The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) will invest up to £9.3 million in demonstration-stage projects. The projects must have the potential to transform lives in developing countries, through market-creating innovation. We will support projects that address one of ten global societal challenges recognised in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the development of innovative processes, products and services. These projects should lead to the deployment of those innovations within developing countries.

This funding is split into 2 phases:

Phase 1: Discovery – enabling businesses to gain insights into local market feasibility for the innovation prior to prototyping. To ensure that your innovation has the highest chance of being successfully adopted, you will need to understand cultural expectations, attitudes and local context in the developing country you are focusing on. Up to £60K grant funding per project.

Phase 2: Prototype –  to test, validate and improve a prototype of the innovation in a developing country market. Up to £500K grant funding per project.

This round of the competition is to secure funding for phase 1 projects. Only successful phase 1 applicants will be eligible to apply for the phase 2 funding.

Your Phase I Discovery project:

·        must include human-centred research and design to make sure your idea meets the needs of customers and users, and your prototype plans reflect realistic use cases

·        may in addition include activities to ensure that your prototype will be technically feasible in the local context of a developing country.

Sustainable Development Goals in scope for this competition:

·        SDG 3: good health and well-being

·        SDG 4: quality education

·        SDG 6: clean water and sanitation

·        SDG 8: decent work and economic growth

·        SDG 11: sustainable cities and communities

·        SDG 12: responsible consumption and production

·        SDG 13: climate action

·        SDG 14: life below water

·        SDG 15: life on land

·        SDG 16: peace, justice and strong institutions

The competition opens on March 2nd and closes on May 6th at midday 12pm UK time. For general questions, contact support@innovateuk.ukri.org .

Not able to attend? You can register for the event in London on 10th March here, or register to watch the live stream of the London event here.

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