Funding Opportunities and Competitions - Glass Technology Services Ltd (GTS)

As well as conducting research and providing testing, we often manage projects and seek funding on behalf of our clients. We have an excellent record of securing grant funding from the TSB and other sources and would be delighted to discuss any glass-related ideas you have which you think may be eligible for funding.

GTS has been awarded nine project grants over the last two years, having a value in excess of £1.6 million, with seven of those from the UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board and two funded under the EU’s FP7 framework and Marie Curie IAPP programme.

We’re very keen to develop and participate in new projects and partnerships. We have a grant application success rate of over 90% and can offer advice on the variety of funding sources available - from commercial organisations, government bodies and institutions - and can assist in the writing of grant proposals.

GTS has an established reputation and global network of academic and commercial partners across a wide range of sectors and is in an ideal position to help pull together world-class consortia of experts to help with any glass-related development.

If you have a proposed project, an idea, or would like to discuss the possibilities of glass for new or existing applications please do not hesitate to contact us - we would be delighted to help.

Please find a range of funding opportunities and competitions as well as further details of our innovation, research and development projects, included below:

Open Calls (no fixed closing date)

TSB - Smart Innovation Grants for SMEs

Smart grants are awarded by the Government’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to micro and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to support innovative and high-risk R&D projects in science, engineering or technology which could lead to successful new products, processes or services. Any pre start-up, start-up or small or medium-sized business carrying out R&D in any sector across the UK is eligible for Smart funding.

There are three types of grant, focusing on commercial viability, technical feasibility and prototype development and ranging in value from £25,000 (for a proof of market study), £100,000 (for a proof of concept study) up to £250,000 (to fund the development of a prototype). Business can typically receive up to 60% of funding towards the costs incurred.

On average, applications typically take between 7-20 hours to complete but may take longer depending upon the nature of the concept. Applications are grouped together on pre-set ‘batch assessment dates’ and applicants should hear from the Technology Strategy Board about a month after the batch assessment date. If successful projects typically start within 1-3 months from when the offer letter is received.
TSB - Innovation Vouchers

Are you a UK-based SME who has not worked with GTS before? Innovation Vouchers could provide you a grant to cover up to £5000 of research at GTS. The Innovation Voucher encourage small and medium-sized businesses from across the UK businesses to look outside their current network for new knowledge that can help them to grow and develop through working with a supplier for the first time. The grant is to be used to pay for knowledge or technology transfer from that supplier.

The voucher has three key criteria: The idea that you want help with should be a challenge for your business that means you need to look for specialist help; This should be the first time that you have worked with the knowledge supplier; Your idea should be applicable to one of the priority sectors.

Latest Technology Strategy Board Funding News

The UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), has been established by the Government to stimulate business led innovation in order to remove the barriers to innovation and invest in the development of new technology-based products, processes and services. The TSB has a range of funding mechanisms, one of which comes in the form of themed calls in specific areas of industry.

We have an excellent record of securing grant funding through this route and would be delighted to discuss any glass-related ideas you have which you think might fit into one of these calls - please contact us.

Please click here for the latest funding news from the TSB.

Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market. Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe's global competitiveness. GTS can help to direct you towards suitable grants that might be suitable for your business and to apply for funding.

For further informaiton about Horizon 2020, please see:

Horizon 2020 Homepage (http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020);
Detailed list of calls: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/master_calls.html

Funding Opportunities

A number of funding opportunities are highlighted below for your information. For further information please use the links provided:

Enhanced Capital Allowances - Tax rebate on energy efficient equipment.
EU Sustainable Industry Low Carbon Initiative - Aims to help manufacturing sectors to achieve specific GHG emission intensity reductions in order to maintain competitiveness.
UK Energy Efficiency Investments Fund - (>£2million). Includes CHP.
Green Deal for Businesses - Loan for efficiency improvements to homes and business, paid back through energy savings.
CO₂Sense - Funding for renewable energy generation but may only be available in Yorkshire.