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SME R&D Support Programme – Funding Call Round 2

The Business of Fashion, Textiles & Technology (BFTT) SME R&D Support Programme is open for Expressions of Interest (EOI).

Image Source: Crowdsourcing creative platform, “Chasing Clouds”  ©AWAYTOMARS Ltd, Photograph by Gleeson Paulino 

£1.5m available to invest in your transformative ideas. 

The fashion, textiles and technology related sector (FTT) is buoyant, innovative and multidisciplinary, informing many adjacent sectors in the wider industry. Quite literally, spanning agriculture to advertising.

This funding call is looking to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the development of the next generation of products, services and experiences in the fashion, textiles and technology sectors – with sustainable innovation at their core.

SMEs, with or without associated industry partners, that are already working at the developmental stages of testing an innovative product, service or concept prototype are eligible to apply. R&D projects may also be at an earlier scoping stage (pre-prototyping). In both cases, for the project to be successful, itwould benefit from specialist support across a range of fields that could be provided

by the BFTT partnership, including: new materials design & development; application of less accessible and cutting-edge technologies; novel applications of digital technologies; business model innovation.

We look forward to hearing from FTT companies, and those in the wider STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts andMathematics) fields interested in collaboratingwith the FTT sector- who would like to achieve a step-change in their business trajectory.

You can find more information about the programme, including eligibility, selection criteria, core funding themes and key dates here. We are also keeping an up-to-date list of FAQs.

Who should apply?

  • UK-based SMEs trading for a minimum of 2 years as a fashion, textiles or related technologies business. More info here.
  • UK-based SMEs trading for a minimum of 2 years in the FTT sector, applying in partnership with a 2nd industry partner. More info here.
  • UK-based SMEs that wish to advance their market position and make a positive impact in the sector through research and development of new products, services and/or experiences.

Why apply?

  • To access unrivalled research and development expertise from BFTT SME R&D Support Programme partners.
  • To enable a step-change for your FTTbusiness through additional funding and dedicated project resource.

You have until 7 September 2020 to submit your Expression of Interest.

You can learn more about the 10 R&D projects funded during the Funding Call Round 1 here.