Made Smarter grant eligibility for AI and automation
Made Smarter offers UK small and medium manufacturers matched grants to adopt digital technology, including automation and AI. Here is who tends to qualify, what it can fund, and how we help you scope a project that fits.
What Made Smarter is
Made Smarter is a UK programme that helps small and medium manufacturers adopt digital technology, with matched funding, advice and support delivered through the regions. For a manufacturer weighing up automation or AI, it can turn a maybe into a yes by covering part of the cost.
Funding rounds, amounts and the exact regional coverage change over time, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm the current position on the official Made Smarter website before you rely on it.
Who tends to be eligible
A manufacturer
The programme is aimed at businesses that make or process products, rather than services firms.
Small or medium sized
It targets SMEs, with size thresholds on employees and turnover that vary by round.
In a covered region
Delivery is regional, so eligibility depends on where your site is. Coverage has been expanding.
Able to match fund
Grants are typically matched, so you contribute a share of the project cost alongside the grant.
Adopting digital tech
The project should introduce or expand digital technology, such as automation, data tools or AI.
Ready to commit
You will usually need a clear project and the intent to see it through, not just an idea.
What it can fund
Made Smarter support has been used for a wide range of digital projects, from data and connectivity to automation and, increasingly, AI. If your plan is to add an AI layer that helps you quote faster, cut manual admin, or use your data better, that is exactly the kind of adoption the programme exists to encourage.
It also offers more than money. Advice, a digital roadmap and leadership support often come alongside the grant, which is valuable if this is your first serious step into automation.
How we help
We are not the grant body, and we do not decide eligibility. What we do is help you scope a practical automation or AI project on top of the systems you already run, the kind that fits what Made Smarter looks to support, and give you a clear plan and costing to take into an application.
That way, if you do qualify, you arrive with a well defined project rather than a vague ambition, which makes the whole process smoother. Check the current eligibility and funding on the official Made Smarter website, and speak to your regional adviser for the definitive position.
Common questions
Who qualifies for Made Smarter funding?
Broadly, small and medium manufacturers in a covered UK region, adopting digital technology, and able to match fund the project. The exact thresholds and coverage change by round, so confirm on the official site.
Can Made Smarter fund AI or automation?
Yes, digital adoption including automation and AI is exactly what the programme encourages. A project that adds AI on top of your existing systems fits well.
How much can I get?
Grants are matched and capped, and the figure varies by region and round. Recent rounds have offered matched grants up to around twenty thousand pounds, but confirm the current amount.
Is this financial advice?
No. We help you scope a suitable project, but eligibility and funding decisions rest with the programme. Confirm the current rules on the official Made Smarter website.
Do services businesses qualify?
The programme is aimed at manufacturers. Services firms usually do not qualify, though other support may exist for them.
More from our consultancy
Scope a project worth funding
Book a short chat and we will help you shape an automation project you can take into a Made Smarter application.