Innovate UK, the Knowledge Transfer Network and the Enterprise Europe Network are hosting a briefing event for the first of two Open innovation loans competitions in the extension of the pilot programme, which is currently open for application.

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, with two further competitions in the pilot to run in July and September 2019. 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 game-changing innovations 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 registration for this competition is 11th September 2019 and the application deadline is noon on 18th September 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, the Enterprise Europe Network and local members of the innovation ecosystem

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

Can't attend? There will also be similar events across the UK:

23rd July - Brighton

24th July - London (Available via webcast)

25th July - Sheffield

30th July - Daresbury

Innovation Loans Open Competition Briefing Event: July 2019 (Midlands)