98436Distributed ledgers Enabling Application for sme Loans (DEAL)ClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UK**Vision** UK SMEs face a £29.3bn finance gap. Lenders struggle to assess SME finance applications due to complex, inter-linked issues. Issues include poor access to SME financial data, bespoke and manual SME Contracts and SME debt securitisation. Whilst lenders are investing in technology to assist financing for large organisations, they cannot for SMEs as SMEs are only average 2% of lenders' revenue, individual SME financing requests are too small and SME finance application assessment too complex. **Market** There is a £22.0bn global opportunity to provide SME finance assessment and securitisation to lenders. **Key Objectives** DEAL, an ambitious Industrial Research project by UK-based SME Fractal, will develop radical innovations and realistic exploitation plans addressing UK and global market demands for accurate, quick and cost-effective SME finance application assessment and securitisation. **Focus & Innovation** DEAL focuses on Industrial Research to prove the concept of innovative technology to address market issues. **Risk** DEAL's innovation and ambition makes the project technically and commercially risky. Risks have been minimised, with robust risk management and mitigation plans developed. **Team** Fractal has the necessary skills/experience to manage and complete this project successfully. **Value** DEAL has been carefully planned by Fractal's experienced technical and commercial team to maximise innovation, chance of project success. DEAL delivers UK-wide value-for-money and impact.