Manufacturing

Innovate UK KTN’s Manufacturing team helps manufacturers to innovate, and innovators to manufacture. We work with a broad spectrum of organisations, sectors and technology areas, advising on innovation and connecting to partners, experts, facilities and funding.

Digital manufacturing brings together new technologies such as AI, IIOT, additive manufacturing, robotics and automation, blockchain and immersive technologies. We are working with smart factories to drive improved productivity, efficiency, resilience and competitiveness. Together with Robotics & AI, Immerse UK and others we can make the right connections to cutting edge technology and knowledge, through Manufacturing Made Smarter on an impartial basis.

Product Innovation requires careful navigation of the design to manufacture journey. Successfully delivering a physical product to market (i.e one that requires manufacturing) presents challenges over and above those that non-manufactured products face. As well as technical knowledge and diversity of skills, expertise and strong relationships are key to driving change. We can share learning across our network and through our D2MGuide, and make the connections you’ll need to deliver on your innovation.

Sustainable, resilient manufacturing. The world is changing. Manufacturers are improving the products they make and the way they make them. This reduces our environmental footprint, increases resource efficiency and creates competitive advantage. Energy efficiency, circular economy, remanufacturing and industrial symbiosis are all areas we specialise in as a team.

We help manufacturers and innovators to improve their processes across all these areas by making impartial connections, across the UK and globally, with the right partners, suppliers and funding channels including Innovate UK and other funding sources.

Our current focus in this area

Advancement in additive manufacturing technologies has seen the evolution of 3D printed parts move rapidly, providing the opportunity for new innovation within the manufacturing world. As companies can now design for additive manufacturing to complement traditional manufacturing processes, there has been a huge shift in its use, particularly within aerospace, medical, transport, energy and consumer products.

Digital manufacturing promises improved productivity, sustainability, resilience and the creation of high value jobs. The industrial digital technology (IDT) innovator seeking to make an impact in the physical world stands to benefit from the transformation of UK manufacturing.

Turning an idea into a scalable, commercial product is a challenge that faces many entrepreneurs, innovators and SMEs. Developing a new product, new functionality or new customer experience can be difficult and success may not always happen. 97% of hardware startups fail (compared with 70% of tech start-ups).

The world is changing at an ever greater pace, and manufacturers are responding – improving the products they make and the way they make them. This enables reduced environmental footprint and improved resource efficiency, but also creates benefits such as competitive advantage and a closer alignment with the customer’s needs.

Related Opportunities

Advanced Propulsion Centre - Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator 2 (ARMD2)

Opens: 17/05/2023 Closes: 28/06/2023

APC is investing up to £10m to develop and realise capability for future net zero powertrain technology.

More Information

Faraday Battery Challenge Round 6: Feasibility Studies

Opens: 16/05/2023 Closes: 12/07/2023

Up to £10m is available to demonstrate or accelerate state of the art battery technologies in the UK, grow the supply chain & increase UK competitiveness.

More Information

Faraday Battery Challenge Round 6: collaborative R&D

Opens: 16/05/2023 Closes: 16/07/2023

Up to £10m is available to demonstrate or accelerate state of the art battery technologies in the UK, grow the supply chain & increase UK competitiveness.

More Information

Future Economy Investor Partnerships SME: round 2

Opens: 12/05/2023 Closes: 05/07/2023

UK registered businesses can apply for grant funding alongside private investment from selected investor partners.

More Information

Zero Waste Scotland Circular Textiles Fund

Opens: 01/05/2023 Closes: 09/06/2023

Scottish businesses can apply for support from the Circular Textiles Fund to support the development of circular supply chains in Scotland.

More Information

Global Innovation Exchange challenge: Valorisation of Paper Industry Waste

Opens: 18/05/2023 Closes: 14/07/2023

DCLM (operated by Veolia) want to find economically viable solutions to transform waste materials into valuable resources.

More Information

Related Events and Recordings

Thu
18
May
2023

Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plans – Collaboration Building Workshops

10.00 - 17.00 BST | Online

Watch now
Mon
15
May
2023

Technology Showcase: Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, Phase 2

10.00 - 12.00 | Online

Watch now
See all events

Our Experts

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Innovation Alley: a great place to test your digital technology product

03/05/2023

Innovation Alley: a great place to test your digital technology product

Running through the heart of Smart Factory Expo, Made Smarter Innovation Alley is home, each year, to 50 of the UK’s most disruptive, innovative technology companies in the manufacturing sector.

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Announcing the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, Phase 3

30/03/2023

Announcing the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, Phase 3

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) confirms plans to launch £185 million third phase of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF).

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Programmes related to Manufacturing

Transforming Medicines Manufacturing

Transforming Medicines Manufacturing

Innovate UK’s Medicines Manufacturing programmes aim to drive the de-risking and adoption of highly innovative flexible, agile and scalable manufacturing technologies through a culture of collaboration that will drive the growth of this critically important manufacturing sector.

Made Smarter | Innovation Network

Made Smarter | Innovation Network

From 2021 to 2025, Innovate UK KTN will be working on behalf of UKRI to join communities together to transform UK manufacturing. Join the Made Smarter Innovation Network and help us drive positive change.

For general enquiries regarding our Manufacturing sector contact us now

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