Advanced manufacturing supply chain innovation: CRD (2026)
Innovate UK is investing up to £6.5 million to support collaborative industrial research projects that improve the productivity, resource efficiency and/or resilience of advanced manufacturing supply chains.
Who should consider this call?
This call is relevant for UK‑registered manufacturing and technology businesses that:
- develop or apply advanced manufacturing technologies;
- demonstrate applicability across at least 2 advanced manufacturing frontier industries; and
- are able to collaborate with supply‑chain partners and at least one named end.
Funding and project parameters
- Total budget: up to £6.5 million
- Grant per project: £250,000 – £1,000,000
- Project duration: 12 – 36 months
- Project start date: from 1 October 2026
- End date: by 30 September 2029
Eligible organisations and consortium rules
At least two grant‑claiming partners. With the lead applicant a UK‑registered business of any size.
Potential UK-registered collaborators:
- Businesses (any size)
- Academic institutions
- Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs)
- Public sector organisations
- Charities / not‑for‑profit organisations
No single partner may account for more than 70% of total eligible project costs.
Subcontracting is allowed up to 30% of total eligible project costs. Overseas subcontractors only with strong justification (UK alternatives must be evidenced).
Funding rates
Max. support
SE
70%
ME
60%
LE
50%
Project scope
All project work must be carried out in the UK, with results exploited from or in the UK. Projects must be collaborative industrial research and must clearly demonstrate:
- novel or not‑yet‑widely‑used solutions;
- tangible improvements in supply‑chain productivity, resource efficiency and/or resilience;
- a credible route to scale and exploitation in the UK;
- assessment of technical, commercial and operational viability.
Projects must focus on one of the following technology themes:
- Measurement, sensing and instrumentation
- Additive manufacturing
- Digital manufacturing and industrial AI
- Robotics and intelligent automation
- Power electronics
Your solution must be applicable to supply chains in at least two mandatory themes:
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Advanced materials
- Batteries
- Agri‑tech
- Space
End‑user involvement as a critical requirement
Each project must include at least one named end user, further down the supply chain (e.g. OEM, Tier‑1), who:
- will use or directly benefit from the innovation; and
- has a defined role in the governance and/or work plan (e.g. advisory board, pilot use, validation).
Timing
Call opening: 27 April 2026
Deadline: 10 June 2026 at 11 am
Contact us to discuss how we can support you.
Insight written in collaboration with Moore Grants & Incentives
