Innovate UK Funding

Who is Innovate UK?

Innovate UK is the UK's innovation agency. They help businesses drive productivity and economic growth by supporting them to commercialise new products, processes and services.

Find out more about the latest Innovate UK funding opportunities.

Innovate UK Smart Grants

Innovate UK Smart Grants are another Innovate UK funding scheme providing research and development funding for disruptive, innovative projects in any industry sector.

Smart grants support projects that demonstrate:

Game-changing Innovative developments that can support disruptive new products, processes or services
High growth potential with a significant return on investment
A clear and deliverable business plan with the potential to positively impact the UK’s productivity and competitiveness in the global economy

Smart Grants can support; feasibility studies, Industrial Research or Experimental development. With project costs between £100K and £2M, these can be substantial developments as part of a wider consortium of partners.

The Knowledge Exchange team at the University of Derby can support you to access Innovate UK funding and collaborate with our academic teams, utilising our world-leading research and technology to gain a competitive edge.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

One of Innovate UK’s most successful and long-standing funding schemes is the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP). The KTP scheme supports your business to collaborate with academics at the University of Derby to tackle a specific business challenge. Through access to University; research, knowledge and Technology, we will collaboratively develop a solution that supports your business to grow and launch new products or services onto the market.

Who can take part in KTP?

The scheme will support UK-based businesses or Charities (of any size), all you need is a clearly defined business challenge or opportunity.

How long is a KTP?

Each KTP can be between 12 to 36 months long.

How is a KTP project delivered?

As part of the KTP, together we will recruit a high-calibre recent graduate (known as the Associate) who will be employed by the University but based full-time at your company to deliver the project under the supervision of an academic team.

The University provides ongoing support for the duration of the project to ensure the successful delivery of objectives and outcomes for the partnership.

Collaborative Innovate UK Projects

Find out about some of the KTPs we've recently completed or are currently working on.

Measuring the economic impact of Chatsworth House

A team involving economists from our University and a graduate, have developed a way to measure the economic impact of Chatsworth and the wider Devonshire Group.

Pink and purples wildflowers in a meadow

Helping Derbyshire Wildlife Trust develop new commercial services

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has chosen to work with our University on a new, two-year Management Knowledge Transfer Partnership (MKTP). This will help the Trust establish a business model for ...

hand over a graphic depiction of an algorithm

Developing machine learning for a financial technology firm

We're working with Aquis to develop machine learning capabilities that will help them monitor trading behaviour and identify abuses within financial markets.

Cars driving along road next to One Friar Gate Square's copper building

Bringing better business intelligence to the automotive sector

Computer science researchers from our University are working with FP Solutions, a business intelligence provider to the motor trader, on a 30-month Knowledge Transfer Partnership.

3D Printing for a major rolling stock leasing company

The major rolling stock leasing company, Porterbrook, wanted to resolve an issue with the handrails on its trains.

Contact us

If you would like to find out how your business can work with the University of Derby and apply for Innovate UK funding, our Knowledge Exchange team can support you and how you can collaborate with our academic teams.

Get in touch with our team