Global Business Innovation Programme in Taiwan - Net Zero Cities
Innovate UK seeks innovative companies that can accelerate the sustainable deployment of smart net zero urban solutions for a market visit to Taiwan.
Opportunity Details
When
Registration Opens
18/10/2023
Registration Closes
08/12/2023
Award
Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation, in-market travel, and conference fees for successful applicants, who will also benefit from an intensive 9 to 12 months three phased programme and bespoke support from an Innovation and Growth Specialist throughout.
Organisation
Innovate UK
Note: This opportunity is fully funded support and not monetary funding.
Innovate UK is inviting ambitious companies to participate in the Global Business Innovation Programme.
The Global Business Innovation Programme, organised by Innovate UK, consists of a preparation phase, a 5-day innovation visit to Taiwan focused on Net Zero Cities and a post-visit exploitation workshop. Each business is supported by an Innovate UK EDGE Innovation & Growth Specialist to help maximise the potential of being part of the programme and beyond. This initiative will be delivered physically and could include virtual activities.
We are interested in taking a cohort of businesses focussed on delivering smart net zero urban places. We are inviting applications from innovative companies operating in sectors that can accelerate the sustainable deployment of smart net zero urban solutions.
These solutions can be drawn from a wide range of sectors, such as:
- transportation and mobility
- local energy systems
- intelligent buildings and housing
- sustainable manufacturing and consumption
- urban infrastructure and planning
- citizen engagement and behaviour change
- resource management
- food systems
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A GBIP has three stages:
Prepare for the market
Preparing for the market includes the cohort being briefed by sector and market experts on, for example, cultural aspects of conducting business in that country. Delegates receive help to find business partners and arrange meetings and are advised on best practice including the management and protection of their intellectual property.
Visiting the market
Visiting the market provides opportunities to attend pre-arranged meetings and activities in order to better understand and maximise the opportunities that the visit presents.
Exploiting the opportunity
Exploiting the opportunity is arguably the most important aspect of the programme. To maximise the opportunity, participating companies are given bespoke one-to-one support from an Innovate UK EDGE innovation and growth specialist to help develop and implement an action plan.
The Global Business Innovation Programme operates on a competitive basis and businesses selected are required to participate in all three stages (some or all of which may be online).
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To apply, you must:
- Be a UK-based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and internationalise
- Be a company with fewer than 500 employees
- Be able to attend and complete all activities (16th-23rd March 2024)
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Taiwan has an open, outward culture and can be seen as a gateway to other South-East Asia markets. Traditionally very strong in hardware development, and with a push to develop digital economy solutions and IoT deployments, we believe there is an opportunity for UK businesses to both develop their hardware capabilities, and to collaborate to build new systemic solutions that solve critical urban and net zero challenges and meet citizen needs.
With an emerging focus on Net Zero, UK businesses are well-positioned to share their solutions and expertise in this area, and the Taipei smart city expo can provide a better understanding the market needs and practical collaboration opportunities. Taipei itself is an excellent testbed for smart net zero city innovations, and the Taiwanese are open to trying innovations at scale.
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Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation, in-market travel, and conference fees for successful applicants. Innovate UK will also pay for any reasonable adjustments throughout the initiative. One representative from each company will be funded.
On acceptance to the Programme a commitment fee of £500 will be obtained from each delegate, which will be refunded on completion of the full activities and agreed action plan. Non-completion after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all the commitment fee.
Successful applicants will benefit from an intensive 9 to 12 months three phased programme and bespoke support from an Innovation and Growth Specialist throughout.
Getting ready for the market: Preparation workshops to build knowledge and understanding of the market and opportunities, consideration of cultural differences and how to do business in Taiwan, protecting Intellectual Property and training on articulating your value proposition and how to pitch.
Visiting the market: Exclusive access to the Taiwan market and the opportunity to meet with key contacts, research organisations and companies. Meet potential collaborators and partners through pre-arranged meetings and matchmaking events.
Exploiting the opportunity: A follow-up workshop and bespoke support from an Innovate UK EDGE Innovation and Growth Specialist to exploit contacts and knowledge gained during the visit and develop cross border innovation projects.
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Click here to register for the Briefing Event on 23 October 2023.
Closing date for application: 8th December 2023
Pre-visit workshop: 31st January – 1st February 2024
Market visit: 16th – 23rd March 2024
Post-visit workshop: 23rd May 2024
Participants will need to comply with Taiwan travel requirements.
For more information, assistance with your application or to discuss accessibility needs, please contact the Global Team: global1@innovateukedge.ukri.org