Innovation loans for small businesses launched

The first competition for the government-backed loans was launched at the UK’s flagship innovation conference, INNOVATE 2017 and will allow businesses to access between £100,000 and £1 million on flexible, affordable terms.

This is the first time Innovate UK has offered a new funding mechanism other than matched grants. Innovation loans will offer affordable, flexible funding for later-stage research & development projects with a clear route to commercial success.

Speaking at Innovate 2017 at the NEC Birmingham – where Innovate UK is hosting up to 3,000 creators, innovators and investors from all over the world – the organisation’s chief executive, Dr Ruth McKernan CBE, said:

“We know that many businesses with ground breaking ideas struggle to get them to market. Our new innovation loans will help businesses scale up, and give them a clear route from prototype to making new products and services available to customers.”

The first competition opens today to support smart infrastructure, urban living, energy supply and systems and, connected transport projects. The first wave will make up to £50 million available over 2 years.

Loans will be offered to growth-oriented SMEs that are able to demonstrate that they have a high-quality innovation project, that they will be able to afford the interest payments and subsequent repayments associated with a loan and that they need public sector support as they are unable to access finance for their project on standard commercial terms.