Analysis for innovators (A4I) round 5 is open!

Posted on: 08/08/2019

After four successful rounds, which between them have supported over 400 companies, Analysis for Innovators (A4I) Round 5 (Phase 1) has opened.

 

Analysis for Innovators (A4I) aims to help boost a company’s productivity or competitiveness. It achieves this by bringing the UK’s top scientists and facilities, often otherwise inaccessible, together with companies to address problems in innovative ways. UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £4 million to work with the best scientists and research facilities to resolve productivity and competitiveness issues. A4I has funded more than 100 projects.

 

Applications must describe the problem and estimate the value to the company of solving it. The current fifth round of the programme builds upon that experience. It continues to focus on brokering successful relationships between UK companies and the UK’s National Measurement Institutes and then grant-funding follow-on projects to address the company’s problems. Successful applicants at this expression of interest (EoI) phase will be invited to brokerage sessions with relevant analysis for innovators (A4I) partners, arranged by the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN). These will focus on approaches to solve the applicant’s problem. For more information on how to apply, click here.

 

Lien Ngo РInnovation Lead for Advanced Materials with Innovate UK Рsaid A4I round 4: “With just a video and short answers to three questions, the applicants in Round 4 had 90 minutes of time with one or more scientists, engineers and technical experts from globally-recognised government-funded laboratories. It may be the cheapest expert consultancy ever. Many companies met with more than one of the four A4I partners, and many partners sent more than one technical expert to the brokerage discussions with companies. The return on investment from that short application is better than anything I’ve seen yet.”

 

One projectundertaken under the A4I Programme was with The Coconut Collaborative Ltd (CCL), which manufactures Coconut Yogurt for the UK and a wide international market. Quality checks are required to ensure CCL maintains the high quality of product expected by its growing consumer base. The unwanted use of a barrel of coconut cream tainted by rancidity in the manufacture of coconut cream renders it unsuitable for sale and consumption. Due to the new screening approach supplied by specialists, engineers, and scientists, the company will avoid annual costs in excess of £500k through reduced production and material charges.

Analysis for Innovators (A4I) gives UK businesses access to cutting-edge R&D, expertise and facilities to help solve analysis or measurement problems that can’t be cracked using standard technologies and techniques. This popular funding programme is aimed at businesses of any size and, in the first instance, there is only needed to explain a problem to apply.

 

For more information on how to apply please click here. Applications close on the 4th of September!

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