Innovate UK is to invest up to £2 million in technical feasibility studies to stimulate innovative new concepts and applications in surface engineering and coatings, positioning the sector to identify potential areas for further innovation, and address the challenge areas for future growth.

The aim of this competition is to stimulate innovation in areas of the UK’s surface engineering and coating (SEAC) industry. These include:

• the creation and evaluation of innovative and accessible real-time process control technology
• process informatics
• improved characterisation
• techniques
• the measurement of critical coating and surface properties
• integration of existing SEAC technologies with digital manufacturing technology

Projects must be led by a business, working alone or in collaboration with other companies or research organisations. If working in collaboration, at least one of the partners must be either a surface engineering or advanced coatings company.

Small businesses could receive up to 70% of their eligible project costs, medium-sized businesses 60% and large businesses 50%.

We expect projects to last 6 to 12 months and to range in size from total costs of £50,000 to £150,000.

Scope

This competition seeks to stimulate innovation in new concepts and applications in SEAC, which will pave the way for future growth across a range of sectors. The scope of this competition includes the creation and evaluation of innovative and accessible real-time process control technology; process informatics; surface/coating characterisation techniques; and integration of SEAC manufacturing technology with digital manufacturing techniques, technology and design.

Projects must cover one or more of the following areas:

• SEAC process design excellence
• SEAC for sustainability
• New applications for existing SEAC technology
• Enhanced coatings for improved performance
• Surface engineering for improved performance

View here for more details.

Tweet