Feasibility funding now open - £2m for early-stage materials innovation
UK businesses can now apply for a share of £2 million to explore new materials innovation through short feasibility studies - the first phase of the National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP).
Each project can request £50,000–£100,000 in grant funding to test promising ideas, with a focus on industrial relevance and end-user demand.
Competition deadline - Tuesday 17 December 2025 at 11:00am
Who can apply
- UK-registered businesses of any size
- Projects must be industry-led
- Each application must include a Letter of Support from an end-user
- Projects must:
- Start by 1 May 2026
- Complete by 31 January 2027
- Run for no longer than 9 months
End-users must operate in one of the UK’s recognised Industrial Strategy growth sectors.
What’s in scope
Projects must align with one of six NMIP high-growth opportunity themes or the strategic area of metamaterials and metasurfaces:
- Net-zero energy solutions
- Future healthcare
- Structural innovations
- Advanced surface technologies and materials durability
- Next-generation electronics, telecoms and sensors
- Packaging, polymers and consumer products
- Strategic opportunity: metamaterials and metasurfaces
This round is especially relevant to those working in:
- Composites
- Sustainable materials
- Materials for extreme environments
- Functional or hybrid materials
Example project types
- Recyclable or circular composite systems
- Hybrid composite–metamaterial structures
- Functional or surface-enhanced materials
- Material systems for demanding operating conditions
- Automated or precision manufacturing techniques
- Advanced polymer systems or packaging materials
What won’t be funded
- Basic research with no clear route to application
- Projects outside the NMIP themes
- Duplications of existing commercial products
- Proposals without market pull or end-user support
How NCC can support
NCC can:
- Connect you with relevant end-users or collaborators
- Support technically where appropriate
Deadline: Wednesday, 17 December 2025, 11:00am
Published date: Tue, 18 Nov 2025