to exploit the project results from or in the UK.
Themes
The aim of this competition is for UK materials and manufacturing organisations to be net zero and resource efficient. We encourage simultaneous demonstrations on how the sectors will be more resilient, sustainable or technologically advanced. We also encourage proposals for innovation in seaweed processing.
The use of captured carbon as a feedstock is in scope for both themes.
Your project must focus on one or both of the following themes.
Theme 1: Resource efficient and sustainable materials and manufacturing
You must aim for a significant improvement of resource efficiency and sustainability in UK materials and manufacturing, including increasing the use or re-use of bio-based feedstocks, chemical replacements, and circular products.
Theme 2: Seaweed processing
Your project must seek to test new technologies that aim to deliver a significant improvement in the yield, efficiency or value per tonne of algae processed using material (macroalgae, seaweeds, and microalgae), that has either been harvested or cultivated in the UK and its territorial waters.
Full information about the theme focuses are available on the Innovate UK Business Connect website.
Who can apply?
Your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size.
Subcontractors are allowed in this competition and are limited to no more than 50% of the project’s total eligible costs.
An eligible organisation can lead on one application only.
Grant funding in this competition is awarded as Minimal Financial assistance (MFA). This allows public bodies to award up to £315,000 to an enterprise in a three year rolling financial period; if your business has received more than this or the funding from this competition would take you over the £315,000, you will not be eligible.
More information and apply
You can see full information about the scope and eligibility of this call on the Innovate UK website.
The competition closes for entries on Monday 3 November at 11am.
You can see other open funding calls in our Funding Finder.
