As heavy machinery moving specialists we are always keen to read about and publicise any government initiatives that will support manufacturers to invest. These initiatives generally help businesses improve efficiencies and profits and by doing so they create jobs which benefits the economy. They also benefit businesses like ourselves who rely on the manufacturing supply chain as we hope they will create opportunities to be involved in machinery removal, machinery installation projects as well as offer industrial storage space for assets that may need to be refurbished or stored.
The funding is being made available by the Government as part of the Manufacturing Made Smarter challenge to transform UK manufacturing capabilities through the development and adoption of Industrial Digital Technologies (IDTs).
Businesses with creative ideas to boost the UK’s manufacturing capabilities, including using robotics, AI and augmented reality, are set to receive as much as £300m of joint government and industry funding. The government will be investing £147m in the Manufacturing Made Smarter challenge to transform UK manufacturing capabilities through the development and adoption of Industrial Digital Technologies (IDTs).
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through Innovate UK, the government’s innovation agency, has already awarded the challenge its first investment package of £20 million to 14 innovative projects in Round 1 and applications for Round 2 of funding close on 7 October 2020.
In the second round, funding of £20m is being made available to support innovative feasibility studies and industrial research projects and SMEs can apply for up to 70% funding towards project costs.
More information about the initiatives that are being funded and details of how to apply can be found on the Made Smarter website.