Who is eligible for Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (West Midlands)?

Available in: England. Applicant must be a registered business. Most relevant to: Creative Arts & Media, Manufacturing, Healthcare & Social Care, Research & Development, Technology & Digital.

What is the deadline for Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (West Midlands)?

This is a rolling scheme with no fixed deadline.

Back

GrantEngland Birmingham City Council Coventry City Council Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Walsall Council City of Wolverhampton Council

Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (West Midlands)

West Midlands Combined Authority and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Description

Grants of £100,000 to £1 million (for projects sized £200,000-£2 million with 50% industry match funding) to commercialise near-to-market R&D at scale, for businesses developing new products and services in one of three priority areas: the Clinical Commercial Catalyst for Health & Life Sciences, CISL for Creative and Immersive Technologies, or FORGE for Advanced Manufacturing. Delivered by the West Midlands Combined Authority and UKRI across all seven WMCA authorities, following the consolidation of the former Black Country, Coventry & Warwickshire, and Greater Birmingham & Solihull Growth Hubs into a single 'Business Growth West Midlands' service.

Amount

£100,000-£1 million grants (for projects of £200,000-£2 million total size, with 50% industry match funding required)

Deadline

Rolling / no fixed deadline

Eligibility summary

Available in: England.
Applicant must be a registered business.
Most relevant to: Creative Arts & Media, Manufacturing, Healthcare & Social Care, Research & Development, Technology & Digital.

Notes: Up to 30% of grant value can be allocated to a research/technology organisation partner (university, catapult centre, NHS Trust, local/combined authority, etc.). Grants are paid in arrears. This is distinct from the automotive-sector-specific DRIVE35 Supplier Readiness and Transformation Fund (also WMCA-delivered, capital grants £250,000-£3,000,000, but spans a much wider geography beyond the seven WMCA authorities) and from the closed West Midlands SME/Business Grants Programme (its dedicated page now 404s, confirming it is no longer open).
Requirement: Business-led, near-to-market R&D project aligned to one of the three LIPF priority areas, able to provide 50% industry match funding (cash or in-kind), based in the core WMCA area (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton) or able to demonstrate clear additional economic benefit to it.

Want help with this application?

R&D claims and business grants are exactly where a specialist can make the biggest difference — both in claim size and time saved. We're building relationships with vetted professionals who can help with applications like this — register your interest and we'll follow up when we have someone to recommend.

Some of the organisations we may connect you with pay us a referral fee if you use their service. This never affects which listings you see in the directory. No live partner is confirmed yet for this listing.

You can also do this yourself for free via the official source

How to apply

Complete a short expression-of-interest form on the Business Growth West Midlands website for one of the three LIPF projects; further eligibility detail and a two-stage application process follow an initial assessment.

View official source

Last verified: 23 August 2026. See the footer disclaimer — this is general information, not financial or tax advice.