Innovate UK to invest up to £2 million in projects driving the National Materials Innovation Strategy
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has announced up to £2 million of new funding for UK businesses to accelerate cutting-edge materials innovation projects aligned with the Royce-facilitated National Materials Innovation Strategy (NMIS). The new competition will open on Monday 3rd November.
This investment forms the first phase of the National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP) – a key component of the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy. The NMIP builds directly on the NMIS, transforming strategic ambition into action through targeted interventions, collaboration and funding to deliver real-world impact.
Professor David Knowles, CEO of the Henry Royce Institute, welcomed the announcement:
“This is incredibly positive news, coming hot on the heels of the inaugural meeting of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Materials Innovation Leadership Group (MILG) earlier this week.
“At the meeting, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Lord Vallance, emphasised the critical role of materials innovation and the challenges it faces. We’re delighted to see this initial investment, part of the allocation for materials innovation announced in the Modern Industrial Strategy in June, moving from vision to delivery.”
Allan Cook CBE, Chair of the MILG, added:
“NMIS highlights materials innovation as a strategic enabler for UK manufacturing, energy sustainment, improvements in healthcare and supporting the infrastructure agenda. This investment recognises the importance of translating the UK’s world-class research into industrial and commercial impact, building a strong, connected innovation pipeline.
“Crucially, the NMIP funding commitment, delivered as a critical element of the Industrial Strategy, is fully aligned with NMIS and the UK’s national materials priorities. Successful implementation will be dependent on collaboration with industrial partners, academic organisations and several government departments.”
Competition Scope
This is Innovate UK’s first competition under the NMIP, designed to prime the UK materials community, foster collaboration and accelerate the translation of breakthrough material innovations across seven strategic themes. All UK registered businesses can apply.
Projects must focus on one of the six high-growth opportunity areas identified in the National Materials Innovation Strategy, or on the strategic opportunity theme of metamaterials and metasurfaces. The aim is to speed the adoption of advanced materials technologies into industrial use, unlocking productivity, sustainability and resilience across multiple sectors. Please note, in applying to this competition, companies are entering into a competitive process.
- Applications close at 11:00am (UK time) on Wednesday 17 December
- Eligible projects can request between £50,000 and £100,000 in grant funding.
Alignment with Royce Industrial Collaboration Programme
This competition closely aligns with the Royce Metamaterials Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP), which supports innovative research, development, and rapid innovation projects in metamaterials. While the most recent ICP funding round has closed, it forms part of Royce’s broader initiative to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry into which HEIs can apply.
The next ICP call, the sixth round, will open on 1 December 2025, continuing its focus on NMIS themes and offering new opportunities for impactful partnerships that drive innovation forward. This call will be open to HEIs.
About the Materials Innovation Leadership Group (MILG)
The Materials Innovation Leadership Group acts as the collective voice of the UK’s advanced materials community. It provides independent, expert advice and sector-led insights to His Majesty’s Government (HMG), helping shape the design and delivery of the National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP).
The group also advises on the broader materials innovation ecosystem and associated programmes, ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of global materials science and technology.
Running alongside the MILG are Expert Steering Groups aligned into the NMIS themes, which are identifying priority areas for funding and recommending effective approaches to the MILG. This work is being co-odinated on behalf of Royce by ScotCHEM, project lead for the NMIS delivery team.
More details
This is a significant opportunity to help drive forward the UK’s advanced materials capabilities and accelerate innovation across key growth sectors.
Register now for the online webinar: https://ow.ly/9iUT50XkOFX
Find out more about the funding competition: https://ow.ly/9XHF50XkOFY
