This funding competition supports collaborative projects between UK and Canadian organizations to develop innovative semiconductor technologies. Innovate UK, in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), will invest at least £1 million in these projects.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this funding, UK registered businesses must collaborate with at least one Canadian non-linked registered business applying under the equivalent NRC IRAP program. Only applicants with an approved Canadian EoI are eligible to submit a full application. UK organizations must apply through the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) portal to Innovate UK.

Here is a summary of the eligibility requirements:

• Must be a UK registered business.

• Must collaborate with a Canadian SME.

• Canadian partner must be applying under NRC IRAP.

• Must have an approved Canadian EoI.

Your Canadian partner will be funded by NRC IRAP and will not receive any funding from Innovate UK.

Scope of the Competition

The primary aim of this competition is to stimulate the development of innovative semiconductor technologies. Projects should focus on developing innovative products, processes, or technology-based services in the semiconductor industry. The collaboration between UK and Canadian entities should bring mutual benefits and contribute to advancements in the field.

This call for proposals encourages collaborative projects focused on developing innovative products, processes, or technology-based services in Semiconductors. The project must be independently selected by both Innovate UK and NRC IRAP to be awarded funding.

This is a competitive process, and funding is limited. Even highly scored projects may not receive funding due to budget constraints.

Funding Details

This funding is provided as a grant. The total grant funding request for UK partners can be up to £500,000 per project. The funding is intended to support collaborative projects that demonstrate significant innovation and potential for commercial impact.

The funding will support projects that develop innovative products, processes, or technology-based services in Semiconductors. Your Canadian partner will be funded by NRC IRAP and will not receive any funding from Innovate UK.

Note that this competition has a funding limit, so we may not be able to fund all the proposed projects. It may be the case that your project scores highly but we are still unable to fund it.

Key Dates and Deadlines

The competition opens on Monday 12 May 2025 and closes on Wednesday 15 October 2025 at 11:00am UK time. It is crucial to submit your application before the deadline. We cannot guarantee other government or third party sites will always show the correct competition information.

Ensure that you allocate sufficient time to prepare and submit your application. Late submissions will not be considered.

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.

How to Apply

UK registered organizations must apply through the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) portal to Innovate UK. Ensure that you have all the necessary documentation and information prepared before starting your application. The application process involves providing detailed information about your project, team, and the expected outcomes.

Only those with an approved Canadian EoI are eligible to submit an application. In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process.

Make sure to carefully review all the guidelines and requirements before submitting your application.