Women In Innovation: Apply For Infocus Funding Award

First women-only Innovate UK competition offers up to £200,000 support and funding

Innovate UK is launching a new initiative called ‘infocus‘ to encourage diversity in innovation. This is the first women-only Innovate UK competition.

Under the initiative, up to £200,000 and a package of tailored support are available to award businesswomen who have exciting ideas and the potential to become leaders in innovation.

Awards will be spread across the four sector areas supported by Innovate UK:

  • manufacturing and materials
  • infrastructure systems
  • emerging and enabling technologies
  • health and life sciences

Find out more about Innovate UK sector-focused funding programmes.

The package of support includes introductions to investors and contacts in relevant industrial sectors, communications training, and advice on intellectual property, business models, funding programmes, and market opportunities.

Who can apply?
Ideal applicant will:

  • have real potential to become a leader in business innovation and/or successful entrepreneur
  • have exciting ideas that promise significant economic value to the UK
  • be comfortable taking on the position of role model
  • be willing to engage in activities to encourage and inspire other women to get involved
  • have a clear vision for their future and area of innovation they plan to focus on
  • have a plan to use the award money and support to progress that plan
  • have relevant experience of making innovation happen
  • have the capability and personal drive to achieve success

The awards are open to any woman in the UK working in business innovation in any of Innovate UK’s four sectors. Applicants can be a company owner, employee or sole trader in any size of business and must be legally and contractually able to use the grant funding on offer.

Competition information
The competition opens on 1 June 2016. The deadline for registration is noon on 24 August 2016 and you must send you application to Innovate UK no later than noon on 31 August 2016.

Find out more about this competition and apply.

Source: nibusinessinfo.co.uk