How to approach grant funding

Transcription

1 How to approach grant funding The wrong way I ve heard there s a grant available what do I need to do to get it? The right way I know what I want to do in my business, now let s see if there happens to be a grant scheme that aligns well with my plans Where grant funding fits Initial ideas Feasibility/ research Development/ demonstration Commercialisation Financial bootstrapping/soft starting: consultancy, other income Sales! Friends, family and fools/fans Grants, awards, SBRI Business Angels Corporate & VC funds Loans 1

2 The truth about grants Grants can give a very helpful financial boost to your cleantech development plans, BUT... You can only get them for specific activities. They're never easy to get. And they come with strings. Financial principles behind grants Only for projects Costs have to be eligible Costs have to be reasonable and necessary Reimbursement will be in arrears Payments can be clawed back 2

3 What size of enterprise are you? Micro-business: <10 FTE and (=< 2 million turnover or balance sheet total) Small business: <50 FTE and (=< 10 million turnover or balance sheet total) Medium business: <250 FTE and (=< 50m turnover or 43m balance sheet total) But only if you're sufficiently autonomous! General purpose schemes National schemes Market research TSB Smart Proof of Market Technology research TSB Smart Proof of Concept Technology development TSB Smart Development of Prototype Broadly defined R&D R&D Tax Credits European schemes Technology R&D EUREKA Eurostars programme 3

4 UK cleantech-specific opportunities TSB Innovation Vouchers (Built Environment) 5,000 to buy expertise from a knowledge supplier TSB thematic competitions Feasibility studies Collaborative R&D projects SBRI feasibility/development contracts (100% funded) Shell Springboard awards 40k for innovative, commercially viable low carbon business ideas Deadline 18 th January EU cleantech-specific opportunities EU Framework Programme (FP7) Almost finished; becomes Horizon 2020 in 2014 Cleantech will feature in various technology-focused programmes Various FP7 calls for proposals with an energy dimension still open Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative (no open calls) Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (no open calls) Intelligent Energy Europe (no open calls) Eco-Innovation initiative (no open calls) 4

5 A local scheme Low Carbon KEEP For SMEs in the East of England For knowledge transfer from UK research providers Covers 40% of eligible project costs Capital grant scheme can cover 40% of capital costs Searching for further grants Green Grants Machine Free online funding information database Grants for becoming greener Grants for cleantech development Other forms of finance 5

6 Secrets of success Purpose Preparation Presentation Punctuality Thank you for listening 6