Analysis for Innovators: National Physical Laboratory Stage 1
Support is available for SMEs to solve measurement and analysis problems with National Physical Laboratory.
Access cutting-edge R&D expertise and facilities
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) can apply for Innovate UK support to fix problems with measurement and analysis by working with experts at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
This two-stage competition aims to help businesses use scientific expertise and advanced lab facilities to improve how they work.
In stage 1, businesses explain the measurement or analysis problem they want to solve and how fixing it will help their productivity or competitiveness. No money is given at this stage.
If you pass stage 1, you will meet with NPL experts to discuss your problem and design a project. Then you can apply for stage 2 funding. Stage 2 projects must cost between £15,000 and £100,000, last three to nine months, and start between January and September 2026.
Projects must be based in the UK and results should benefit UK business.
Only UK-registered SMEs can apply. The problem must be about measuring or analysing something linked to your existing product, process, or service, and it can’t be solved with simple off-the-shelf methods or just software.
The deadline for applications is 11am on Monday 15 September 2025.
Find out more about this Analysis for Innovators competition.
First published 1 September 2025