With COVID-19 affecting many businesses across the UK, there has been a major call out for designers and tech-experts to come together and put forward innovative new ideas to help offer support to general public services and protect our most vulnerable communities.
One such initiative has been set up by Innovate UK alongside the government, in which UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £20 million to help assist and supply design and project ideas for Innovate UK that can help benefit public services, health services, our economy and those most vulnerable during the pandemic.
Innovate UK have stated that:
“The aim of this competition is to support UK businesses to focus on emerging or increasing needs of society and industries during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Your application must demonstrate both realistic and significant benefits for society (including communities, families and individuals) or an industry that has been severely impacted and/or permanently disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Your proposal must focus on a clear need and the proposed innovation to address it. You must have the ability to deliver the project during the working restrictions of COVID-19 pandemic.
You can claim 100% of your project costs up to the maximum of £50,000. These will be paid in advance of the project start date.
We intend to monitor and review projects during implementation with a view to providing follow-on funding and support for those with the most potential for impact.”
Innovate UK and Gov UK have stated that they are keen to see answers and methods to assist in battling current or newly apparent societal or industry occurring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not exclusively:
- community support services
- couriers and delivery (rural and/or city based)
- education and culture
- entertainment (live entertainment, music, etc.)
- financial services
- food manufacture and processing
- healthcare
- hospitality
- personal protection equipment
- remote working
- retail
- social care
- sport and recreation
- transport
- well-being
Competition closes: Friday 17 April 2020 12:00pm
For more information please visit the Gov link here.
If you’re a business, design or tech expert that feels they have an original idea that can be accurately implemented over the next period, then be sure to check out the funding and application for this fantastic project. At a time which has been hard for many, it’s a great thing to be able to give back to others whilst supporting our work forces and teams in the design industry too!