NPL opens Analysis for Innovators (A4I) competition for new applications
Applications for Stage 1 opened on 15 September 2026 and close at 11am on 6 October 2026.
5 minute read
UK small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can apply from 15 September for the latest round of A4I, a programme designed to help businesses overcome challenging measurement and analysis problems that are holding back innovation, productivity and growth.
A4I connects SMEs with leading measurement scientists, specialist facilities and technical expertise from across the UK's national measurement and innovation infrastructure. Through collaborative research projects, participating businesses can access support that would otherwise be difficult to obtain, helping them address complex technical challenges and accelerate commercial innovation.
The programme provides access to world-class expertise and facilities to help businesses improve products, services and processes, reduce costs, demonstrate compliance and reach new markets. Possible partners include:
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
- The National Gear Metrology Laboratory (NGML) at Newcastle University (NCL)
- The National Measurement Laboratory (NML) at LGC
- TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory
Projects are designed to help SMEs improve productivity and competitiveness while creating clear opportunities for growth and development within the UK. Successful projects will start in April 2027 and can cost up to £100,000.
Supporting UK innovation through measurement expertise
Analysis for Innovators helps companies to:
- improve reliability of products, services and processes
- improve performance of existing products
- improve manufacturing output
- reduce rejection rates and associated costs
- demonstrate compliance with standards and specifications
- access new markets
Through the programme, SMEs gain access to cutting-edge facilities, expert scientific knowledge and specialist research capability that can help unlock innovation and tackle technical challenges that cannot easily be solved using off-the-shelf approaches.
The first stage of the competition opened on 15 September 2026.
Find out more by joining our webinar
15 Sep 2026