National Materials Innovation Programme: Feasibility Studies

Overview

Innovate UK will invest up to £2 million in feasibility studies to accelerate the translation of advanced materials innovations toward industrial adoption. This is the first call under the National Materials Innovation Programme, spanning six high-growth themes and one strategic opportunity (metamaterials/metasurfaces). Applicants must select the most appropriate theme for their project.

Scope

Projects must show a clear sector application, route to industrial adoption, and contribution to the UK’s net zero goals (e.g., reduced energy consumption, emissions and resource use). A letter of support from an end user in one of the UK IS-8 growth sectors is mandatory.

Key themes and topics

Choose one theme:

1. Net zero energy solutions – next-gen batteries; electrochemical energy (incl. H₂) materials (electrodes, catalysts, membranes); H₂ deployment (barriers, coatings, extreme environments, H₂-to-X); heat exchange/storage & waste heat recovery; higher-efficiency energy harvesting (solar PV, battery-less devices, sensors); advanced nuclear fuels.
2. Future healthcare – biocompatible/implantable materials (e.g., structural, porous, conductive, patient-derived, injectable, 3D-printable, drug-eluting); bioelectronic interfaces with long-term implants; tissue-like mechanical properties; materials improving in vivo sensor performance.
3. Structural innovations – low-carbon construction (cement/concrete, efficient/healthy/long-life materials); sustainable composite systems; circular and high-performance metallics; advanced technical ceramics for electronics, healthcare and structural uses.
4. Advanced surface technologies & durability – improved surface protection/tribology; functional materials for extreme (thermal/radiation/multi-extreme) environments.
5. Next-gen electronics, telecoms & sensors – wide/ultra-wide bandgap materials for power; quantum (compute/comms/sensing/PNT); higher-efficiency comms (5G, optical, RF/IR/RADAR).
6. Consumer products, packaging & specialist polymers – bulk sustainable plastic packaging; bio-based/biodegradable packaging; specialist sustainable elastomers; extended life, end-of-life processing and recyclability of high-volume elastomers.
7. Strategic: metamaterials & metasurfaces – SWaP reduction; future telecoms (e.g., 6G, satellite); energy security & net zero (acoustic/thermal management); healthcare (lower-cost biosensors, real-time biomonitoring, PoC diagnostics, advanced prosthetics).

Definitions: Metamaterial = 3D structure whose response arises from engineered meta-atoms; Metasurface = 2D analogue.

Project duration

• Up to 9 months
• Start: by 1 May 2026 (projects start on the 1st of a month)
• End: by 31 January 2027

Award value

• Grant request per project: £50,000–£100,000
• Total: up to £2 million (subject to quality and allocations)

Funding rates

• Feasibility (Streamlined Subsidy Scheme):
  • Micro/Small: up to 70% of eligible costs
  • Medium: up to 60%
  • Large: up to 50%
• Research participation (non-economic activity): up to 30% of total eligible project costs shared across research partners
  • RTO/charity/not-for-profit/public sector/research org: up to 100% of their eligible costs
  • Je-S academics: 80% FEC

Eligibility criteria

• Lead: UK-registered business (any size). Academic institutions, RTOs, charities, not-for-profits or public sector bodies cannot lead or work alone.
• Collaboration (optional): if collaborative, at least two funded organisations; no single partner >70% of total eligible costs; each partner enters costs in IFS.
• Location: project work carried out in the UK; results exploited from/in the UK.
• Letter of support: required from an end user in an IS-8 sector (PDF, ≤2 pages, on headed paper).
• Subcontractors: allowed; total ≤30% of eligible costs; overseas use requires strong justification and evidence of UK market testing.
• Non-funded partners: permitted (UK/EU/non-UK); their costs count toward total eligible project costs.
• Applications per business: lead on one; collaborate on two more.
• Must comply with subsidy control, sanctions, and animal research welfare standards.

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