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Innovate UK, under the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, via the knowledge transfer network, invites applications for its robotics and artificial intelligence – inspect, maintain and repair in extreme environments call. This supports business-led collaborations that will work to develop robotic and artificial intelligence systems that remove humans from infrastructure inspection, maintenance and repair in extreme environments. The challenge is to develop technologies and systems that make unmanned operation the standard approach in areas such as off-shore energy, nuclear energy, mining and space.

In this competition individuals can apply to take part, on behalf of an eligible organisation, in a five-day residential innovation lab, which will run from 10 to 14 September 2018. The attendees will work together to develop collaborative proposals for research and innovation projects. Eligible organisations include UK-based businesses, academic, charity, public sector organisations or research and technology organisations. The project must be collaborative, business-led, UK-based and involve at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise.

The total budget is £15 million and project should be worth between £2m and £6m in total. For industrial research projects, funding covers up to 70 per cent of eligible project costs for small businesses, up to 60 per cent for medium-sized businesses and up to 50 per cent for large businesses. For experimental development projects, funding covers up to 45 per cent of eligible costs for small businesses, up to 35 per cent for medium-sized businesses and up to 25 per cent for large businesses.

Innovate UK invites applications for its open sector competition – round 1. This aims to support the best cutting-edge or disruptive ideas or concepts with a view to commercialisation, that may come from any area of technology, science or engineering, including arts, design, media or creative industries, and be applied to any part of the economy. Proposals must demonstrate:

•clear game-changing or disruptive innovative idea leading to novel, new products, processes or services that are significantly ahead of others in the field;

•strong and deliverable business plan that addresses market potential and needs;

•team, business arrangement or working structure with the necessary skills and experience to run and complete the project successfully and on time;

•awareness of all the main risks the project will face with realistic management, mitigation and impact minimisation plans for each;

•sound, practical financial plans and timelines that represent good value for money;

•clear, evidence based plan to deliver significant economic impact, return on investment and growth through commercialisation, as soon as possible following project completion.

Priority will be given to proposals that are likely to lead to sustainable gains in productivity or access to new overseas markets through export led business growth.

UK-based businesses of any size who will carry out their project alone or in collaboration with others in the UK may lead the project.

The total budget is £20 million. Projects that last between six and 18 months should be worth between £25,000 and £500,000. Projects that last between 19 and 36 months should cost between £25,000 and £2m. Small businesses are eligible to receive up to 70 per cent of eligible project costs, medium-sized businesses up to 60 per cent, and large businesses up to 50 per cent for feasibility studies. Small businesses are eligible to receive up to 45 per cent of eligible project costs, medium-sized businesses up to 35 per cent, and large businesses up to 25 per cent for experimental development projects which are nearer to market.