Innovate UK and IACMI composite competition now open

U.K.-based companies and organizations are invited to enter their composites project in a competition funded by Innovate UK and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), under UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Funding for International Collaboration program. Organizations can apply for a share of the total award amount of £1.7 million ($2.1 million).

The competition is intended to enable collaborative research and development projects between the U.K. and the U.S. within the composites sector. Eligible projects must be disruptive, involve a technological risk and reach large international markets.

Applicant projects may be in one of the following areas:

• Sheet molding compounds (SMC) reinforced with carbon fiber
• Non-destructive testing tools for automotive manufacturing
• Development of automotive grade carbon fiber-reinforced polymers
• Closing the loop on automotive carbon fiber prepreg manufacturing scrap

Projects must involve a U.K. business and/or a U.K. research and technology organization, and must include a partnership with a U.S. project team. Applicants must contact the Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Network to be put in touch with a U.S. project team.

The competition is open from May 29 to August 21, 2019. Organizations may be any size. Total eligible project costs can be between £100,000 and £1 million, with a maximum grant of up to £300,000 for U.K. applicants.

For more information and to apply, go to Innovate UK’s webpage. An online briefing on the competition will take place on June 6, 2019, which will be available here.