Congratulations on submitting your grant application! Now that the hard part is over, it’s time to understand what happens next in the assessment process. Grant funding assessment involves several stages, each crucial for determining the success of your application. Let’s dive into the journey your application will embark on: 

1. Initial Eligibility Assessment

Once the competition deadline passes, the grant funding application undergoes an initial eligibility assessment. This step sifts through applications to ensure they meet the criteria outlined for the competition. For themed competitions, there’s an additional assessment to determine if the application aligns with the scope of the competition.

2.Technical Assessment

Applications that pass the eligibility stage move on to technical assessment. This phase involves evaluation by up to five independent assessors who are experts in relevant fields from both business and academia. Assessors score applications based on predefined criteria, often providing detailed feedback on strengths and weaknesses.

3. Interview Stage (if applicable)

Certain competitions include an interview stage for top-rated applications post-technical assessment. If your application advances to this stage, you’ll receive a request to respond to assessor feedback and prepare a presentation for the interview. Meeting deadlines for feedback response, presentation submission, and interview attendance is crucial for maintaining your eligibility for funding. 

Note: The Innovate UK SMART competition does not include an interview stage.

4. Grant Funding Application Assessment Panel

After technical assessment (and interview, if applicable), the funding body convenes to finalise offers. Factors such as application quality, assessor feedback (if interviews were conducted), and project costs inform the decision-making process. Themed competitions may adopt a portfolio approach to ensure representation across targeted themes, as outlined in the competition information. For programmes like the Innovate UK SMART grant, funding is offered to the highest-scoring proposals within the defined budget. 

Useful Tips for Success: 

• Prepare Thoroughly: Familiarise yourself with the competition’s criteria and tailor your application accordingly to maximise eligibility. 
• Engage with Feedback: Take advantage of any feedback provided during the assessment process to strengthen your application. 
• Adhere to Deadlines: Timely response to feedback, presentation submission, and interview attendance are crucial for maintaining your eligibility for funding. 
• Demonstrate Value: Clearly articulate the impact and value of your project in your application and presentation to stand out to assessors. 
• Stay Informed: Regularly check competition updates and communicate any concerns or queries with the funding body promptly. 

By understanding the assessment process and proactively engaging with each stage, you can enhance the likelihood of securing grant funding for your project. Remember, perseverance and attention to detail are key as you navigate the journey towards funding success. Learn more in this video:

Contact Us 

If you are interested in finding out whether you have a good chance of securing grant funding, please don’t hesitate to contact our Grants Team.