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Helping you to understand the funding landscape, identify potential sources of finance and grant funding.

We facilitate access to a wide range of research and development grant funding through a variety of schemes.  Working with innovation ecosystem partners such as the four Greater Manchester Universities, Innovate UK and Research and Technology Organisations, we’ll help you to identify the most appropriate route – from start-up funding to collaborative projects involving small businesses, large companies, universities, and research organisations.

GM Business Growth Hub’s Innovation Team can also provide support with application ideation, reviews, and comments.

Innovation Grants and Vouchers enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Greater Manchester to apply for funding to access expertise, research, and specialist facilities to accelerate the development of innovative products and services for both capital and revenue expenditure.

Innovation Funding for Greater Manchester SMEs

Innovation Vouchers up to £5k are available are available for established SMEs in Greater Manchester subject to eligibility and suitability criteria. And provide an opportunity to commercialise your innovation, accelerate your route to market and realise a rapid return on investment, irrespective of the sector and the technology.

The kind of activities the vouchers can be used to fund include:

●    Access to specialist technical facilities and equipment
●    Product design 
●    Research and development.
●    Knowledge transfer 
●    Consultancy 
●    Testing and validation

Register your interest here

Additional Innovation Grants ranging from £5k up to £25k are available to support R&D and capital expenditure, subject to eligibility and suitability criteria, and for businesses where their innovation has a particular focus on enabling and supporting emerging technologies in the following areas.


•    Sustainable Advanced Materials
•    Diagnostics & Genomics 
•    Artificial Intelligence, Data & Advanced Computing.

For more detailed information and to explore the best options for your business to access innovation funding and support register your interest here

Hallidays Hydropower - Richard Tate - Project Manager

"They have helped us to form new partnerships with universities, as well as introduce us to new companies and industry contacts, which have proven invaluable"

Jeff Gosling Hand Controls Ltd - Chris Cooke - Managing Director

"We have benefitted greatly from finding an academic partner to help us develop our online training system. Not only did our Hub innovation advisor Dharma fully support us through the application process, she also found great people within the university and acted as a great liaison as we initially developed the project"

Healthstrong - Oliver Briggs – Founder

"The process was made easy for me and I was extremely grateful at the support throughout each step/stage, resulting in a voucher towards research, which will hopefully help me move my business forward and to the next phase of growth"