Robotics Adoption Hubs

Appendices Required: Technical appendix where specified. Project plan or Gantt chart. Risk register. Optional supporting appendices up to stated limits.

Application Limit: An organisation may lead one application and collaborate in two further applications. If not leading, it may collaborate in any number of applications.

Application Platform: Innovation Funding Service

Application Sections: Project details. Application questions. Finances. Project Impact.

Assessment Process: Reviewed by three independent assessors. Portfolio approach applied.

Co-Funder: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Collaboration Requirement: Single applicants allowed. If the lead is an academic institution or RTO, collaboration with at least one business is required. In collaborations, no partner may account for more than 70% of total eligible costs.

Competitiveness: Estimated 15% chance of success based on similar competitions.

Decision Risks: Out of scope applications rejected. Portfolio balancing may limit awards. Outstanding financial issues may affect decision.

Decision Timeline: Applicants notified after interview stage.

Eligible Activities: Provide impartial advice on robotics adoption. Connect end users with vendors, integrators and finance providers. Showcase robotics technologies. Develop self sustaining Hub model. Collect and share evaluation data. Collaborate with central convening body.

Eligible Expenses: Eligible project costs as defined by Innovate UK. Includes subcontractor costs where justified. Research organisations undertaking non economic activity may claim eligible costs within funding limits.

Eligible Robotics Definition: Includes drones operating on land, sea and air. Includes autonomous plant and service robots. Includes industrial robots using sensors, actuators and control software. Software only systems are excluded.

Funding Intensity: Up to 70% for micro or small organisations. Up to 60% for medium organisations. Up to 50% for large organisations. Research organisations undertaking non economic activity may receive up to 100% of eligible costs or 80% FEC where applicable.

Important Notes: Work must be carried out in the UK. Results must be exploited from or in the UK. Projects must start on the first of the month. Applications cannot be transferred between competitions.

Ineligible Activities: Low TRL or fundamental research. Building new facilities or significant refurbishment. Projects dependent on export performance or domestic input usage.

Ineligible Applicants: Businesses in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework cannot receive funding. Organisations in financial difficulty are not eligible.

Interview Stage: Shortlisted applicants invited to interview between 15 June 2026 and 19 June 2026. Presentation required. Interview score may supersede initial score.

Key Requirements: Must demonstrate impartial advice capability. Must evidence market need and connections with end users. Must achieve tangible robotics adoption results during project. Must develop a self sustaining Hub model.

Match Funding Requirement: Required where funding intensity does not cover full project costs. The balance must be funded by the organisation.

Project Duration: 40 to 43 months

Project End Date: Must end by 31 March 2030

Project Size: Grant request must be between £2,000,000 and £7,500,000

Project Start Date: Must start by 1 September 2026

Renewal Rules: Not specified

Service Support Cap: Hubs may deliver services to end users without charge up to a gross cash equivalent value of £200,000. Awards over £100,000 must be reported within 10 working days.

Subcontractors: Allowed. Overseas subcontractors must be justified. Cheaper cost alone is not sufficient reason.

Subsidy Scheme: Subsidy Scheme: Robotics Adoption Hubs SC11454 under the Subsidy Control Act 2022

Total Fund Available: Up to £38,000,000