Innovate UKMatt Sansam
Programme Manager, IC tomorrowLead Technologist, Digital
About Innovate UK
The UK’s Innovation Agency: a national body set up in 2007 to invest in business innovation
Works across business, universities and government
Most staff come from business backgrounds
Has a budget of over £400m/year
• £390m for 2012/13
• £440m for 2013/14
What we do Help strengthen the global competitive position of leading businesses
Identify and grow sectors and businesses with the capacity to become the best in the world
Nurture the businesses that can succeed in the growth sectors of tomorrow
Facts and Figures
Invested in ~3000 projects
Working with >4900 companies and 110 universities
>£120m of small business contracts awarded through SBRI
>50,000 businesses on _connect
>9,000 people participated at TSB events
• Every £1 invested returns: At least £3 for feasibility studies
£9 for Smart awards
Up to £35 for some areas of collaborative CR&D
Where we invest
Scale of Tools
IC tomorrow
About IC tomorrow• IC tomorrow, an Innovate UK programme, stimulates innovation and
economic growth in the digital sector.
• We connect start-ups and SMEs with leading commercial partners and investors across the EU, through funded contests, events, and strategic matchmaking opportunities.
• The IC tomorrow network is free to join and supports innovation across a variety of industry sectors including Music, Film, Fashion, Publishing, TV, Education, Games, Culture, Sport, Advertising, Healthcare and Finance.
2 key ways in which we help start-ups and commercial
parties to collaborate
1 – Digital Innovation Contest
Some of our partners
Benefit to Entrepreneurs
• Client to trial technology
• Applicants retain full IP
• 100% procurement funding
• Light touch application
• We’re not risk adverse
2 – Networking events(i) Pre-selected startups meet leading commercial organisations in a speed-dating style format
(ii) Drop-in sessions, digital surgeries and themed workshops where startups and industry meet each other, unpack common challenges and opportunities to innovate, and make great connections
Key Stats• In 2013, IC tomorrow launched 7 contests, ran 24 events, and made
£961,000 in funding available. We have 3500 digital entrepreneurs, rights holders, academic institutions and investors in our online _connect network.
• We conducted our first ever survey last year, in which we discovered that:
• 86% of contest applicants found the process easy to understand
• 89% of contest winners found the business relationship with the challenge partners as valuable as the funding awarded
• 93% of speed networking attendees made useful contacts to follow up on
IC tomorrow
Drop us a line [email protected]
ictomorrow.com@ictomorrowFacebook/ictomorrow0300 321 4358
Application Process
Application process Stage 1A common review process applies to all applications:•Each application is reviewed by multiple assessors•The applications are not forwarded to the assessors until after the closing date for submission•Each application is reviewed against the same set of assessment criteria•A review panel then assess the collective scoring and identifies a ranked order for review •The review panel will discuss the applications and identify the successful applicants to invite to stage two•All other applicants will be informed they have not been successful with their application.
Step 1: Application Title
Step 2: Your information
Step 3: Your proposed application
Step 4: Project Plan and cost
Step 5: Trial
Step 6: Business Model and Marketplace
Step 7: Team and Expertise
Step 8: IC tomorrow Feedback
Application process Stage 2• Successful applicants will be invited to the ‘Stage two’ panel session
• Those chosen to go through to ‘Stage two’ will be required to provide a 10-minute presentation with Q&A. No more than about six minutes should be used to pitch your proposal to the panel with the remaining time used by the panel as Q&A
• Only one person is able to present each proposal, but additional people are allowed for the Q&A
• Prior to the final event, practice sessions will be arrange in front of the IC tomorrow team to provide feedback and enable you to refine your pitch
Practice Pitches session Spend up to an hour with the IC tomorrow team to fine tune your pitch prior to the final event.
Please come with your presentation already prepared!
Over 95% of winners have attended practice pitch sessions
Learn how to structure and time, your pitch, and what the judges are looking for
Successful Stage Two applicants• Successful 'Stage two' winners will be sent a provisional letter of engagement• Following this, winners will be required to attend a project launch meeting with IC
tomorrow and the relevant challenge partner/organisation to discuss their plans for delivery and agree the nature of their collaboration, including any delivery requirements
• Once the plan of delivery is mutually agreed, it is worked up into a service agreement which has to be signed off by all parties
• Please note the development of the winning solution must start within three months of receipt of engagement letter
• Live trial must launch within nine months of the engagement letter and run for a minimum period of three months (where appropriate)
• Project must cost no more than the stated amount for each challenge excluding VAT• Payment will be made in three stages: 50% on agreement of service agreement, 25%
on delivery of working solution and launch of trial, 25% on completion of trial
IC tomorrow
Drop us a line [email protected]
ictomorrow.com@ictomorrowFacebook/ictomorrow0300 321 4358