Technology and manufacturing businesses in the UK can now apply for funding to develop digital technologies that have the potential to transform supply chains.
Through funding from the UK government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, led by Innovate UK, business-led consortia can apply for funding for projects up to £1.5m.
Projects will work with manufacturers to rethink and restructure the way they design and operate supply chains, with the aim of ensuring a more efficient, productive, flexible and resilient UK manufacturing sector.
Businesses applying for the new funding can look to improve results from existing supply chains, redesign or re-engineer supply chains or design completely new supply chain concepts for new products or processes.
Projects must use digital technologies to optimise the design and execution of supply chain activities. Design areas include: effective risk management; inventory optimisation; sustainable supply chains for increased flexibility; warehouse & logistics optimisation; confidence in shared data, and new business models that affect the configuration of the supply chain.
Supply chain execution projects can focus on demand management; sensing and shaping; proactive use of use of demand data; delivery performance; improved decision-making through analytics; production planning or scenario modelling; and track-and-trace technologies.
The competition is separated into two principal strands: feasibility studies and industrial research.
The competition for feasibility studies opens on 6 July 2020, and the deadline for applications is at midday on 7 October 2020. Consortia should include at least one SME and projects could range in size between £250,000 and £500,000 and last up to six months. An online briefing event takes place on 14 July 2020, and there is a series of collaboration-building events through July.
The competition for industrial research opens on 6 July 2020, and the deadline for applications is at midday on 7 October 2020. Consortia should include at least one SME. Projects could range in size between £1m and £3m and last up to 24 months. An online briefing event takes place on 14 July 2020, and there is a series of collaboration-building events through July.
