The Creative Catalyst Challenge Fund is a grant fund enabling creative talent to apply their capacity for innovation to tackle a specific challenge within the industry.
The Fund is intended to be used for the research and development of an innovative new product/system or process that decarbonises or reduces waste within the Creative Industries, reducing the impact on climate and/or leading towards net zero.
The proposed new product/system or process will enable companies to build upon their creative and commercial ideas, creating opportunity for business growth.
Proposals must:
• Be from the creative industries or support the creative industries.
• Demonstrate clear benefits for the UK creative industry and the wider UK.
• Focus on a clear opportunity and the proposed innovation which addresses it.
• Address and engage in cross-sector innovation that has positive impact on the environment.
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For Round 2, the overall £250,000 funding pot will be allocated as follows:
• One award of up to £100,000 for more established businesses with market traction and customers of a product, ideally with co-investment in place.
• Two awards of up to £50,000 each for businesses 2+ years old looking to develop a new product or idea.
• Two awards of up to £25,000 each – very early-stage/new businesses and R&D ideas.
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Who Can Apply
Applications are invited from Registered Ltd Companies/SMEs based in the UK and working in the following sub-sectors of the Creative Industries:
• Music & Sound
• Advertising & Marketing
• Crafts
• Visual Arts
• Dance, Theatre & Performance
• Architecture
• Publishing
• AR, VR & Immersive
• Createch
• TV & Broadcasting
• Film
• Gaming
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Restrictions
The money cannot be spent on:
• Anything the applicant would have normally paid for without the grant, support such as overheads – this includes legal and accountancy fees which would be classed as an ongoing expense of running a business, eg payroll administration.
• Statutory costs, eg health and safety.
• All staff who do not perform a role directly associated with the delivery of the project, that is those performing supporting roles such as reception, central finance, IT support and organisation management.
• Any expenditure which is not related to the project or named in the final approved budget.
• Recoverable VAT.
• Dividends.
• Cash withdrawals.
• Penalties, eg late filing fees.
• Payments in advance of need.
• Retrospective payments, prior to project.
• Spend on alcohol within refreshments, entertaining.
• Non-standard UK travel, eg first-class travel.
• International travel, unless agreed at outset.
(This is not an exhaustive list.)
Due to the availability of other funds and support – the fund will not be accepting applications from:
• Fashion businesses/products/ideas.
• Monitoring or reporting tools for the sector.
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Eligible Expenditure
The programme will support creative and commercial ideas that develop new technologies and processes for decarbonising and reducing waste.
Some examples of what could be funded:
• Developing/ prototyping new tech for reducing excess waste at music festivals.
• Developing innovative new manufacturing processes for an everyday product within a creative industry.
• Innovation in access to power – eg on a film set.
Examples of the types of projects being sought:
• Developing/prototyping innovative new manufacturing processes for an everyday product within a creative industry.
• Developing/prototyping innovations in energy efficiency or low-carbon power in creative industry operations, eg on film sets and at events or in creative technologies.
• Developing/prototyping new tech or services for reducing waste and introducing more circular economy principles eg in production, at events, in creative industries specific manufacturing.
The money can be spent on:
• Equipment (hire or purchase).
• Wages – for PAYE personnel directly engaged on the project (including graduate and/or student placements).
• Travel, venue costs.
• Payment for freelancers and consultants.
• Marketing and publicity.
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How To Apply
Round 2 is now open. The deadline for applications is 22 July 2024 (09:00).
More information can be accessed at the Creative UK website.
Contact Creative UK for further information.
Maximum value: £ 100,000
Application deadline: 22/07/2024
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