Summary of the latest funding competitions and support for Digital, Creative & Design startups and SMEs.

1. Creative, Digital & Design
Business Briefing
A digest of useful information for UK businesses seeking
funding and support, updated monthly
September 2016
@KTN_Creative

2. If you think there’s something that we've missed…
please let us know: cdd@ktn-uk.org

3. Contents
• Feature
• Innovate UK funding calls
• Horizon 2020
• Public funding
• Events
• Private financing
• Support organisations
• Personal Data Network

4. ***Feature***
AR/VR and Wearable Technology Marketplace
Rolls-Royce, Innovate UK and Knowledge Transfer Network working in
Partnership
Tuesday, 27 September 2016 from 10:00 to 16:00 (BST)
If you want to learn about how AR and Wearables could help your
business, come and join us for a day of presentations, showcases
and demo's from some of the UK's leading AR/VR businesses

5. Key feature: Innovate UK is investing up to £15 million in innovation
projects to stimulate the new products and services of tomorrow. The
aim of this competition is to help businesses innovate to find new
revenue sources. Proposals should show how to achieve a step change
in business growth, productivity and export opportunities for at least one
UK small and medium-sized enterprise (SME).
Competition Closes: applicants must register before noon on 30
November 2016 and apply before noon on Wednesday 7 December 2016.
More info at gov.uk
Emerging and Enabling Technologies
Innovate UK funding calls

6. Key feature: Innovate UK is to invest up to £15 million in innovation
projects in the infrastructure systems sector. The aim of this competition is
to encourage the development of business-led innovative solutions that will
help provide: affordable, sustainable and secure energy, connected
transport, urban living, integrated infrastructure and resilience of
infrastructure to environmental and social pressures.
Competition Closes: applicants must register before noon on 14
September 2016 and apply before noon on Wednesday 21 September
2016.
You can watch a recording of the 12 July briefing event here.
More info at gov.uk
Innovation in infrastructure systems
Innovate UK funding calls

7. Key feature: Innovate UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences
Research Council (EPSRC) are to invest up to £19.5 million in quantum
technologies. The aim of this competition is to encourage collaborative R&D
projects and feasibility studies that will either:
- develop prototype devices and demonstrators of quantum technologies or
their component technologies
- improve the understanding of the technical, business or market challenges
of taking a new device or service to market
Competition Closes: applicants must register before noon on 26 September
2016 and apply for the expression of interest stage before noon on
Wednesday 5 October 2016.
Register here for a Birmingham networking event on 8 Sep, 10:00-17:00
Innovate UK funding calls
More info at gov.uk
Commercialisation of quantum technologies

8. Key feature: Innovate UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences
Research Council (EPSRC) are to invest up to £5 million in innovation
projects to stimulate new partnerships across robotics and autonomous
systems (RAS). The aim of this competition is to enable UK companies to
explore new RAS opportunities. It will enable them to develop capabilities
for application in many sectors of the UK economy.
Competition Closes: applicants must register before noon on 19 October
2016 and apply before noon on 26 October 2016.
More info at gov.uk
Robotics and autonomous systems
Innovate UK funding calls

9. Key feature: Businesses can apply for a share of up to £24 million to
research vehicle technology that provides major reductions in real-world
emissions. We are looking for projects developing low-cost, highly
integrated systems enabling zero emission journeys.
Competition Closes: applicants must register before noon on 19 October
2016 and apply before noon on 26 October 2016.
More info at gov.uk
Low emission vehicle systems IDP13
Innovate UK funding calls

10. Key feature: Businesses can apply for a share of up to £35 million to
research and develop connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.
Projects need to come up with technical solutions for connected and
autonomous vehicle features that provide real-world benefits to users.
Competition Closes: applicants must register before noon on 2 November
2016 and apply before noon on 9 November 2016.
More info at gov.uk
Connected and autonomous vehicles 2
Innovate UK funding calls

11. Innovative Research Call 2016 for Explosives and
Weapons Detection
The Innovative Research Call (IRC) 2016 for Explosives and
Weapons Detection is to invest up to £3 million in research projects.
Projects can develop original ideas. They can also adapt successful
technologies, techniques or processes from other fields.
Competition Closes: applicants must register before noon on 12
October 2016 and apply before 19 October 2016
Register to attend the bidders’ conference, 27 September
More info on: gov.uk
Innovate UK funding calls

12. Key feature: Innovate UK is to invest up to £1.2 million to support
innovative UK SMEs in carrying out short international cooperation
feasibility studies. These studies should build international business
networks. The aim is to enable commercial research and innovation
partnerships, and future collaboration.
Competition Closes: applicants must register before noon on 21
September 2016 and apply before noon on 28 September 2016.
More info at gov.uk
Global cooperation feasibility studies
Innovate UK funding calls

13. Key feature: A scheme to help businesses innovate and grow by
linking them with a university and a graduate to work on a specific
project. Each KTP is a three-way partnership between a business, an
academic institution and a graduate. The academic institution employs
the recently-qualified graduate who works at the company. The
graduate, known as the ‘associate', brings new skills and knowledge
to the business.
A KTP is part-funded by a grant. You will need to contribute to the cost
of the supervisor and the salary of the associate.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
2016 deadlines are: 7 September & 2 November
More info on: gov.uk
Innovate UK funding calls

14. Horizon 2020 (H2020)
Key feature: The H2020 programme is the major funding
opportunity for R&D initiatives across Europe running up until 2020.
There is a strong emphasis on creative industries, design and digital
technologies.
Upcoming calls:
Full details about the workplan for the Information and
Communication Technologies Call are available here. Calls within
the H2020 ICT work plan that are relevant to the creative and digital
industries include:
SME Instrument Phase 1: Engaging SMEs in security research and
development – Multiple cut-off deadlines 2016/17
SME Instrument Phase 2: Engaging SMEs in security research and
development – Multiple cut-off deadlines 2016/17

15. Horizon 2020
Upcoming calls:
Engaging private consumers towards sustainable energy –
Deadline 15 September 2016
ICT 19: Media Content and Convergence – Deadline 8 November
2016
ICT 4: Smart Anything Everywhere Initiative - Deadline 8
November 2016

16. Horizon 2020
Further information on H2020 Work Programmes can also be
found here.
KTN Guide to Horizon 2020 and Other European Funding for
the Creative Industries
This is a short guide to help you submit a proposal for the Horizon
2020 funding programme (H2020), as well as describing other
European Commission funding sources. It provides a brief
overview of how to apply, things to think about, where to get
support and useful links.
You can also keep up to date with the latest info via our Creative,
Digital and Design portal and by joining our dedicated LinkedIn
group.

17. Funding
Train Operator Competition 2016 (TOC’16)
TOC’16 will help the rail industry overcome some of the challenges
faced when developing and delivering new technology onto the railway
to improve customer experience and benefits. Competition Deadline: 16th
September 2016
Barclays Fintech Accelerator Programme in partnership with Techstars
An intensive 13-week programme that includes: Introductions and
guidance from key decision makers at Barclays, mentoring, up to
$120,000 investment from Techstars, access to technical expertise in a
collaborative community working space, the opportunity to pitch your
business to the influential tech community. Competition Deadline: 15th October 2016

18. Funding
#ManufacturingSkillsFund
The Ufi Manufacturing Skills fund are awarding grants of £50k-£150k to
develop digital technologies to improve skills developing in the
manufacturing sector. The #ManufacturingSkillsFund is open for
applications 26 October 2016 – 14 December 2016

19. Where: Digital Catapult Centre
When: Thursday, 6 October from 9:30-12:00
What: The Knowledge Transfer Network will be organising an information sharing
session designed for digital SMEs and startups seeking funding and support.
Representatives from across Innovate UK’s programmes will highlight a range of
upcoming funding opportunities for digital companies, researchers and academic
institutions working across a diverse range of sectors.
At the session, you’ll be able to:
• Discover more about the various funding and other forms of support available
from Innovate UK
• Meet advisors who can help you navigate the various funding available as well
as make valuable business introductions
• Network with other businesses
Find out more here
Digital Business Drop-in

20. Are you looking to grow your digital business?
Hosted by the KTN, these events are for digital companies across
various sectors and industries looking to access funding and support
to grow. At each of the events there will be presentations from
Innovate UK and KTN on the types of support and funding available
followed by a networking lunch. Register now to secure your place.
22 September, 11:30-14:00 - Leicester
Regional Digital Business Drop-in

21. Artful Spark #04: Mixed Reality
Head to the Barbican on Tuesday September 27th for the fourth
edition of Artful Spark – join thinkers, makers, commissioners, coders
and creators for a night of inspirational keynotes, practical demos and
drinks.
Artful Spark is a quarterly event series for a growing creative
community to explore cross-discipline collaboration and share
boundary-defying work. Their previous sell-out events focused on
wearables, immersive sound and sensors.
http://www.artfulspark.org/

22. FutureFest 2016 – 17-18 September
UK SME Digital Manufacturing Workshop – 19 September
ColLab Festival – 19-23 September
ODI Futures: Show me the future of data in retail – 21 September
Artful Spark #04: Mixed Reality – 27 September
VocTech Showcase – 28 September
London Innovation Summit 2016 – 29 September
Innovate 2016 – 2-3 November, Manchester
Events

23. Private investment directory
Looking for private investment? Check out our online
directory of +230 organisations covering:
Accelerator Programmes
Business Incubators
Start-up Studios
Venture Capital Funds
Angel Investor Networks
Corporate Venture Capital firms
And an additional report: http://bit.ly/KTNreferreport

24. Support Organisations
• Tech City UK offers advice and support to start-ups looking for guidance
in and around London. It has launched its Digital Business Academy.
Tech City UK can also endorse visa applications to help recruit talent to
Britain.
• Innovate UK connects start-ups and SMEs with leading commercial
partners and investors, through funded contests, events, and strategic
matchmaking opportunities.
• Enterprise Europe Network is a key instrument in the EU's strategy to
boost growth and jobs. Bringing together around 600 business support
organisations from more than 60 countries, EEN help small companies
seize unparalleled business opportunities in the EU Single Market.
• Seedcamp is a London based accelerator that provides startups with
seed money, mentorship, office space, support over a year long
programme.

25. Support Organisations
• Transmit Start Ups provide financial support and mentoring to
creative and digital entrepreneurs that would not normally be
available via traditional banking relationships
• AIM Start Up Loans - Government supported start-up loans for the
Creative Industries.
• The Open Data Institute runs a start-up programme that helps start-
ups build business models around open data
• The Path Forward features The Path - a practical and interactive
methodology to assist entrepreneurs take a valid idea from concept to
valuable business in 12 months.
• European Startup Resource Page - a Techstars idea to help founders
of European startups save time and internal resources by supplying
some useful templates, valuable resources and good examples.

26. Personal Data and Trust Network
The network aims to build and nurture a community that brings
together industry, the public sector, funders, research organisations
and innovators to support the UK in becoming the global leader in
trust and responsible innovation with personal data.
The partners are calling on any organisation interested in personal
data, trust and reputation to join the network. Membership is free
and will plug you into a vibrant community that we are bringing
together. For more information and to join, visit pdtn.org.