United Kingdom
November 2, 2016

LGC, in our role as the UK National Measurement Laboratory and Designated Institute for chemical and bio-measurement, is a partner in Innovate UK's new funding programme Analysis for Innovators (A4I). This programme targets competitiveness and productivity head on, by offering cutting-edge R&D, expertise and facilities to UK companies that want to solve an analysis or measurement problem from within their existing business.

This could be an issue of precision or accuracy of measurement on a production line, for example, which you have been unable to solve using standard available technologies and techniques.

Since this is addressing real problems you have with existing processes in your business, we believe it will be of interest to companies that previously didn't consider applying for R&D funding. Any size business with any type of measurement or analysis problem is able to apply.

The other partners in the Innovate UK programme are NPL, STFC and NEL - who, like LGC, run some of the most advanced cutting-edge facilities, techniques and technologies available in the world, here in the UK. They will be making these available to successful applicants to A4I to do R&D to solve analysis and measurement problems. Innovate UK expect the programme to particularly appeal to manufacturing companies, especially those involved in complex supply chains, but companies applying may be from any sector.

Analysis for Innovators (A4I) won't open until January 2017, but Innovate UK and KTN are running a special series of roadshow events around the UK in the two months before Christmas to explain the programme and how it differs from their other funding competitions, both in terms of its scope and the application process and schedule.

A4I will be run as a two-stage scheme, and at the first stage, you are not required to describe the project that you want to do; instead you will need to describe the problem: its nature, any techniques you have already tried and the value to your business of solving it.

This very different approach means that a very different application process will be necessary. Come and hear about the £6.5M competition and a different approach to Innovate UK funding at the A4I Roadshows being held across the UK during November and December.
 
Regional Briefing Events
If you want to find out more, register to attend one of the roadshow events. These are identical events repeated around the UK including Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and regions of England. The London event is being hosted in Teddington by NPL on Tuesday 6 December 2016.

The events are free to attend but places will be limited. The events will be half day and there will be plenty of time to ask questions.

• 4 November, Daresbury
• 10 November, Glasgow
• 15 November, Cardiff
• 24 November, Coventry
• 28 November, Belfast
• 1 December, Darlington
• 6 December, London
• 9 December, Harwell

Website: http://www.lgcgroup.com/

Published: November 2, 2016