Current grant opportunities
Unlocking Space for Business
Programme
Closes
Award
The aim of the Unlocking Space for Business competition is to offer financial services and transport & logistics companies, alongside satellite data and service partners, projects must provide benefit to an end-user business within either the Financial Services or Transport & Logistics sectors, and must have a positive economic benefit to end-users within the UK.
DASA Electronic Warfare Challenge
Programme
Closes
Award
AUKUS is a landmark security and defence partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US to support a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening regional global security. Through Pillar 2, AUKUS partners seek to strengthen trilateral capabilities in cutting-edge military technologies, increase interoperability, and drive knowledge-sharing and innovation.
The NIHR Research Programme for Social Care (RPSC)
Programme
Closes
Award
The Research Programme for Social Care funds research which generates evidence to improve, expand and strengthen the way social care is provided for users of care services, carers, the social care workforce, and the public across the UK - England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The programme funds primary, secondary and evidence synthesis research including qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods designs.
Future Leaders Fellowships: round 9, business and non-academic
Challenge Awards round 15
Programme
Closes
Award
NIHR i4i Challenge Awards support the real-world evaluation of medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for us in the NHS or social care system. The i4i Challenge Awards provide funding for collaborative projects with a focus on implementation research on technologies which have demonstrated safety and efficacy, and have a clear pathway towards adoption and commercialisation.
Product Development Awards (PDA) round 26
Programme
Closes
Award
The NIHR i4i Product Development Awards (PDA) supports collaborative research and development of medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for use in the NHS or social care system. The expected focus of a PDA is product development required to enable a technology for clinical use or use in social care and/or the clinical development of a laboratory-validated technology or intervention. The research proposals may address any area of unmet need. Projects must have a clear pathway towards adoption and commercialisation.
EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships round six
Programme
Closes
Award
Digital Accelerator Application Bloomberg
Programme
Closes
Award
The Digital Accelerator provides funding, expert technical assistance, and leadership development over two years to strengthen the digital infrastructure of nonprofit cultural organizations with the principal goals of growing revenue, increasing fundraising, engaging audiences, improving operations, and developing programming opportunities.
Mobile Evidential Drug Testing Instrument (MEDTI) Demonstrator
Programme
Closes
Award
This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition is seeking proposals that enhance the roadside testing of suspected ‘drug drivers’. Currently drivers suspected of being over the specified limit for specified ‘drugs’ can be subject to a roadside screening test which, following a positive indication, requires the subject to be taken to a police station where an evidential blood sample can be taken.
SBRI: Accessible solutions for disrupted journeys
SMART: SCOTLAND grants
Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) Phase 3: Spring 2024
Programme
Closes
Award
NHS Cancer Programme: Innovation Open Call 3
Programme
Closes
Award
NHS England has launched a new round of its funding competition for innovation in the early detection and diagnosis of cancer, it is open to all types of innovation, including but not limited to, medical devices, in vitro diagnostics, digital health solutions, behavioural interventions, software, artificial intelligence, and new models of care.
Diet and health innovation: Early stage feasibility projects
Unlocking nature positive private investment
Programme
Closes
Award
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will invest up to £2 million in supporting innovation projects. The competition will enable the development, acceleration and commercialisation of innovative solutions. These solutions must enable private investors to confidently invest in nature positive projects.
Biomedical Catalyst
Programme
Closes
Award
The Biomedical Catalyst programme provides funding to help businesses test and develop innovative health and care projects.
The Industry-led research and development (R&D) stream of the Biomedical Catalyst programme supports pre-market R&D projects.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate existing evidence of commercial and technical feasibility.
Smart Grant
Programme
Closes
Award
Want to learn more about grants?
How much time is needed to submit a quality grant application?
Grant applications are submitted to highly competitive opportunities with limited funding available which means that only the highest scoring applications are successful. In order to create a high-scoring application we suggest starting it a minimum of 3 weeks before the competition deadline. In our experience, the best grant applications are crafted over 6 weeks or more.
How is a government grant typically paid?
Grant funding is typically paid in arrears after a project has started. It is normally paid quarterly or at key project milestones. For example, Innovate UK typically pays grant funding after a project report has been submitted and approved at the end of each project quarter. Funding bodies typically hold payment of a portion of the final project costs until after the project has been fully ended.
What are the chances of being successfully awarded grant funding?
Success is dependent on many factors such as eligibility, fund size and competition from others. Success rates therefore vary significantly between competitions. Competitions with specialist themes are usually less competitive than "open call" competitions. Statistics about funding competitions are usually reported by funding bodies or released in freedom of information requests.
Can start-up companies apply for grant funding?
Yes, start-up companies are normally eligible for grant funding. It is important to carefully check eligibility criteria for competitions as this can vary.
Are the grant writing fees negotiable?
Yes, the fees for our grant writing services can be negotiated. Our grant writing services are priced competitively and can be reduced if a customer can help reduce our writing costs (e.g. by saving time) without impacting the quality of the resulting grant application.
What is seen as an innovative project that is suitable for grant funding?
Innovation is commonly defined as a new technology in an existing market or an existing technology in a new market. Innovative projects clearly build on existing state-of-the-art technology and as they are novel they are typically technically challenging and risky endeavours.
How much does my company need to contribute to the grant-funded project?
The company contribution varies depending on the specific funding body and/or funding competition. It is typically between 0% and 50% of the total project costs. Smaller companies (SMEs) are usually required to contribute less funding than large established companies.
What time and work goes into a typical grant application?
Writing a grant application is not too dissimilar to writing a short novel. The story must successfully guide the audience from beginning to end, keeping them engaged throughout with the right content. A high quality grant application will have a well-defined scope and will provide all the right information at the right time in each of the questions that is answered.
A typical grant application requires multiple days of information gathering, fact-finding, writing, referencing, refining, checking, assessing, reflecting, visualising, and submitting. It is a team effort and we normally allow a minimum of three weeks to complete an application.
How can I include an academic partner in my project?
If one or more work packages in your project are suitable for a university to deliver then you should liaise with your academic partner who will be able to help. If you are seeking an academic partner for your project we can also help you. Please note that some innovation funding opportunities may not be suitable for academic partners or their budget allocation my be capped.
Can I use the Grant Funding Canvas™ for my own projects?
Yes! Please use the Canvas for your own projects and feel free to share it with your friends and colleagues.
Can I apply for my own grant application alone?
Yes! You can apply on your own and still be successful. However, working with us means that you will benefit from our skills and experience in writing successful grant applications - as well as lots of time saved.
What does the process look like once I submit an application?
Your application will be reviewed by assessors and it will be scored. You will receive a notification that provides your score and whether your application was successful or not. If you are successful, you will then be required to complete some additional tasks to evidence your financial position to show that you can deliver the project.
Where can I find the latest grant funding opportunities?
Grant funding opportunities are available from multiple sources and competitions open and close frequently. To stay up-to-date on the latest news you can follow funding bodies such as Innovate UK. You can sign up to our Grant Opportunities Newsletter to receive the latest funding opportunities.