GLOBAL BUSINESS INNOVATION PROGRAMME

Semiconductors – Japan 2024

Innovate UK is inviting ambitious companies to participate in its Global Business Innovation Programme, which aims to help UK businesses to grow and scale on a global stage through building R&D and innovation collaborations and partnerships. This engaging programme consists of a "Get Ready” preparation stage, a week-long innovation visit to Japan (with a tailored itinerary to engage with key stakeholders and gain market insights), an “Exploit the opportunity” workshop, and support from an Innovate UK innovation and growth specialist - helping your business to identify growth opportunities and develop innovation led collaborations with partners in Japan.

Innovate UK is committed to ensure that anyone, from any background, has an equal opportunity to be successful.

Programme Focus

Applications will be considered from a wide range of innovative semiconductor companies working in the following areas:

Applications

• Power Systems
• Automotive
• Telecoms
• Sensors
• Datacentres
• High Performance Computing (HPC)


Technologies focused on, but not limited to:
• Compound/WBG Semiconductors
• Heterogeneous/Hybrid Integration
• Advanced Packaging
• Photonics (including Silicon Photonics)
• Design/IP
• Advanced Materials
• Manufacture/Processing

Why Japan?
Japan, the world’s third-largest economy by GDP, leads in R&D investment as a percentage of GDP, generating numerous scientific publications and patents. Home to over 200 Forbes Global 2000 companies, Japan ranks third in global corporate R&D spending, trailing only the United States and China. This economic and technological prowess makes Japan a critical partner for the UK, especially in the semiconductor industry, where Japan’s manufacturing capabilities complement the UK’s strengths in design, intellectual property, and advanced materials.

The UK and Japan have built robust collaborations, particularly in semiconductors, marked by a joint statement between Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Technology & Industry and the UK’s Department of Science, Innovation & Technology. This partnership focuses on joint R&D in chip design, fabrication, advanced packaging, and materials. The collaboration includes leveraging R&D budgets, sharing expertise, organizing skill exchanges, and accessing research and prototyping facilities. The establishment of a UK-Japan semiconductor industry dialogue aims to enhance cooperation in trade and investment and bolster the resilience of semiconductor supply chains.

In May 2023, the UK and Japan renewed their science, technology, and innovation agreement, underscoring their mutual desire to strengthen ties. This renewal includes a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Innovate UK (IUK) and Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to boost co-innovation in key technological areas such as semiconductors. Japan’s significant investment in the semiconductor sector, surpassing $36 billion, along with plans by seven major semiconductor manufacturers to expand in the country, further highlights Japan’s strength and growing commitment to this field, especially in automotive, power semiconductors, sensors, and datacentres.
Applicant Briefing:

For more information on this programme and to compliment your application an Applicant Briefing will be held online on Tuesday 10 September at 10am. The briefing will be one hour, and cover programme focus, why Japan, eligibility, cost, and the application process.

To attend the briefing online you must register in advance.

Click the link to register: https://bit.ly/JapanApplicantBriefingRegistration

Key Dates:

Applicant briefing: 10 September 2024

Application deadline: 29 September 2024

Get Ready workshop: 28 & 29 October 2024

Innovation visit: 9 – 13 December 2024

Exploitation workshop: 6 March 2025


What to expect:

The Global Business Innovation Programme is structured around three main stages and each business will have a designated Innovate UK innovation and growth specialist to support them for the duration of the offering, including developing an action plan to capitalise on the opportunities identified. The three main phases of the Global Business Innovation Programme are: -

Get ready: In person briefing workshop to build knowledge and understanding of the market and potential opportunities, including how to do business, cultural aspects, how to protect your IP and training on how to improve your pitch and articulate your value proposition. (2 day workshop)

Visit the market: Explore the innovation opportunities first-hand through meeting with key companies and research organisations and potential collaborators and partners through prearranged meetings and organised matchmaking. (5 days of market related activity)

Exploit the opportunity: An exploitation workshop and one-to-one support from an Innovate UK innovation and growth specialist to follow up and take advantage of the opportunities identified. (1 day workshop and as a guide, around 5 days of working with an Innovate UK innovation and growth specialist)


Additional Information & Assistance:

Please note: Successful applicants will be expected to fully comply with any conditions of travel to Japan as well as any local regulations on face covering and social distancing. The safety of our delegation is our top priority. If unforeseen circumstance does not allow us to travel to the market, a virtual visit may be considered.

For more information, assistance with your application or to discuss accessibility needs, please contact: Trevor Marshall via email: trevor.marshall@innovateukedge.ukri.org.


3 sections to complete:

Section 1 Applicant information
Section 2 Business information and suitability with scope and objective
Section 3 Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Section 2 is your opportunity to provide information that will be assessed against the scope and objectives for the programme.

An offline copy of the application form is available for download

The information you wish to submit MUST BE ENTERED ONLINE for the application to be accepted.

Make sure to complete all section
Section 1: Applicant Information

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* 1. Applicant Name
This should be a senior person from the business who will be involved in all stages of the Programme.

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* 2. Position

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* 3. Email

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* 4. Phone

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* 5. ext.

Company Information

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* 6. Company Name

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* 7. Company Address

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* 8. Company Registration No.

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* 9. Website

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* 10. Number of Employees

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* 11. Annual Turnover

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* 12. Company Stage

Section 2: Business Information and suitability with scope and objectives

All questions in this section are mandatory. An incomplete application will not be considered.

This section is your opportunity to provide information that will be assessed against the scope and objectives for the programme.

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* 13. How does your application fit with the scope of this Global Business Innovation Programme? (1000 characters max)

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* 14. Please give a short description of the new product and/or services your business is developing. What is Innovative about it? (1000 characters max)

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* 15. What stage is your product and/or service? (e.g., Pre - R&D, early R&D, prototyping/testing or full product in market) (1000 characters max)

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* 16. Please describe your target market and the likely fit of your product/service? How large is the (global) market? What is your route to market? (1000 characters max)

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* 17. How globally active is your business currently? Please indicate which market or markets your business is currently active in. (1000 characters max)

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* 18. Why are you specifically interested in working with the country that is the focus for this Global Business Innovation Programme? (1000 characters max)

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* 19. Given that this Programme is looking to help companies build collaborations and partnerships, are there any specific companies, universities or other organisations you would be keen to meet with as part of the Programme? If so, please state why. (1000 characters max)

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* 20. What does your business want to gain by participating in this Global Business Innovation Programme? How are you going to grow and scale your business as a result of participating in the Programme? (1000 characters max)

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* 21. What do you see are your main barriers to innovation and/or internationalisation? (1000 characters max)

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* 22. How are you going to embed the knowledge gained from this Programme into your business? E.g. Resources, strategies, budgets, etc. (1000 characters max)

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* 23. Please highlight if you have previously participated in a Global Business Innovation Programme or benefited from other Innovate UK programmes or funding or support through Innovate UK Business Growth. If you have, please indicate how you have exploited the involvement. (1000 characters max)

Section 3: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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* 24. Do you consider yourself to have a disability?

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* 25. Do you have any caring responsibilities? If yes, please tick all that apply

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* 26. What is your religion or belief?

Section 4: Subsidy Control

The innovation growth and scaling advisory and support services delivered as part of Innovate UK Business Growth, including the Global Business Innovation Programme, are deemed to be a subsidy. Businesses selected to participate in a Global Business Innovation Programme will be in receipt of subsidy (below £10,000) and details of this will be held centrally by Innovate UK Business Growth.
Section 5: Terms and Conditions
TERMS & CONDITIONS

If your application is successful, you will be expected to pay a £1000 (excluding VAT) refundable deposit prior to attending the Get ready workshop. The deposit will be returned to you at the end of the Global Business Innovation Programme - 6 months following innovation activities. If you are successful, you will be expected to sign an agreement to this effect.

If your application is successful and you fail to participate in all activities, including the exploitation phase for up to 6 months post innovation activities, your deposit may not be refunded.

As the applicant, I support the statements as described above and acknowledge I have read all supporting documentation related to the Global Business Innovation Programme application form

By submitting this application you are agreeing to the above.

PRIVACY POLICY

We take your data very seriously and are committed to the privacy and security of it. Our Privacy Statement explains the types of personal data we may collect about you and how we'll store and handle that data, and keep it safe.

WITHDRAWAL OF SUPPORT

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) reserve the right to withdraw support at any time even after you have been accepted onto the programme. If your company is deemed to be ineligible for support due to any information that may become available to UKRI after the date of acceptance, you will be notified immediately and the commitment fee refunded to you within 7 business days of the letter of notice.

What's Next?

When you submit your completed application you will see an on screen message acknowledging you have completed the process. You will receive an email after the application has been reviewed and assessed. Email responses will be sent out from week commencing 7th October.

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