Innovate UK, the Knowledge Transfer Network and the Enterprise Europe Network are hosting a briefing event for the second of two Open innovation loans competitions in the extension of the award-winning pilot programme, which is currently open for applications here.

Innovate UK is extending its pilot programme of loan competitions. A total of £50 million has been committed to 70 borrowers in the initial pilot and a further £25 million is available for business innovation projects. This is the second competition in the pilot extension. Innovate UK is working to broaden the range of innovation finance support available to businesses, so they can access funding at all stages of innovation. Innovation loans are for UK small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that want to scale up and grow through innovation, developing new or improved products, processes or services. They can be used for late-stage research and development (R&D) projects, which have not yet reached the point of commercialisation.

Innovate UK is to offer up to £10 million in loans to SMEs for innovative late stage projects. The aim of this competition is to provide loans to help SMEs to undertake innovative projects with strong commercial potential across any sector or industry. Innovation loans will offer affordable, patient, flexible, repayable funding for later-stage research & development projects with a clear route to commercial success.

The deadline for applications in this competition is noon on 27th November 2018.

The purpose of the briefing event is to provide vital information to enable businesses to decide if an innovation loan is appropriate for them and, if so, to develop a clear and compelling application that shows that they have an innovative project and are suitable for a loan.

Agenda

09:30 – Coffee & Registration

10:00 – Innovation loans overview: presentation from Innovate UK

10:45 – Financing growth through innovation: panel discussion including successful borrowers and local members of the innovation ecosystem including the Enterprise Europe Network

11:45 – How to write a compelling project application: presentation from the Knowledge Transfer Network

12:15 – Our approach to credit: presentation from Innovate UK Loans Ltd

13:00 – Networking lunch

14:00 – Close

Not able to attend? There will also be similar events across the UK:

• London – 21st October (Available via webcast)
• Newport – 22nd October
• Warwickshire - 23 October
• Worcestershire – 23rd October
• Tyne & Wear – 24th October
• Edinburgh – 4th November
• Aberdeen - 5th November
• Belfast – 6th November
• Londonderry – 6th November
• Essex – 8th November
• Cambridge – 8th November