United Kingdom Research and Innovation - Innovate UK: Transforming Innovation Funding with Pitchtape

Overview

United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI), through its constituent body Innovate UK, plays a pivotal role in supporting innovative businesses poised to contribute to economic growth and societal impact. To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its Innovation Funding Service (IFS), UKRI sought a solution that could modernize their application process, focusing on a more integrative and dynamic use of video technology.

Key Challenges

Prior to partnering with Pitchtape, UKRI encountered challenges with their video integration process. Platforms like Vimeo and YouTube were used to incorporate video into applications, but these options led to difficulties for applicants in recording and submitting videos. The process demanded considerable customer support, and the review teams found it cumbersome to navigate through disjointed video submissions, hindering effective evaluation and communication.

Pitchtape’s Solution

Embracing a tech-driven and human-centered approach, UKRI partnered with Pitchtape to enhance the IFS. Pitchtape's platform, with its user-friendly recording tools and customizable templates, allowed applicants to effortlessly record and submit videos answering application questions. The platform's unique video stitching technology enabled applicants to create seamless videos topic by topic, making submissions more structured and accessible.

For UKRI's reviewer teams, Pitchtape offered a unified platform, significantly simplifying the review process. This approach streamlined sourcing, evaluating, and communicating with applicants, leading to a more personalized and efficient connection between all parties involved.

Impactful Results

The integration of Pitchtape into UKRI’s processes led to substantial improvements. After a formal business review process, UKRI reported significant ROI for all constituents. Reviewers saw a 50% reduction in time spent evaluating submissions, thanks to the streamlined and intuitive nature of the platform. Applicants found the process of creating and submitting videos straightforward, leading to higher-quality submissions and a more engaging application experience. UKRI itself incurred less overhead with each submission process, resulting in an overall more innovative and efficient business solution.

Takeaway

UKRI’s collaboration with Pitchtape has not only streamlined their innovation funding process but has also set a new standard for how public funding bodies can leverage technology for greater efficiency and engagement. This partnership underlines the potential of video-first approaches in transforming traditional processes, paving the way for more dynamic and impactful innovation ecosystems.

Interested in modernizing your application and review processes with a video-first approach? Request a demo with Pitchtape and explore how we can enhance your organization's efficiency and connectivity.