Smart Manufacturing Data Hub: Rapid Demonstrator Projects - Final Call
Your project should develop transformational and disruptive solutions, processes, or services, using the data generated from your factory and optimised through the SMDH Manufacturing Data Exchange Platform (MDEP).
Opportunity Details
Timescale
Applications will be dealt with on a rolling basis throughout summer 2024.
Award
A grant of up to £50,000 to develop your concept and create your initial build; opportunities to create and test technology solutions; engagement and support from SMDH; opportunities to participate in and gain wider insights across the entire UK manufacturing community.
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 support SMEs on their digitisation journey. It will develop and promote SME access to key enabling Industry 4.0 technologies through a series of rapid demonstrator projects designed to stimulate the transition from legacy manufacturing solutions towards Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 solutions.
This call focusses on developing rapid demonstrator solutions that enable SMEs to advance their smart manufacturing journeys, de-risking major investment yet enabling growth. This funding aims to support SMEs with sensor installation, data analysis or similar to enable levelling-up the opportunities for SMEs across the UK to exceed and expand.
Funding is available to all manufacturing SMEs across all regions of the UK. Through the Digital Innovation Fund, we aim to provide financial support and opportunities for SMEs to embark on a smart manufacturing journey. The funding is available to all SMEs in any state of digital readiness.
Who can apply
This call is open to manufacturing SMEs only; companies can apply individually or as part of a consortium. All funded organisations must reside within the UK. In all cases the project must demonstrate how it addresses manufacturing SME market needs with resulting data to be shared on the SMDH Manufacturing Data Exchange Platform (MDEP).
We are open to any SME operating in the manufacturing sector which can demonstrate demand for a new data driven solution. Grant funding of up to £50,000 will be provided to enable you to develop your concept into a market ready solution for deployment. This must be completed within 6 months of the grant award.
Your project should develop transformational and disruptive solutions, processes, or services, using the data generated from your factory and optimised through the SMDH Manufacturing Data Exchange Platform (MDEP). All solutions, processes or services must be readily usable by an SME without risking business disruption or incurring significant cost.
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 three times the grant value and will be delivered within the project lifetime.