{"id":17934,"date":"2020-04-03T19:30:57","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T19:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rbsitsoftwaresolution.com\/blog\/in-the-wake-of-covid-19-uk-puts-up-20m-in-grants-to-develop-resilience-tech-for-critical-industries.html"},"modified":"2020-04-03T19:30:57","modified_gmt":"2020-04-03T19:30:57","slug":"in-the-wake-of-covid-19-uk-puts-up-20m-in-grants-to-develop-resilience-tech-for-critical-industries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbsitsoftwaresolution.in\/blog\/in-the-wake-of-covid-19-uk-puts-up-20m-in-grants-to-develop-resilience-tech-for-critical-industries.html","title":{"rendered":"In the wake of COVID-19, UK puts up \u00a320M in grants to develop resilience tech for critical industries"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most of the world \u2014 despite the\u00a0canaries<\/a> in the coal mine<\/a> \u2014 was unprepared to cope with the coronavirus outbreak that\u2019s now besieging us. Now, work is starting to get underway both to help manage what is going on now and better prepare us in the future. In the latest development, the UK government today announced that it will issue \u00a320 million ($24.5 million) in grants of up to \u00a350,000 each to startups and other businesses that are developing tools to improve resilience for critical industries \u2014 in other words, those that need to keep moving when something cataclysmic like a pandemic hits.<\/p>\n

You can start your application here<\/a>. Unlike a lot of other government efforts, this one is aimed at a quick start: you need to be ready to kick of your project using the grant no later than June 2020, but earlier is okay, too.<\/p>\n

Awarded through\u00a0Innovate UK, which part of UK Research and Innovation (itself a division of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), the grants will be available to businesses of any size as long as they are UK-registered, and aim to cover a wide swathe of industries that form the core fabric of how society and the economy can continue to operate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Covid-19 situation is not just a health emergency, but also one that effects the economy and society. With that in mind, Innovate UK has launched this rapid response competition today seeking smart ideas from innovators,\u201d said Dr Ian Campbell Executive Chair, Innovate UK, in a statement. \u201cThese could be proposals to help the distribution of goods, educate children remotely, keep families digitally connected and even new ideas to stream music and entertainment. The UK needs a great national effort and Innovate UK is helping by unleashing the power of innovation for people and businesses in need.\u201d<\/p>\n

These include not just what are typically considered \u201ccritical\u201d industries like healthcare and food production and distribution, but also those that are less tangible but equally important in keeping society running smoothly, like entertainment and wellbeing services:<\/p>\n