Innovate in Uruguay: How to Secure UYU 6.5 Million for Your Business Project

Uruguay has quietly become one of Latin America’s most robust innovation hubs, and the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII) is the engine driving that growth. If you are running a Uruguayan company and you have an idea that could change your market—but you’re stuck because the financial risk of developing it is just too high—this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

The ANII Innovative Projects Fund (Implementación de la Innovación) is offering up to UYU 6,500,000 in non-reimbursable grants. Let’s be clear about what “non-reimbursable” means: this is not a loan. You don’t pay it back. It is the government investing in your risk because they believe your success will benefit the country’s economy.

However, ANII isn’t handing out free money for standard business expansions. If you want to open a second branch of your bakery, this isn’t for you. But if you want to develop a new gluten-free flour processing technique that reduces costs by 40% and opens up export markets? Now you’re talking their language.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

The core of this grant is risk mitigation. Innovation is expensive and risky. You might spend millions developing a new software platform or a manufacturing prototype, only to find it doesn’t work. ANII steps in to absorb up to 70% of that risk.

With the UYU 6.5 million cap, you can fund:

• Specialized Staff: Hiring engineers, developers, or scientists specifically for this project.
• Consultancy: Bringing in outside experts to solve specific technical hurdles.
• Equipment and Materials: Buying the machinery or raw materials needed for prototyping and testing.
• Certification and IP: Paying for the patents or quality certifications (like ISO) needed to enter new markets.

But beyond the money, an ANII grant is a badge of honor. In the Uruguayan ecosystem, being an “ANII-backed company” signals to banks and private investors that your project has passed a rigorous technical and business evaluation. It validates your technology in a way that a simple pitch deck never could.

Who Should Apply

This instrument is designed for companies, not individuals. You need to be a registered legal entity (SA, SRL, SAS, or Cooperative) in Uruguay.

The ideal applicant is a company that is doing well but wants to leapfrog the competition through innovation.

• The “New” Factor: Your project must result in something “new.” This is defined in three tiers:
  1. New to the Company: You’re doing something you’ve never done before.
  2. New to the Country: You’re introducing a technology to Uruguay that exists elsewhere but isn’t here yet.
  3. New to the World: You’re inventing something completely novel. Note: The more “new” it is, the higher your chances of funding.

Real-World Example: Imagine a logistics company in Montevideo. They currently route trucks using manual spreadsheets.

• Bad Project: Buying 10 new trucks. (This is investment, not innovation).
• Good Project: Developing a custom AI-driven routing algorithm that predicts traffic patterns in Montevideo and reduces fuel consumption by 15%. (This is innovation).

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

I’ve analyzed successful ANII applications, and they all share a few secret weapons:

1. Nail the “Grado de Novedad” (Degree of Novelty): Don’t be modest. If you are adapting a technology from Germany for the Uruguayan market, explain exactly why it’s not just “copy-paste.” Explain the engineering challenges of adapting it to local conditions. Prove that there is a “technical risk” you are solving.
2. The Export Potential: Uruguay is a small market (3.5 million people). ANII loves projects that have export potential. If your innovation can be sold to Brazil, Argentina, or Europe, highlight that aggressively. Show them that investing in you brings foreign currency into the country.
3. Solid Financials for the 30%: You need to prove you have the 30% match. “We expect to make it from sales” is a weak answer. “We have a pre-approved credit line from BROU” or “We have retained earnings in the bank” is a strong answer.
4. The Team Mix: Don’t just list your current staff. If you are building a tech product but only have sales people, you will fail. Show that you are hiring or contracting the specific technical talent needed to execute.
5. Impact Metrics: Go beyond “we will make money.” Will you create high-quality jobs? Will you reduce environmental impact? Will you help other Uruguayan SMEs? These “spillover effects” are catnip to government evaluators.

Application Timeline

ANII often operates on a “window” system or monthly closing dates. For the October 11 deadline, here is your reverse-engineered schedule:

• August (8 Weeks Out): Define the project scope. What exactly are you building? How much will it cost? Start gathering quotes from suppliers.
• September (4 Weeks Out): Draft the “Formulario de Proyecto.” This is a dense document. Focus on the “Technical Feasibility” and “Commercial Strategy” sections.
• Late September (2 Weeks Out): Financial review. Have your accountant review the budget. Ensure your tax certificates (DGI, BPS) are up to date—you cannot receive funds if you have debts to the state.
• Early October (1 Week Out): Final review. Ask someone outside your industry to read the proposal. If they don’t understand what you are building, rewrite the executive summary.
• October 11: Submit via the ANII online portal.

Required Materials

• Project Form: The main narrative document.
• Detailed Budget: Using ANII’s specific Excel templates.
• CVs of the Team: Both internal staff and external consultants.
• Financial Statements: Your last balance sheet to prove solvency.
• Notarized Documents: Proof of company representation (Certificado Notarial).

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Commercial Validation. The biggest fear evaluators have is funding a “science project” that sits on a shelf.

• Weak: “We think people will buy this.”
• Strong: “We have surveyed 50 potential clients, and 3 have signed Letters of Intent to purchase the product once the prototype is ready.”

Risk Analysis. Show that you are a realist. Identify the risks (e.g., “The raw material price might fluctuate,” or “The algorithm might take longer to train”). Then, explain your mitigation strategy. This shows maturity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing “Innovation” with “Digitalization”: Building a standard e-commerce website for your store is not innovation anymore; it’s basic survival. Unless your e-commerce site uses a novel recommendation engine you are coding from scratch, it likely won’t qualify.
• Inflating the Budget: Experienced evaluators know what things cost. If you budget UYU 200,000 for a laptop, they will flag it. Be realistic.
• Ignoring the “Externalities”: If your project has a negative environmental impact, you must address how you will mitigate it. ANII has strict environmental safeguards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply if I am a startup with no sales? It is harder. This specific line is usually for established companies. However, if you have a formal company set up and capital to cover the 30%, you can apply. For pure startups, look at ANII’s “Emprendedores” instruments instead.

How is the money disbursed? It is not a lump sum. It is usually an advance (adelanto) followed by reimbursements based on milestones. You need cash flow to manage the gaps.

Can I hire international consultants? Yes, usually. If the expertise doesn’t exist in Uruguay, ANII encourages bringing in global knowledge. Just justify why you can’t find a local provider.

What happens if the project fails? If you did the work but the technology just didn’t perform as expected, that’s okay—that’s the risk they are subsidizing. But if you fail because you didn’t do the work or spent the money on a car, you will be in legal trouble.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted digitally through the ANII Sistema de Postulación.

1. Register your company in the ANII portal.
2. Select the “Implementación de la Innovación” instrument.
3. Complete the online forms and upload your annexes.

Ready to innovate? Start your application here:

Visit ANII Official Website