Grants are available for UK-based business-led projects for the demonstration of innovative technologies, services and processes in the UK’s fashion and textile sector.

Administered by Innovate UK (IUK), this competition will fund a research and development activity demonstrator for new technologies, services, processes and business models addressing recycling and sorting challenges within the fashion and textile sectors and their direct supply chains.

Proposals must be for multi-disciplinary, collaborative, demonstration projects which focus on mixed fabrics. Applications focusing on one or more of these materials are encouraged: wool; cotton; polyester.

From an overall budget of £4 million, funded projects can have total grant requests of between £3 million and £4 million.

The competition is open to collaborations only. To lead a project, an organisation must be a UK registered business of any size. The lead must be or involve at least one micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME). To collaborate with the lead, an organisation must be a UK business of any size, academic institution, research and technology organisation (RTO), public sector organisation, not for profit, or charity.

The application must involve at least one academic institution and one relevant trade association (can be non grant claiming). IUK encourages collaborations from the fashion and textile supply chain, including manufacturers, retailers and recyclers.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 11 January 2023 (11:00 GMT).

How To Apply

The competition opened on Monday 14 November 2022. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 11 January 2023 (11:00 GMT).

Applications are made online at the Innovate UK website.