FOI release

FOI2026/00446: Innovation Assessment Structures Concerning Early-Stage Applicants

Some or all of the information requested was not provided because we didn't hold it.

Case reference FOI2026/00446

Received 20 May 2026

Published 3 August 2026

Request

Request Received: 20 May 2026

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request information relating to Innovate UK and/or DSIT innovation assessment structures concerning early-stage applicants and exploratory scientific projects.

Specifically, I request any available information regarding:

1. how “early stage” is defined within relevant Innovate UK assessment processes;

2. the criteria used when assessing applicants considered “too early stage”;

3. the proportion of rejected applications categorised as early-stage or insufficiently developed over the past five years;

4. the proportion of funded applicants who already possessed:

  • laboratory facilities,

  • engineering teams,

  • existing prototypes,

  • institutional partnerships,

  • or prior significant funding;

5. whether Innovate UK or DSIT maintains internal analysis regarding barriers faced by:

  • sole researchers,

  • micro-enterprises,

  • independent inventors,

  • or unconventional scientific applicants;

6. any reports, policy discussions, or reviews concerning whether current innovation structures sufficiently support exploratory or frontier-stage scientific thinking.

If some information falls under exemption categories, I would still request partial disclosure where possible.

7. I would also appreciate clarification regarding whether Innovate UK assessment structures are primarily intended to support:

  • commercially mature projects,

  • or genuinely exploratory early-stage scientific capability.

I request this information in the public interest regarding innovation accessibility, scientific governance, and the long-term effectiveness of UK innovation structures

Response

Response Sent: 25 June 2026

Full details of this response are available in the attached document.

Documents

This is UK Research and Innovation's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

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