The national SPRINT (SPace Research and Innovation Network for Technology) business support programme has launched a new round of funding opportunities for UK academics and SMEs to support new collaborative, space-related research projects.
The Mini Innovation Voucher scheme has been enabled by grants from the UK Space Agency and Research England, aimed at supporting collaborations with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and extending reach to all UK HEIs. This will promote further technology development and will accelerate the route-to-commercialisation of existing concepts.
The funding will enable HEIs and SMEs to initiate short collaborations looking at commercial applications of research, such as completing a market assessment and commercialisation plan for a proposed technology, or accelerating the route to market of existing intellectual property. The new Mini Innovation Voucher funding round will open on 28 February 2022 and closes at 12pm on 11 April 2022.
Rain Irshad, Head of the national SPRINT programme said: “This new Mini Innovation Vouchers scheme, supported by the UK Space Agency and Research England, will deliver high impact partnerships that aim to deliver real-world impact from academic research, for the wider benefit of the UK.
“By creating small grants for collaborative knowledge exchange projects, we will increase the opportunities for UK space-related businesses to work with academic experts and create high value partnerships, supporting the development of the UK space sector and the growth of the UK economy.”
Jacob Nowak, Local Growth Manager at the UK Space Agency, said: “We are opening up the space sector and helping companies grow with support networks, funding and advice available across the country.
“The mini innovation vouchers scheme will lead to more exciting collaborations between UK SMEs and Higher Education Institutions and demonstrate the benefits of collaborative knowledge exchange across the UK space ecosystem.”
A briefing event will be held from 1-2pm on Tuesday 8 March to inform organisations about the SPRINT programme and funding opportunities that will shortly become available.