KTN Digital and Creative Business Briefing November 2019 with information on events, funding and support initiatives for innovative UK based digital businesses

1. Digital
& Crea,ve Business Briefing
November 2019

2. Content
• Funding competitions
• Support programmes
• Upcoming events
• Investors Directory
• Networks
• Register for updates

3. Funding
Innovate UK Smart Grants: Oct 2019 - Jan 2020
Deadline: 8th
January
Smart is the new name for Innovate UK’s ‘Open grant funding’ programme. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innova@on, will
invest up to £25 million in the best game-changing, innova@ve or disrup@ve ideas with a view to commercialisa@on.
This compe@@on provides funding for innova@ve research and development (R&D) from feasibility (including market research),
through to technology or prototype tes@ng and development stages up to (but not including) commercialisa@on.
All proposals must be business focused, rather than pure research. Applica@ons can come from any area of technology (including
arts, design, media or crea@ve industries), science or engineering and be applied to any part of the economy.
READ MORE

4. Funding
Enabling Data Access in Accountancy, Insurance and Legal Services: Innova,on Lab
Deadline: noon, 20th
November
UKRI/ Innovate UK has just launched a new funding compe@@on as part of the Industrial Strategy Next Genera@on Services
Challenge: Up to £3.5 million will be awarded to projects developing data access methods to enable the applica@on of
ar@ficial intelligence (AI) and data technologies in the accountancy, insurance and legal services sector.
With a note: For those organisa@ons that were not selected to the Innova@on Lab but are looking to join a consor@a as a
partner, please join the AI for Services Network : hp://aiforservices.org .
READ MORE

5. Funding
Innova,on loans: September 2019 open compe,,on
Deadline: 27th
November
Innovate UK is offering up to £10 million in loans to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Loans are for highly
innova@ve late stage projects with the best game changing and/or disrup@ve ideas or concepts. There should be a clear
route to commercialisa@on and economic impact.
Your project should aim to develop new products, processes or services which are significantly ahead of anything similar in
the field. You can also propose an innova@ve use of exis@ng products, processes or services.
Your proposal can use any technology from any part of the economy. Your project must focus on commercialisa@on,
growth or scale up.
READ MORE

6. Funding
Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants
Project Grants is a new open access funding programme for arts and museum projects, and for arts projects in and with
libraries. They are an opportunity for artists, cultural practitioners and organisations to work in new ways to help people
across England to engage with their work.
We support projects in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature and combined arts. Across these disciplines, we are
also keen to see how you could use creative media to produce and deliver your work.
Funding from Project Grants comes from the National Lottery and grants typically range from £1,000 to £100,000
READ MORE

7. Funding
Epic MegaGrants
Epic Games has commied $100 million to support game developers, enterprise professionals, media and entertainment
creators, students, educators, and tool developers doing amazing things with Unreal Engine or enhancing open-source
capabili@es for the 3D graphics community. Show us your projects and you could earn a financial grant to help fuel your
success!
Grants range from $5,000 to $500,000, and cover a variety of endeavours from enterprise or media and entertainment
projects, game development, educa@onal or student uses, and sogware tool development. No maer what size grant you
receive, you will con@nue to own your IP and will be free to publish however you wish.
READ MORE

8. Funding
Future Leaders Fellowship scheme
Future Leaders Fellowships allow early career researchers and innovators from eligible UK businesses to develop their
leadership poten@al through challenging innova@on or research projects:
• Funding of up to £1.2 million over a four year period, but with considerable flexibility available. Funding will be provided in
line with prevailing state aid guidelines.
• The ability to aract in individual, or develop an exis@ng employee, who will help create innova@ve solu@ons for their
business. This could include bringing the most talented interna@onal innovators to work in their business in the UK.
• A new Reduced Hours Fellowship, in which fellows are able to spend up to 40 percent of their @me focused on other
ac@vi@es within the business in order to enhance their career.
• The op@on to collaborate with other organisa@ons (business, academic, public and third sector
READ MORE

9. Support Programmes
Innova,on Alley at Smart Factory Expo
Date: 13-14 November, Liverpool
Innova@on Alley sits at the heart of Smart Factory Expo, one of The Manufacturer’s key events taking place in Liverpool on 13-14
November arac@ng over 6000 manufacturing visitors from all over the UK and Europe. Innova@on Alley is an ideal plalorm for
start-ups and early-stage businesses to forge new partnerships with solu@on providers, customers and industry experts.
Hosted by Innovate UK in partnership with KTN, HVM Catapult, Made Smarter and STFC, we are invi@ng companies who are
interested in being part of Innova@on Alley to Apply for a space. An Innova@on Alley space is FREE and is open to start up and
early stage companies with innova@ve products or services targeted at manufacturers who haven’t exhibited in previous years.
READ MORE

10. Support Programmes
BLOCK-SPRINT Hackathon
Multiple events between November 11th - 22nd in London
What breakthrough can you make in just two weeks? £100,000 of prizes and benefits to be won!
Still haven’t managed to put a team together? Register here for the application evening on Friday November 8th which will be the last event we run where
we can help you find teammates (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/block-sprint-application-evening-tickets-73411432571)Already have a winning team
assembled! Apply here before Sunday 10th November (http://blockchain.cs.ucl.ac.uk/block-sprint-application-page/)
Block-Sprint is a hackathon run by the UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies, Ripple and supported by Capital Enterprise, taking place over multiple
events between 11th and 22nd November in London. It’s aimed at creating rapid innovation in the areas of payments and decentralised finance
utilising any blockchain/DLT and AI technologies.
Block-Sprint will give you the chance to...
• Be part of diverse teams including individuals from multiple companies
• Create original and innovative ideas
• Discover fresh talent
• Collaborate, network, and share cutting edge ideas with like-minded people.
Find out more about Block-Sprint here

11. Support Programmes
The ScaleUp Accellerator
KTN supports The Accelerator Network as they launch a new high growth programme - The ScaleUp Accelerator
The ScaleUp Accelerator (TSA) is a programme designed to support the CEOs and founders of high growth companies as they
progress through the ScaleUp stage of company development and growth. This is most typically suppor@ng companies grow from
£1m in annualised review to £10m and beyond. TSA leverages nearly a decade of exper@se by The Accelerator Network team
delivering accelerator programmes and White Horse Capital’s strong connec@ons in the VC community, with over £300m of
funding secured for accelerated startups and scaleups.
TSA is the perfect programme for CEOs and founders to address each area of their business in turn to ensure you are ready
to grow and raise Series A (VC) funding. This three month programme does this by delivering day-long sprints each week in to the
key areas of your business supported by experts and investors.
READ MORE

12. Support Programmes
Financial Conduct Authority Regulatory Sandbox
Now open for applica,ons to cohort 6 un,l 31 December 2019.
The regulatory sandbox allows businesses to test innova@ve proposi@ons in the market with real consumers. The sandbox is open to authorised firms,
unauthorised firms that require authorisa@on and technology businesses that are looking to deliver innova@on in the UK financial services market. All
applica@ons will be assessed against our eligibility criteria which are set out below.
A par@cular interest in receiving applica@ons from firms with proposi@ons that:
• make finance work for everyone – by addressing issues around access, exclusion and vulnerability
• support the UK in the move to a greener economy – by responding to the challenges posed by climate change
• use technology to overcome regulatory challenges – by helping regulated firms comply with their obliga@ons
And from firms using:
• federated learning and travelling algorithms
• complex scenario modelling and simula@on
READ MORE

13. Support Programmes
London & Partners - The London Business Awards 2020 are now open
Take a minute to celebrate the crea@vity and diversity of London business.
Explore the awards categories, enter or nominate now hcp://bit.ly/lba2020

14. Support Programmes
AI for Good - Microsog for Start-ups programme
Deadline : 15th
November
#AIforGood programme for UK purpose-driven ventures] ⁉
Can you answer these ques@ons ⁉ "
• Are you a start-up with a tech solu@on and / or using AI to help saving lives? #AIforHumanitarianAc,on 😍
• Are you a purpose-driven ventures with a tech solu@on that can empower people with disabili@es? #AIforAccessibility 🌍
• Are you an organiza@on with a tech solu@on and / or that is applying AI to environmental challenges, by helping them harness
the full power of cloud compu@ng? #AIforEarth 🖼
• Do you have a solu@on which can plays an important role in preserving our past? #AIforCulturalHeritage
If yes, this programme is for you! hcps://lnkd.in/esZEWSF
Apply now for the AI for Good 2020 accelerator programme: 📍 Microsog for Startups, London ⏰ February 2020
💲 Cost: ***FREE OF CHARGE*** 🎟 Applica@on form: hcps://lnkd.in/diNGgF5

15. Support Programmes
Advantage Crea,ve
Advantage Crea@ve CIC supports the development of innova@on, entrepreneurship, and talent in the crea,ve industries.
We reinvest all profits from our investments into further ac@vity to support crea@ve entrepreneurs.
We blend seed investment with expert business advice to help crea@ve businesses grow.
We work in partnership with banks, investors, and a wide range of public and private sector partners to establish finance and
enterprise ini@a@ves for the crea@ve industries. These include:
‒ Incubator programmes for crea@ve entrepreneurs at the very start of their journey
‒ Accelerator programmes for crea@ve startups to help them grow
‒ Angel investment for crea@ve companies to seed fund their development
READ MORE

16. Support programmes
Crea,ve England
Crea@ve England uncovers, connects and backs the best original storytellers; driving diversity, collabora@on and growth in
the crea@ve screen industries. Our vision is for England’s crea@ve people and businesses to be the most innova@ve and
successful in the world.
Crea@ve England creates opportuni@es for new voices, products and services to emerge, helping to build inclusive,
sustainable crea@ve communi@es. We showcase new and emerging talent. We invest in businesses, connect them to new
markets and help them to create jobs.
We mobilise public and private resources to make this possible. We partner with commercial brands, like Sky
Arts and Xbox, along with local authori@es, universi@es and European bodies.
READ MORE

17. Support programmes
Knowledge Transfer Partnership
• The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme helps businesses in the UK to innovate and grow by linking them with
an academic or research organisa@on and a graduate.
• The scheme can last between 12 and 36 months, depending on what the project is and the needs of the business.
• A KTP is part-funded by a grant. You will need to contribute to the salary of the Associate who will work with your
business, plus the cost of a supervisor who will oversee the scheme.
READ MORE

18. Upcoming events
Innova,on Loans Open Compe,,on Briefing Event 2019 (Essex)
8th November, Colchester
Innova,on Loans Open Compe,,on Briefing Event 2019
(Cambridge)
8th November, Cambridge
Collaborate to innovate – an event to help your business
innovate and grow
12th November, Birmingham
An Introduc,on to Management KTPs (Knowledge Transfer
Partnerships)
13th November, Salford
CAN DO Innova,on Summit
20th November, Glasgow
VentureFest North West
20th November, Manchester
Beyond 2019
20th-21st November, Edinburgh
Expression of Interest: Industry 4.0 and Immersive Technologies
- For the Energy, Manufacturing and Utility Sectors
21st November, Leeds
Expression of Interest: 5G for Immersive Technologies -
Unlocking the Full Potential - Salford
29th November, Salford
Digital Business Meet-up: Fintech and Blockchain
12th December, London
Keep up-to-date with KTN events here

19. Investment
Private Investment Directory – Digital Refer
Digital Refer now includes more than 250 organisations that provide private investment to digital and creative
businesses in the UK including:
• Accelerator programmes
• Business incubators
• Start-up studios
• Venture Capital funds
• Angel investor networks
• Corporate Venture Capital firm
LINK

20. Networks: Immerse UK
• Augmented and Virtual Reality Independent Network
• Bringing together businesses, public sector & research
• Free to Join
• Learn more about Immersive Tech developments
• Help shape UK funding & research policy
• Showcase your ideas & iden@fy funding opportuni@es
• Make business connec@ons & form collabora@ve partnerships
hp://www.immerseuk.org/

21. Networks: UK5G
hps://uk5g.org/
• Promo@on of research, collabora@on and the commercial applica@on of 5G in the UK
• Share the knowledge and lessons of 5G Testbeds & Trials projects
• Enable new partnerships between technologists, poten@al new entrants and major industrial adopters
• Support local (and interna@onal) investment opportuni@es

22. Networks: AI for Services
hps://ktn-uk.co.uk/interests/ai-for-services
The AI for Services network brings together Data and Ar@ficial Intelligence businesses and academics with professionals working in the
high value service sectors of legal, accountancy insurance and finance.
• This ini@a@ve is part of the Industrial Strategy Next Genera@on Services Challenge fund programme.
• If you are an expert working in the field of Ar@ficial Intelligence and data and looking to engage with the services sector, or a
professional enthusiast wan@ng to stay up to date with the innova@on happening in your sector, register today to join the
Network and:
• Get news, resources and insight straight to your inbox
• Receive invita@ons to events
• Share your success stories with the community
• Promote your events or webinars

23. Networks: Geospacial Insights
hps://ktn-uk.co.uk/interests/geospa@al
The world is powered by data; turning data into informa@on helps us make decisions across all sectors of the economy.
This network is all about connec@ng the data holders and data processors with the people that can benefit from the insight geospa@al
data can provide.
From the large imagery data sets provided by earth observa@on through to sensor data connected through the Internet of Things, the
network special interest group will convene and connect people across sectors to help them iden@fy and overcome their geospa@al
data challenges and create opportuni@es to drive economic growth.
Over the next two years, KTN will be running a series of workshops to raise awareness of the insights geospa@al data can bring to key
sectors such as infrastructure, finance, agri-food, transport and health.

24. KTN Digital Updates
TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR UPDATES, CLICK THE LINK BELOW
KTN newslecer registra,on

25. The KTN Digital & Creative Team
hcps://ktn-uk.co.uk/interests/digital-crea,ve