National Materials Innovation Programme: CR&D Round 1

Collaborative industrial research accelerating advanced-materials innovation across prioritised high-growth themes.

OPENS1 September 2026

APPLICANTUK business-led collaborations

SECTORAdvanced materials

VERIFIED2 September 2026

HUBAI FIT ANALYSIS

Where AI belongs in this opportunity.

Potential fit for materials discovery, process optimisation, quality prediction or digital-twin projects where AI is central to the innovation case.

Do not lead with “we use AI”.Lead with the defined problem, measurable innovation and credible route to adoption. AI is part of the method, not the complete case.

ELIGIBILITY SNAPSHOT

Check the gate.

01A UK registered business of any size must lead the collaboration.

02The consortium must include at least one UK registered SME claiming grant funding.

03The project must align with the official programme themes and collaboration rules.

PREPARATION PLAN

Build the evidence.

01Tie the AI work to a defined materials or process breakthrough.

02Agree consortium roles, IP and exploitation before submission.

03Build an evidence-led validation and scale-up plan.

OFFICIAL SOURCE

Verify every detail before submission.

HubAI checked this record on 2 September 2026. Funding pages can change; the funder’s page remains authoritative.

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Important

This briefing is general information, not legal, financial, tax or grant-writing advice. HubAI does not determine eligibility or funding outcomes.