Grant Hero - Innovate UK Funding Webinar (without Polls) (1)
This slide deck, presented by Mark Taylor – former Innovate UK employee, grant‑winning founder and co‑founder of GrantHero – provides a practical, step‑by‑step roadmap for UK businesses seeking Innovate UK funding. It begins with a brief personal background establishing credibility, then outlines the Innovate UK funding landscape, including departmental structure, annual allocation, core themes and technology families. The deck explains the three‑pillar eligibility framework (scope alignment, technical risk/innovation, impact) and walks through a live eligibility example using the Biomedical Catalyst 2025 competition. It details Innovate UK’s research categories and Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), linking each to typical funding rates (70‑100% for feasibility studies, 45% for experimental development). Guidance is given on locating relevant competitions, the components of a full application (innovation details, project plan, team, risk register, financials, appendices), and a set of seven actionable tips to improve success odds (scope alignment, genuine innovation, compelling business case, right team, strategic risk management, use of templates/tools, and obtaining free support). A concrete case study – Pinpoint – illustrates grant size, matched private investment, cost breakdown, and impact on runway and sales. The presentation also promotes a custom GPT “Grant Idea Evaluator” for rapid idea scoring, and provides contact information for further support via GrantHero, IUK Catapult Centres, and direct booking links.
Topics
Presenter Credibility: Mark Taylor’s Grant‑Winning Track Record
Overview of Mark Taylor’s background in product management, former Innovate UK role, personal grant successes, and current positions at Business Surrey, IOD, and GrantHero.
Innovate UK Funding Landscape: Structure, Allocation, and Themes
Explanation of Innovate UK’s place within UKRI, annual funding totals, core research councils, thematic focus areas (Net Zero, Healthcare, etc.) and the seven technology families.
Eligibility Framework: Scope, Technical Risk, and Impact
Three‑pillar criteria that assess alignment to competition scope, level of technical uncertainty/innovation, and expected commercial or societal impact, illustrated with a live eligibility walkthrough.
Research Categories & TRL Mapping to Funding Rates
Detailed matrix linking Innovate UK research categories (feasibility, industrial research, experimental development) and Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 2‑9) to typical grant percentages (70‑100% or 45%).
Finding the Right Competition: Tools and Example Call
Guidance on using Innovate UK’s competition search portal, subscription services, and a concrete example (Biomedical Catalyst 2025) showing dates, scope, and eligibility steps.
Application Blueprint: Required Sections and Appendices
Breakdown of the mandatory application components – innovation details, project plan, team bios, risk register, written narrative, financial forecast, and supporting appendices.
Seven Success Tips: From Scope Alignment to Free Support
Actionable checklist covering (1) strong scope alignment, (2) demonstrable genuine innovation, (3) compelling business case with market data, (4) right team and partners, (5) strategic risk management, (6) leveraging templates/tools, (7) accessing free IUK Catapult Centre support.