Innovate UK is inviting ambitious companies to participate in the Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIP) with Germany. Please note there is also a similar GBIP with Canada and businesses can only apply for one of these.

Delivered by Innovate UK EDGE, the programme consists of a preparation phase, a 5-day innovation visit focussed on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that includes access to one of Europe’s largest AI events, a post-visit exploitation workshop and support of approximately 12 months from an Innovate UK EDGE Innovation and Growth Specialist, helping your business maximise the opportunities identified, including developing innovation projects with partners in the territory.

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

Why Germany

Germany is the largest European economy and the fourth largest in the world.

In 2018 the German government published the German AI Strategy – with an associated budget of €5 billion until 2025 – which outlined the progress made in AI and the future goals of the sector. As part of the 2020 update sustainability and international outreach are put at the heart of new initiatives.

The first pillar is to make Germany a world leader in AI. The second involves the use of ‘responsible AI’, which involves funding AI applications that bring a positive impact to the environment. The final pillar aims to ensure that the ethics, legal, cultural and institutional impacts of AI are taken into account.

Germany is also a driving force behind EU-wide AI initiatives.

With a market close to the UK, good experiences of working together, excellent university and R&D establishments and funding opportunities available through Horizon Europe and national funders, the market offers significant opportunities for UK companies which can make an impact for German businesses.

Focus Areas

This initiative is particularly relevant for businesses building solutions with artificial intelligence at the core of the value proposition (any sector or vertical).

Benefits

• Explore opportunities for AI technologies in the German market.
• Visit two major tech clusters in Germany to gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities of doing business with Germany.
• Meet key players in AI in Germany
• Find potential innovation collaborators and partners and develop your network in the UK and globally.
• Improve your company value proposition to international partners and investors.

To apply for this initiative, you must

• Be a UK based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and internationalise.
• Be a company with fewer than 500 employees.
• Be able to attend and complete all activities.

Please note:

• Only 15 places are available for this programme and one delegate per company is permitted to attend.
• This is a competitive selection process. All applications will be reviewed and assessed.
• The delegate should be the CEO or senior decision maker in the company.
• All stages of the GBIP are mandatory to attend.
• Once successful a commitment fee of £500 will be obtained from each delegate. This will be refunded on completion of the full activities and agreed action plan.