Innovation Vouchers

Eligibility

Businesses that meet the following criteria can apply:

• Located in one of the target LEP areas
• Have received less than Euros 200,000 de minimis state aid in the last three years;
• Meet the European Union definition of a small and medium sized enterprise i.e. employ less than 250 full time staff (or equivalent), have an annual turnover of no more than 50 million euros and/or annual balance sheet no more than 43 million euros;
• Able to contribute a minimum of £2,500 to match fund the grant;
• Meet the eligibility guidelines for use of the Innovation Voucher;

Suitable Business Types

• Start-ups of all sizes, whether or not VAT registered
• Self-employed & sole traders
• Partnerships/limited liability partnerships
• Companies (private or public limited companies; private unlimited companies)
• Independent spin-outs from established businesses, universities and other research and development organisations;
• Not for profit companies, co-operatives, community enterprises, social enterprises
• Farm enterprises
• New to the region branches of businesses which remain established elsewhere in the UK (i.e. expansions)
• Foreign direct investment (FDI) bringing new enterprises to the region;
• Time investment and subsequent expansions

Eligible Sectors

Companies from certain sectors (and those associated with these sectors) will be given priority access to the grants (see table below), however, applications from companies not included in these groups that have good innovation ideas will also be considered.