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- Tasks: Lead innovative projects to enhance energy and resource efficiency in manufacturing.
- Company: Join Innovate UK, a leader in driving innovation for sustainable manufacturing.
- Benefits: Gain access to funding, support sessions, and collaboration opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability while developing cutting-edge digital applications.
- Qualifications: Open to UK registered businesses, academic institutions, charities, and RTOs.
- Other info: Projects must be affordable, easy to use, and scalable across SMEs.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As part of the Made Smarter Innovation Challenge (MSI), Innovate UK will invest up to £2 million in innovation projects to examine the feasibility of developing new industrial digital technologies. These are for micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) manufacturers to improve their energy or resource efficiency that would lead to a more productive, resilient and sustainable sector.
Your project must focus on the innovation of a unique digital application relating to one or more of these energy or resource efficiencies:
- Energy efficiencies: boilers and steam air compressors or vacuum motors, drivers, pumps or hydraulics induction or welding chilling or freezing spray, extraction or dryers ovens, kilns or furnaces heavy machinery or presses
- Resource efficiencies: raw material waste production process waste packaging waste maintenance or service station waste utilities waste end of life waste
Your digital application must be affordable, easy to use, and scalable across SMEs. To work alone or lead a collaborative project, your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size. To collaborate with the lead, your organisation must be one of the following UK registered:
- business of any size
- academic institution
- charity
- not for profit
- research and technology organisation (RTO)
A business can lead and be included as a collaborator in any number of applications. If an organisation is not leading any application, it can collaborate in any number of applications.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us. You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance. We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this competition’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the competition deadline.
Your project must:
- have total costs between £25,000 and £100,000
- last between 3 and 6 months
- carry out its project work in the UK
- intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
- not start before 1 October 2025
- end by 31 March 2026
Each feasibility study must include:
- executive summary
- description of product or service
- technical considerations
- marketplace and financial feasibility
- marketing strategy, including a plan to commercialise your proposed product when fully developed
- draft specification of proposed product or solution
- conclusion and recommendations
Your project must focus on the innovation of a unique digital application relating to one or more of the energy or resource efficiencies listed in the Specific Themes section, and must be:
- affordable
- easy to use
- scalable across SMEs
There is no limit to the number of processes or technology solutions you may address in your proposal and there is no advantage in using more than one. Energy or resource efficiency innovations that use processes other than those listed will also be considered.
Planned outputs from the study must:
- have a clear indication of how your innovation might improve energy or resource efficiency in a manufacturing environment
- clearly indicate how your innovation will result in a solution that will be sufficiently affordable, easy to use and scalable
- have technical, operational, and financial feasibility
- include potential patents
- include targeted market and scale up plans
Your project must focus on one or more of the following:
- Energy efficiencies: boilers and steam air compressors or vacuum motors, drivers, pumps or hydraulics induction or welding chilling or freezing spray, extraction or dryers ovens, kilns or furnaces heavy machinery or presses
- Resource efficiencies: raw material waste production process waste packaging waste maintenance or service station waste utilities waste end of life waste
Exclusions: We will not fund projects that:
- do not support the challenges outlined in the scope of this competition
- do not evidence the potential for your proposed innovation to generate positive economic or societal impact
- duplicate other UK government or EU funded initiatives
- are already funded
- are covered by existing commercial agreements
- fall outside of manufacturing according to a process in a controlled environment (such as traditional methods of on-site construction) or manufacturing supply chains.
An online briefing will be held at 11am on Tuesday 10 June 2025. Made Smarter Innovation are holding 3 online sessions to support applications to the Made Smarter Innovation feasibility competition:
- Funding 101: 17 June 10:30 – 11:30. This session is targeted at those that have limited experience of applying for Innovate UK funding before so will provide background information to funding and some information about this particular competition.
- Two drop-in sessions where you can ask questions about your application, e.g. scope, finances, potential collaborators:
- Drop-in session 1: 23rd June 11 – 12
- Drop-in session 2: 1st July 10:30 – 11:30
If you would like help to find a collaboration partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Manufacturing team or Industrial Technologies team.
Made Smarter: Improving energy or resource efficiency in manufacturing - feasibility studies employer: Innovate UK ICURe
Contact Detail:
Innovate UK ICURe Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Made Smarter: Improving energy or resource efficiency in manufacturing - feasibility studies
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific energy and resource efficiency themes outlined in the job description. Understanding these areas will help you tailor your approach and demonstrate your knowledge during discussions or interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Engage with the online sessions and drop-in events mentioned in the job description. These are great opportunities to ask questions, gain insights, and network with others who are also interested in the Made Smarter Innovation Challenge.
✨Tip Number 3
Consider potential collaboration partners early on. Whether you're a lead or a collaborator, having a strong team can enhance your proposal's feasibility and appeal, so reach out to academic institutions or research organisations that align with your project.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on the competition timeline and ensure you contact Innovate UK well in advance for any support you might need. This proactive approach shows your commitment and helps you avoid last-minute issues.
We think you need these skills to ace Made Smarter: Improving energy or resource efficiency in manufacturing - feasibility studies
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Requirements: Carefully read through the job description and requirements for the Made Smarter Innovation Challenge. Make sure you understand the focus on energy or resource efficiency and the specific themes outlined.
Craft a Strong Executive Summary: Your application should start with a compelling executive summary that clearly outlines your project's objectives, the unique digital application you propose, and how it addresses energy or resource efficiencies.
Detail Technical Considerations: Include a section that discusses the technical aspects of your proposed solution. Explain how it will be affordable, easy to use, and scalable across SMEs, as these are key criteria for the application.
Market and Financial Feasibility: Provide a thorough analysis of the marketplace and financial feasibility of your project. This should include a marketing strategy and a plan for commercialisation once your product is fully developed.
How to prepare for a job interview at Innovate UK ICURe
✨Understand the Project Scope
Make sure you thoroughly understand the specifics of the Made Smarter Innovation Challenge. Familiarise yourself with the energy and resource efficiencies mentioned in the job description, as well as the requirements for the feasibility study.
✨Prepare Your Unique Digital Application Idea
Think about how your proposed digital application can improve energy or resource efficiency in manufacturing. Be ready to discuss its affordability, ease of use, and scalability across SMEs during the interview.
✨Showcase Collaboration Skills
Since collaboration is key in this role, be prepared to discuss your experience working with different organisations, such as academic institutions or charities. Highlight any successful projects where you led or contributed to a collaborative effort.
✨Demonstrate Market Awareness
Research the current marketplace for digital technologies in manufacturing. Be ready to talk about potential competitors, market needs, and how your innovation could fill a gap or improve existing solutions.
