• Status: Closed

  • Key features: Investment of up to £2 million in technical feasibility studies to stimulate innovative new concepts and applications in surface engineering and coatings, positioning the sector to identify potential areas for further innovation, and address the challenge areas for future growth.

  • Programme: Feasibility studies

  • Award: Up to £2 million

  • Opens: 11 Jan 2016, 00:00

  • Registration closes: 09 Mar 2016, 12:00

  • Closes: 16 Mar 2016, 12:00

  • Support phone number: 0300 321 4357

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Surface engineering and coating technologies for high-value manufacturing

Summary

Innovate UK is to invest up to £2 million in technical feasibility studies to stimulate innovative new concepts and applications in surface engineering and coatings, positioning the sector to identify potential areas for further innovation, and address the challenge areas for future growth.
 
The aim of this competition is to stimulate innovation in areas of the UK's surface engineering and coating (SEAC) industry. These include:
  • the creation and evaluation of innovative and accessible real-time process control technology
  • process informatics
  • improved characterisation
  • techniques
  • the measurement of critical coating and surface properties
  • integration of existing SEAC technologies with digital manufacturing technology
 
Projects must be led by a business, working alone or in collaboration with other companies or research organisations. If working in collaboration, at least one of the partners must be either a surface engineering or advanced coatings company.
 
Small businesses could receive up to 70% of their eligible project costs, medium-sized businesses 60% and large businesses 50%.
 
We expect projects to last 6 to 12 months and to range in size from total costs of £50,000 to £150,000.
 
The competition opens on 11 January 2016 and the deadline for applications is at noon on 16 March 2016. There will be a briefing day for potential applicants in London on 19 January 2016. Additional briefing events will be held in Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff.

Scope

This competition seeks to stimulate innovation in new concepts and applications in SEAC, which will pave the way for future growth across a range of sectors. The scope of this competition includes the creation and evaluation of innovative and accessible real-time process control technology; process informatics; surface/coating characterisation techniques; and integration of SEAC manufacturing technology with digital manufacturing techniques, technology and design.
 
Projects must cover one or more of the following areas:
  • SEAC process design excellence
  • SEAC for sustainability
  • New applications for existing SEAC technology
  • Enhanced coatings for improved performance
  • Surface engineering for improved performance

See the competition brief for the full scope and background.

Out of scope

Coating and surface engineering processes related to the production and fabrication of electronic devices are outside the scope of this competition, because the techniques are highly specialised and comparatively well advanced.
 

Key dates

Competition opens 11 January 2016
Competition briefing 19 January 2016
Registration deadline noon 9 March 2016
Deadline for receipt of applications noon 16 March 2016

 

Supporting documents & links


  • Help for businesses to test how feasible an innovative idea or technology is for development for market.

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Competitions helpline

Talk to us Monday - Friday 9.00am – 5.30pm 

Email: support@innovateuk.gov.uk

Telephone: 0300 321 4357

Twitter: @innovateuk

 

Also see:

 - General competition guidance 

 - FAQs

- Video on our Application Process

- Video on our Funding Rules

- Innovate UK success stories

- Innovate UK funded projects

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