Business Innovation Vouchers

Please note: Our first round of Business Innovation Vouchers has now closed and winners have been announced. We will be reopening applications later in 2023. Please get in touch to discuss your project idea at any time and we can ensure you're one of the first to hear about our next wave of grant funding. Proposed closing date for the next wave of funding will be confirmed. 

Take advantage of 75% funding towards research projects costing up to £20,000!

The Vouchers will give businesses access to the leading experts and research facilities in the Kent and Medway region. They are designed to help overcome the challenges that may be facing a business and realise opportunities through innovation; whether it is testing a new prototype product, trialling a new piece of technology or getting data to validate an idea.

What is a Business Innovation Voucher?

A Business Innovation Voucher is a grant that can be used by businesses to access technical research support.

Businesses can take advantage of 75% funding towards research projects worth up to £20,000. A cash or in-kind 25% co-investment is needed from the business applicant, so grants of up to £15,000 are available.

The funding could be used for a consultation with a scientific expert, a small trial, or for access to some of the cutting-edge research equipment and facilities available in Kent and Medway.

What type of projects will the Business Innovation Vouchers be awarded for?

We can support a range of projects. The capabilities in the region mean we’re able to help with challenges in;

• Crop production
• Food processing
• Packaging
• Producing high-value compounds from plants, and
• agri-tech solutions.

You might have a new product idea that they would like to prototype and test in a food laboratory kitchen. You may want to see how different light levels affect how a plant grows, or find a different variety of fruit that works in a new recipe. Or you might want to investigate alternative packaging ideas to reduce food waste or eliminate single use plastic.

The Business Innovation Vouchers could be used for;

• Testing new products and prototypes
• Trialling new technology
• Validating your data
• Proof of concept studies

Whatever the challenge may be, our team would love to talk to you to understand your business, its challenges and discuss solutions. They can advise how the grants could help and which research partners would be best placed to support you.

Help with your application

Once your project idea has been discussed with a member of our team, you will be issued with an application form.

You will need to register as a Growing Kent & Medway member in order to complete your application. It is free to become a member. Sign-up here. 

To help you complete your application, we have created the following guidance;

• Business Outline
  • Further information on application, eligibility and project scope
• Applicant Guidelines
  • Details on how to complete the application form 
• Subsidy Control Guidelines 
  • Our funding is issued in line with the UK's obligations and commitments to Subsidy Control.
• Social Value Guidelines
  • Recipients of our grants are expected to deliver social value activity within the region
• Legal Agreement
  • To be signed by grant recipients - draft. 

Please note, this will be a joint application process between a business and research organisation. Please allow sufficient time to enable both parties to complete and submit their relevant sections. The academic partner can only begin their application once the lead business has submitted their form. There will be no extension to the closing date.

A new wave of funding will be announced later in 2023.  

Our collaborative R&D grants are currently closed for projects between £50,000 and £350,000. 

Please contact one of our team and we will aim to match you with the right support and funding.