Smart Manufacturing Data Hub: National LightHouse Projects - Final Call

Update (23 July 2024): Given the volume of interest in this Call, SMDH will be closing the first round of applications at the end of this month for review and assessment.  If you wish for your project to be considered as part of this round, please ensure that you have your completed application form, grant and co-investment schedules submitted by 4pm on 31st July 2024.  Applications received after this date may be considered in round 2, depending on the level of funds remaining.

The key objective of SMDH (Smart Manufacturing Data Hub) is to develop and promote SME access to key enabling Industry 4.0 technologies through a suite of Lighthouse Projects designed to stimulate the transition from legacy manufacturing solutions towards Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 solutions.

This call focusses on establishing Lighthouse Projects that will enable SMEs to embark on a smart manufacturing journey, de-risking major investment yet enabling growth. This funding aims to support a range of industry partners (of any size) to develop Lighthouse projects that will support and enhance manufacturing SMEs across the UK to exceed and expand.

Funding is available to all organisations and industrial partners across all regions of the UK who have a suite of well-established processes, solutions or services that can be adapted quickly to be utilised by the SME Manufacturing industry. Through the Digital Innovation Fund, we aim to fund Lighthouse projects that will support SMEs to embark on a smart manufacturing journey. A maximum grant of £150,000 is available for National Lighthouse projects.

Who can apply?

This call is open to all businesses, universities and research transfer organisations, provided that the proposed project is aligned to the overall project objective of promoting smart manufacturing approaches amongst SMEs.

For this project, you must be an established UK company with a proven track record (as an established company you must be registered in the UK and able to provide full accounts for the previous three financial years). Having already developed transformational and disruptive solutions, processes, or services, your Lighthouse project will describe how you will support Manufacturing SMEs on their smart manufacturing journey and encourage them to realise the potential of manufacturing data. All solutions, processes or services must be readily usable by an SME without risking business disruption or incurring significant cost.

We are open to any established industrial or professional sector organisation which can provide skills, support or solutions for manufacturing SMEs. Grant funding of up to £150,000 will be provided to enable you to develop your concept into a market ready solution for deployment and dissemination to SMEs.

Co-investment required

An objective of the SMDH is to create sustainable solutions that will be available to the SME community beyond the life of this project. To support this objective, the SMDH Digital Innovation Fund will provide grant funding to Open Call projects with the expectation that additional investment (Co-Investment) will be needed to see the project through from concept build to full commercial delivery during the implementation phase. This can include additional investment to the agreed project costs and/or additional investment in R&D. The application form will enable you to detail the co-investment being committed to the initial concept so that it can be sustained over the longer term. An ideal application will include co-investment of at least 3 times the grant value and will be delivered within the project lifetime.

Timescale

Grant recipients must commit to the following key deliverables by 31 January 2025:

• Successful delivery of the funded concept development project within the term;
• Evidence of commitment to the longer-term sustainability of the project through an implementation phase ideally delivering co-investment of three times the Concept Development Grant received within the term of the project;
• Data to be uploaded to MDEP;
• Engagement with the SMDH community;
• Participation in showcases and key events.

Grant recipients must be UK-registered, must carry out the majority of the funded work in the UK and have a UK business bank account. Ideally, all projects will be completed by 31 December 2024 to allow grant processing and payment before programme close on 31 March 2025.