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;
- Technology Strategy Board Funding News;
- Horizon 2020;
- Funding Opportunities;
- GTS Research, Innovation and Development;
- GTS Project Portfolio.
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.
Latest News

#PharmaGlass workshop - glass due diligence,...
Glass Technology Services Ltd are hosting a series of workshops for manufacturers and users of pharmaceutical glassware. The workshops cover a range of...
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New training - An introduction to glass...
Glass Technology Services Ltd are delivering a brand new one-day ‘An introduction to glass packaging’ training course on behalf of British...
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Join the experts in glass at Pharmapack
Leading experts in glass, Glass Technology Services Ltd, are exhibiting at Pharmapack on 6-7 February 2019 – Europe’s dedicated two day event...
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EnviroGlass - Decarbonisation and batch refor...
The EnviroGlass project set out to investigate the challenges identified within the glass industry’s 2050 decarbonisation roadmap and identify cost-effective...
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Bright Slice
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FASTIC - Femtosecond-pulsed-laser Augment/bio...
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3D BioGLAM - 3D Bioactive Glass-Metal Additiv...
This project brings together partners with expertise in additive manufacturing, glass technology and orthopaedic implants. The aim is to develop...
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Failure Analysis - Wine Bottle
The remains of a broken wine bottle were received by Glass Technology Services Ltd and the customer, a prominent UK brand, requested to know the reason...
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Failure Investigation - Cafetiere (French Pre...
A well-known cookware brand received a customer complaint that a glass cafetiere ('French Press') "exploded" whilst full of hot liquid...
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SCAMP - Production of commercially scalable m...
Leading an innovative project to develop a fibre drawing tower that can be used to produce novel bio-resorbable phosphate-based glass fibres. Phosphate...
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MATCh - Monoblock Acetabular cup with Trabecu...
MATCh aims to improve the quality of patient’s life through increasing the life-expectancy of hip prostheses through developing new macroporous glass-ceramic...
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Light-MiLES - Miniature Laser-Illumined Eye-s...
Glass Technology Services Ltd (GTS) is providing photonics and material science expertise to a development project on laser illuminated eye-safe sensors,...
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Foreign Body Analysis - Cosmetics and Beauty
A salon brand received a serious injury complaint from a consumer where it was reported that glass had been found within an anti-aging cream. Concerned...
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Quality Assessment - Retail
A high street name requested routine quality assessment of a new product line, as a case of due diligence. How did GTS help? During the quality assessment,...
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Foreign Bodies found within Drinks Bottles
A number of glass fragments had been reported to be present within two bottles; the brand owner had checked the densities of the fragments and bottles...
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Glass Recycling and Energy Efficiency in the ...
This project aimed to assist the Russian industry in developing and implementing a glass recycling scheme in Russia. The main objective of the assignment...
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RESTORATION - Resorbable Ceramic Biocomposite...
The RESTORATION project aims to create novel bioceramic composites using a combination of mechanical design, materials, processing, clinical delivery and...
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Cased-Glass - Thermal Expansion
A customer producing articles manufactured from two different glasses fused together ('cased glass') discovered that, during production, many...
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Manano - Manufacturing and applications of na...
The aim of the project is to carry out research in nanotechnology and to encourage researchers to take up jobs in the European nanotechnology...
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GlassRite - Beer, Cider and Spirits Activitie...
The project has worked extensively with stakeholders in the beer, cider and spirits sectors, and in particular brand owner-fillers and the UK glass manufacturers,...
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New Approach to Cathode Ray Tube Recycling
A cathode ray tube (CRT) is composed of two different types of glass – one used for the funnel and neck sections and the other used for the screen....
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Glass Market Development Assessments
This study aims to give an overview of the UK supply chain for recycled glass by looking at the estimated a risings of different glass types, current collections...
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Conglasscrete I and II in Conjunction with Un...
Phase I Project Summary This project has conducted what is believed to be the widest-ever study of the performance of crushed and ground glass in real...
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GlassRite - Lightweighting and Bulk Importati...
The project has worked extensively with stakeholders in the wine supply chain, and in particular retailers, brand owner, fillers and the UK glass manufacturers,...
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A Market Survey of Applications and Manufactu...
BRE and GTS investigated the use of waste material to generate a building product or high value lightweight aggregate for insulation purposes Project...
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Bottle Rightweighting - Beer, Cider and Spiri...
"Bottle Rightweighting - a process of packaging design and production to optimise packaging weight, whilst taking into account the requirements of...
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GlassRite - Wine
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Manufacturing Masonry Units from Recovered TV...
Project Summary Staffordshire University has developed and patented a new technology (known as "Stoneglass") which can convert virtually any...
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Materials recovery from waste cathode ray tub...
With the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive and growing concern about the environmental impact of CRT glass,...
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Feasibility Study for the Reduction of Colour...
There are two issues which have the potential to hinder the closed-loop recycling of container glass in the UK: the colour imbalance of glass packaging...
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Container Lite - Opportunities for the Co-op ...
GTS, in a WRAP-funded extension to the Container Lite project, worked with the Co-Op to look at lightweighting opportunities for a range of their own-label...
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Study into the Interaction of Imported Wine B...
Although using recycled glass in furnaces saves valuable raw materials, reduces energy consumption and lowers emissions of CO2 a study, commissioned by...
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Recovered Container Glass - Development of te...
Recycling waste material is an important element in a sustainable society, one that the glass industry takes seriously, setting great store by its claim...
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Glass Market Development Assessments for the ...
This study gave an overview of the UK supply chain for recycled glass by looking at the estimated arisings of different glass types, current collections...
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Container Lite - Light-weight Glass Container...
With over 1.5 million tonnes of glass still ending in landfill in the UK, even a small percentage reduction through the lightweighting of bottles and jars...
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Creation of a Practice Guide for Flat Glass M...
Project Summary The UK window (flat) glass industry currently recycles approximately 10% of the estimated 500,000 tonnes of such glass entering the...
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Increasing collection and recycling of post c...
The aim of this project, undertaken on behalf of WRAP, was to undertake trials in order to understand the practical, technical and economic viability of...
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Assessment of the International Trading Marke...
The study clearly demonstrates that the best environmental option for recovered UK cullet is returning it to domestic container glass manufacturers...
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Colourite - Maximising Cullet Additions in th...
GTS has conducted an 18-month project to investigate options for maximising cullet use in production of container glass. The project, supported by WRAP...
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Recycled CRT Panel Glass as an Energy Reducin...
Approximately 105,000 tonnes of waste CRT glass is available annually; this project set out to investigate the potential use of the panel glass...
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A Study of the Balance between Furnace Operat...
Glass making is a high-temperature, energy-intensive process and manufacturers are well aware that over 70% of the energy they use in the furnace is in...
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Investigation of the Significant Factors in E...
This study, conducted for the Food Standards Agency (FSA), consisted of a programme of experimental work designed to increase understanding of migration...
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