The Knowledge Transfer Network, (KTN), Monthly Digital and Creative Business Briefing update. Listing support and innovation opportunities for UK Digital Technology Businesses More info: www.ktn-uk.org

1. Digital
& Creative Business Briefing
July 2019

2. Content
• Feature
• Funding competitions
• Support programmes
• Training and Awards
• Upcoming events
• Investors Directory
• Networks
• Register for updates

3. Feature
Inspiring Investment 2019
Date: 17th July
Venue: Knowledge Transfer Network, London
KTN in partnership with UKBAA (UK Business Angels Association) are yet again running the ‘Inspiring
Investment’ masterclass. A one day course at the Business Design Centre in London on 17th July to help
businesses perfect their investment pitch.
This is a unique opportunity to create highly inspiring and engaging communication along with excellent
presentation skills to help you create a flawless pitch and winning strategy to finding and converting
investors.
READ MORE

4. Feature
AI for Services - networking opportunity
Join AI For Services (aiforservices.org): A UK wide network bringing together Data and Artificial Intelligence businesses and
academics with professionals working in the high value service sectors of legal, accountancy insurance and finance. This is a
free membership to stay up to date with the innovation happening in the sector, connect with academic, industry experts and
ambitious high growth entrepreneurs, and join insightful events.
READ MORE

5. Funding
Innovate UK Smart Grants: summer 2019
Deadline: 24th July
Smart is the new name for Innovate UK’s ‘Open grant funding’ programme. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will
invest up to £25 million in the best game-changing, innovative or disruptive ideas with a view to commercialisation.
This competition provides funding for innovative research and development (R&D) from feasibility (including market research),
through to technology or prototype testing and development stages up to (but not including) commercialisation.
All proposals must be business focused, rather than pure research. Applications can come from any area of technology (including
arts, design, media or creative industries), science or engineering and be applied to any part of the economy.
READ MORE

6. Funding
Enabling Data Access in Accountancy, Insurance and Legal Services: Innovation Lab
Deadline: noon, 4th September
UKRI/ Innovate UK has just launched a new funding competition as part of the Industrial Strategy Next Generation Services
Challenge: Up to £3.5 million will be awarded to projects developing data access methods to enable the application of
artificial intelligence (AI) and data technologies in the accountancy, insurance and legal services sector.
This is a two stage competition:
First, individuals can submit an Expression of Interest to join a 3 day Innovation Lab on behalf of their organisation (14th-
16th October) and 4 weeks after the Lab, the project consortia will be required to submit their proposals for assessment.
READ MORE

7. Funding
EUREKA: Singapore open competition
Deadline: 19th September
EUREKA, in partnership with Enterprise Singapore, announce a Global Stars funding competition for research and
development (R&D) projects under the EUREKA programme.
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is investing £1 million to fund UK businesses leading collaborative
research and development (R&D) projects.
Projects should result in a new product, industrial process or service, be innovative and involve a technological risk.
Projects must be co-ordinated by a lead partner from the UK and a lead partner from Singapore. Partners from each
additional country should also nominate a lead from that country.
READ MORE

8. Funding
Artificial intelligence-supported early fracture diagnosis: SBRI competition
Deadline: 24th July
Organisations can apply for a share of £240,000, including VAT, to develop an innovative AI solution for radiological
diagnosis of fractures of upper and/or lower limbs.
The challenge is to develop an AI or machine-based learning programme that can help healthcare organisations accurately
identify whether a patient has a fracture. This is initially a classification problem (by assigning a value of yes, no or maybe).
In simple terms, the task to begin with is to develop an automatic system that, with a degree of certainty, can remove from
clinicians’ workload those that are definitely yes or no, leaving them to focus on the more complex images. This is an initial
step towards integrating AI systems into a mainstream clinical workflow within the NHS and could be a platform for
building more intelligent learning systems.
READ MORE

9. Funding
Using data and igital technology to deliver better adult social care: SBRI competition
Deadline: 17th July
Organisations can apply for a share of £1.25 million, including VAT, to develop data and digital technology to deliver better
adult social care.
The aim of this competition is to make adult social care provision more effective and efficient. This includes solutions that
will ultimately help prevent the need for social care services in some cases.
Adult social care plays a major part in keeping some of us well, independent, living in the community and out of hospital
for longer. Demand is increasing however, resources are under pressure and we know that we need to become smarter in
targeting support to those that need it most.
We would be particularly interested in proposals for technology that can track data in real-time and join up how we deploy
and sensitively prioritise our resources to the best effect.
READ MORE

10. Support Programmes
Tech Nation Fintech – the sector-specific scaleup growth programme
Deadline: 9th July
Following the success of our first Fintech cohort last year, this year’s programme is on the hunt for the UK’s very best pre Series A
fintechs, to help them accelerate their growth and scale at speed. Beginning in September 2019, the programme is non-residential
and happens over a 6 month period. The programme is free, with no cost or equity stake taken by Tech Nation. A cohort of 25
exciting fintech companies will be selected to participate.
The agenda includes:
- 9 themed insight sessions with top fintech entrepreneurs talking about their learnings on building world-leading companies.
- 5 social events with decision makers and key fintech stakeholders, such as leading financial institutions and investors, government
representatives and financial regulators. 2 CTO gatherings where technical founders can exchange challenges and wins with their peers.
- An international trip to the main market of interest. Last year’s trip was to New York City.
READ MORE

11. Support Programmes
The ScaleUp Accellerator
KTN supports The Accelerator Network as they launch a new high growth programme - The ScaleUp Accelerator
The ScaleUp Accelerator (TSA) is a programme designed to support the CEOs and founders of high growth companies as they
progress through the ScaleUp stage of company development and growth. This is most typically supporting companies grow from
£1m in annualised review to £10m and beyond. TSA leverages nearly a decade of expertise by The Accelerator Network team
delivering accelerator programmes and White Horse Capital’s strong connections in the VC community, with over £300m of
funding secured for accelerated startups and scaleups.
TSA is the perfect programme for CEOs and founders to address each area of their business in turn to ensure you are ready
to grow and raise Series A (VC) funding. This three month programme does this by delivering day-long sprints each week in to the
key areas of your business supported by experts and investors.
READ MORE

12. Support Programmes
Machines for Machine Intelligence
Deadline: 18th August
Machine Intelligence Garage is a programme that helps businesses access the computation power and expertise they need to
develop and build machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions.
Machine Intelligence Garage is designed to help startups with a well defined business idea and technical capability for whom
access to computation power is a barrier to growth. Successful applicants will get access to best-in-class cloud compute, hosted
hardware or UK HPC from our partners and collaborators.
Machine Intelligence Garage hosts workshops and experimentation-days to help companies of all sizes get to grips with systems
for machine intelligence. The programme is independent and provider-agnostic.
READ MORE

13. Support programmes
MSDUK
MSDUK is proud to champion the best of British ethnic minority businesses and work with progressive global corporations
that understand the value of supply chain inclusion and diversity. Since 2006, MSDU has worked with over 125 global
brands and more than 1500 EMBs, introducing hundreds of ethnic minority founders – offering them a platform to
showcase their innovative ideas, and provide them access to knowledge, investment and market to help them grow and
achieve their dreams.
READ MORE

14. Support programmes
Virgin StartUp - StepUp
StepUp is a 2-day programme designed for female founders who want to take their business to scale.
The programme includes a series of workshops and networking opportunities to help founders develop the skills and
knowledge they need in order to take their business to the next level.
We have designed StepUp to focus on the areas of business which we know founders will get the most value from; sales,
funding and investment.
Over the course of the two days, participants will hear from a host of expert speakers and entrepreneurs who have
successfully scaled their start-ups in the last few years.
READ MORE

15. Support programmes
Capital Enterprise – OneTech
OneTech supports underrepresented tech founders in London. One of our main goals is to double the number of female
and BAME-led tech start-ups raising investment through our programmes.
The programme offers a range of dedicated support for young people, including a pre-Accelerator, startup weekends and
help brokering connections between young people seeking paid internships and tech startups looking for interns.
If you’re a student looking for an internship or a young founder seeking ongoing support as you get your business off of the
ground, look no further! If you’re 18 – 24 years old, register for either branch of the support.
READ MORE

16. Support programmes
Plexal - OpenDoor
When it comes to levelling the playing field, we’re looking to the innovation community.
So if you’ve got a solution that can help boost social inclusion and make it easier for people from under-represented
groups to start a business, find work or succeed in their career, we want to help you scale.
As well as a bespoke package of support, we’ll help you get in front of largest tech companies and organisations.
Applications are open now and close at midnight on 12 July.
READ MORE

17. Support programmes
StateZero Labs
Deadline: 12th July
The StateZero programme is thirteen weeks long and tackles the biggest barriers to entry and growth for early-stage
startups. We address all the key challenges from early product development and tech integration, through to investor pitch
refinement, and customer acquisition. All of this alongside offering high-quality business workshops and mentorship from
leading industry professionals. As a result, our programme consists of four key stages… Learn, Build, Develop, Reflect.
READ MORE

18. Support programmes
CyLon
Deadline: 14th July
Our world-leading accelerator programmes run twice a year at our hubs in both London and Singapore. Join us for three
months and we’ll connect you to industry leaders to help you grow in the way you need.
Each programme culminates in a Demo Day, when teams pitch their product to a curated, invite-only audience of over 150
customers and investors.
Your time with CyLon won’t end after three months. As you grow, the CyLon team and our global network will be
there every step of the way. Our collective experience will help you to build a sustainable, scalable business.
READ MORE

19. Support programmes
HutZero
Deadline: 21st July
HutZero is the leading early-stage entrepreneur bootcamp which helps you gain all the tools you need to get your idea off
the ground.
Whether you are just finishing your studies on cyber security, or have worked in the corporate world for a number of years,
HutZero supports individuals at the very start of their entrepreneurial journey.
Run by CyLon and the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT), HutZero’s FREE two-stage programme connects
20 budding UK entrepreneurs with potential co-founders and a broad network of cyber and innovation experts.
READ MORE

20. Support programmes
Knowledge Transfer Partnership
• The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme helps businesses in the UK to innovate and grow by linking them with
an academic or research organisation and a graduate.
• The scheme can last between 12 and 36 months, depending on what the project is and the needs of the business.
• A KTP is part-funded by a grant. You will need to contribute to the salary of the Associate who will work with your
business, plus the cost of a supervisor who will oversee the scheme.
READ MORE

21. Support programmes
SETsquared Support Programme
From idea to scale-up, SETsquared has a comprehensive range of programmes which will help boost your business to the
next level.
SETsquared is a unique enterprise partnership and a dynamic collaboration between the five leading research-led UK
universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey. Twice ranked as the Global No. 1 Business Incubator, we
provide a wide range of highly acclaimed support programmes to help turn ideas into thriving businesses.
READ MORE

22. Support programmes
Westcott Business Incubation Centre support programmes
The Westcott Business Incubation Centre (BIC) is located on the Westcott Venture Park, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Our mission is to encourage the development of new companies working in the strategic growth areas of rocket
propulsion, 5G communications, drones and other autonomous systems.
You can find out more about our focus areas
Westcott is already home to a thriving nucleus of space companies. The Westcott BIC will work together with existing
expertise on the site and other planned investments, including the UK Space Agency’s National Propulsion Test
Centre, Reaction Engines’ rocket engine test facility, the Westcott 5G Step-out Centre and the Westcott Innovation Centre.
The Westcott BIC is funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)and developed by the Satellite
Applications Catapult, Rockspring Hanover Property Unit Trust and Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise
Partnership (BTVLEP).
READ MORE

23. Awards
Digital Impact Awards
Open for entries: 4th February 2019
Final deadline: 21st July 2019
Awards Ceremony: October 2019
The Digital Impact Awards sets the industry-wide benchmark in digital stakeholder engagement. The event honours the
best corporate digital communications work in Europe.
The Digital Impact Awards has a long-standing reputation in the digital community as the leading event honouring the best
corporate digital work. Winning a Digital Impact Award helps set organisations apart from their competitors and provides
the opportunity to sustain their current clients, gain new business and engage internal teams.
READ MORE

24. Upcoming events
Next Generation Services: Enabling Data -
Competition Briefing Event
10th July – Manchester
11th July - Edinburgh
22nd July – Cardiff
5G in Action
5th July, Bournemouth
5G: Revolution or Evolution
16th July, London
H2020 Interactive Technologies Calls – Briefing
webinar
11th July, online
Unbound London
17th - 18th July, London
Inspiring Investment 2019
17th July, London
Analysis for Innovators (A4I) Round 5 – Competition
Briefing Event Webcast
31st July, online
Digital Business Meet-up: International & Export
1st August, London
MSDUK 2019 Conference
17th – 18th September, London
Women in Innovation: Building Success in the North
24th September
TechDay London
25th October, London
Keep up-to-date with KTN events here

25. Investment
Private Investment Directory – Digital Refer
Digital Refer now includes more than 250 organisations that provide private investment to digital and creative
businesses in the UK including:
• Accelerator programmes
• Business incubators
• Start-up studios
• Venture Capital funds
• Angel investor networks
• Corporate Venture Capital firm
LINK

26. Networks: Immerse UK
• Augmented and Virtual Reality Independent Network
• Bringing together businesses, public sector & research
• Free to Join
• Learn more about Immersive Tech developments
• Help shape UK funding & research policy
• Showcase your ideas & identify funding opportunities
• Make business connections & form collaborative partnerships
http://www.immerseuk.org/

27. Networks: UK5G
https://uk5g.org/
• Promotion of research, collaboration and the commercial application of 5G in the UK
• Share the knowledge and lessons of 5G Testbeds & Trials projects
• Enable new partnerships between technologists, potential new entrants and major industrial adopters
• Support local (and international) investment opportunities

28. KTN Digital Updates
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