UK business grants directory
The most comprehensive UK business grant directory
253 live and upcoming grant competitions, tracked from the Innovation Funding Service, UKRI, Horizon Europe and regional funders every week. Filter by sector, stage, region and award size, then open any programme for the detail.
How UK business grant funding works
Innovate UK
The largest source of competitive innovation grants for UK businesses, run through the Innovation Funding Service. Most competitions fund a share of R&D costs, so companies co-invest the rest.
Horizon Europe and the EIC
UK companies can bid for Horizon Europe collaborative projects and the EIC Accelerator, which suit ambitious, high-risk innovations with international reach.
UKRI, ESA and sector funders
Research councils, the European Space Agency, defence and health funders run targeted programmes for specific technologies and missions, often with fewer applicants.
Regional and local funds
Devolved governments and local growth programmes offer smaller grants for capital, productivity and early-stage innovation, sometimes alongside national competitions.
Innovate UK grants for businesses
Innovate UK grants fund feasibility studies, industrial research and experimental development, for single companies or collaborative consortia. Each competition publishes its own scope, award range and funding rate, so this directory tracks every open and upcoming round alongside the specialist programmes listed above. Our Innovate UK grant writers can tell you which round fits your project.
Almost every competition expects match funding, a clear technical advance and a credible route to market. Use the filters below to shortlist programmes, then check your eligibility before you commit time to an application.
Building a funding strategy from this directory
Balance national and regional funds
Flagship Innovate UK and Horizon Europe competitions attract the most applicants. Pairing one national bid with a regional or sector fund, where the field is smaller, spreads risk and can bring in earlier wins while larger decisions are pending.
Sequence by deadline and effort
A strong application typically takes 100 or more hours of specialist work. Shortlist two or three competitions whose deadlines are at least six weeks apart, so each bid gets proper technical and financial preparation rather than a rushed submission.
Match the funder to your stage
Early feasibility work suits smaller, faster competitions; later-stage development and demonstration suit larger awards with match funding. Filtering by stage and award size above keeps your shortlist realistic for where your technology actually is.
Companies that treat grants as a rolling portfolio, rather than a single bet, win more consistently. If you are planning several applications over the year, our Unlimited retainer covers a pipeline of bids for one monthly fee, and our case studies show how funded clients structured theirs.
Planning more than one bid this year?
The Unlimited programme is a monthly retainer covering a rolling portfolio of applications from this directory, with no separate writing fee per bid. Suited to UK businesses with an active R&D roadmap and match funding in place.
Find your grant
Want to apply for more than one grant?
Our retainer clients get a dedicated grant pipeline: we track deadlines, match competitions to your roadmap, and manage multiple applications at once so nothing is missed.
Showing 1–12 of 253 programmes
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European Innovation Council
[EIC] EIC Pathfinder Open 2027 (you track Challenge only)
Expected to open. Consortium (min 3 / 3 countries); UK eligible
Max awardUp to EUR 4mDeadline14 Oct 2026Any sectorIndustrial R&DUK-wideView grant details - Closes in 2 days
European Innovation Council
EIC Pathfinder
Early-stage funding for collaborative research into breakthrough technologies of the future, including open and Challenge calls.
Max awardTypically up to €4mDeadline14 Oct 2026Any sectorFeasibilityInternationalView grant details - Closes in 4 days
Aerospace Technology Institute
[ATI] Stage 1: ATI: SME PROGRAMME
This call is for UK-registered small and medium-sized aerospace supply-chain companies (or consortia led by/including an SME) wanting non-dilutive grant funding for R&D that strengthens their position in civil aerospace. Applicants can apply solo or in collaboration with other businesses, academic institutions, RTOs or public sector bodies, but research organisations cannot lead the project. Projects must be carried out and exploited in the UK, align with the ATI's Engineering Growth technology strategy, and ensure at least 50% of eligible project costs go to MSMEs in the consortium. This sui…
Max award£1,500,000Deadline16 Oct 2026Clean energy & net zeroFeasibilityUK-wideView grant details - Closes in 4 days
Aerospace Technology Institute
[ATI] Stage 2: ATI: SME PROGRAMME
Open to UK-registered organisations developing civil aerospace technology; the lead must be a UK-registered SME, or a business of any size with at least one SME in its consortium, with project work carried out and results exploited in the UK. Applicants may apply alone or as part of a collaborative consortium (which can include businesses of any size, academic institutions, charities, public sector bodies, or RTOs), though research organisations cannot lead.
Max award£1,500,000Deadline16 Oct 2026Space & satelliteFeasibilityUK-wideView grant details - Closes in 16 days
Innovate UK
[IUK] CfI: Counter UAS Demonstrations in Prison Environments
Contracts for Innovation to demonstrate a high-TRL, low-cost counter-UAS system for UK prison estates. Projects last 2 months (1 Feb–31 Mar 2027). Costs £40,000–£80,000 inc VAT.
Max award£80,000Deadline28 Oct 2026Clean energy & net zeroFeasibilityUK-wideView grant details - Closes in 23 days
Innovate UK
[IUK] CfI: Battery innovation for dual use & defence Phase 1
Contracts for Innovation Phase 1 to adapt civil battery technologies for defence and dual-use challenges. Up to 3 months, costs £20,000–£50,000 inc VAT, all spend before 31 March 2027.
Max award£50,000Deadline4 Nov 2026Clean energy & net zeroFeasibilityUK-wideView grant details - Closes in 24 days
Horizon Europe
[Horizon - Civil Security for Society] Climate security and civil preparedness – new ways to develop pre- and post-crisis climate…
Open to legal entities (including research organisations, public bodies and international organisations with HQ in an EU Member State or Associated Country) eligible under Horizon Europe rules; consortia must include at least 3 national authorities in charge of disaster risk management as beneficiaries, each from a different EU Member State or Associated Country.
Max award€4.5MDeadline5 Nov 2026AI & softwareIndustrial R&DUK-wideView grant details - Closes in 24 days
Horizon Europe
[Horizon - Civil Security for Society] Crime prevention approaches, online and off-line, tackling the nexus between addictions an…
Open to consortia of legal entities from EU Member States and Associated Countries; the consortium must include at least 2 Police Authorities and at least 2 Civil Society Organisations (or NGOs) from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
Max award€3MDeadline5 Nov 2026AI & softwareIndustrial R&DUK-wideView grant details - Closes in 24 days
Horizon Europe
[Horizon - Civil Security for Society] Development of ecosystem and next-generation capabilities for a secured European Critical…
Open to legal entities (including first responders' organisations, research bodies and companies) established in EU Member States or Associated Countries eligible under Horizon Europe; entities directly or indirectly controlled by China are excluded. Consortiums must include at least 3 first responders' organisations as beneficiaries.
Max award€3MDeadline5 Nov 2026AI & softwareIndustrial R&DUK-wideView grant details - Closes in 24 days
Horizon Europe
[Horizon - Civil Security for Society] Development of innovative tools, processes, equipment and technologies through responses t…
Open to entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries (with some non-associated countries also eligible under special provisions); entities controlled by China are excluded. Proposals must include at least 2 practitioner organisations (first responders) and 2 medical emergency authorities as beneficiaries, from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Relevant international organisations headquartered in a Member State or Associated Country are also exceptionally eligible.
Max award€4MDeadline5 Nov 2026AI & softwareIndustrial R&DUK-wideView grant details - Closes in 24 days
Horizon Europe
[Horizon - Civil Security for Society] Enhancing the security of citizens against terrorism and lone-actor violence in confined s…
Consortia must include at least 3 Police Authorities and at least 2 Civil Society Organisations or Non-Governmental Organisations, drawn from at least 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Proposals should also involve a balanced mix of IT specialists, psychologists, sociologists and other relevant security practitioners and SSH experts.
Max award€4.835MDeadline5 Nov 2026AI & softwareIndustrial R&DUK-wideView grant details - Closes in 24 days
Horizon Europe
[Horizon - Civil Security for Society] Open topic on preventing and countering the misuse of emerging technologies for criminal p…
Open to multi-partner consortia from EU Member States and Associated Countries (per Horizon Europe eligibility rules), and the proposal must include at least 2 Police Authorities as beneficiaries from at least 2 different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
Max award€4.5MDeadline5 Nov 2026AI & softwareIndustrial R&DUK-wideView grant details
Unsure where to start?
Tell us what you are building and we will point you to the competitions where you are genuinely competitive, before you spend time on an application.
Deadline tracker
What is open right now, and how long you have left
Funder dates move, and the best applications are the ones started early. These are the UK and EU windows we are actively writing toward, with how much is on the table and a live clock to the cut-off.
Updated automatically from our live grant directory
| Programme | Funding available | Deadline | Time left | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EIC PathfinderEuropean Innovation CouncilOfficial page | Typically up to €4mPer successful application | 14 Oct 2026Expected date, based on the published cycle | Closes in 2 daysEvery day counts, speak to us today. | Early-stage funding for collaborative research into breakthrough technologies of the future, including open and Challenge calls. |
| [EIC] EIC Pathfinder Open 2027 (you track Challenge only)European Innovation CouncilOfficial page | Up to EUR 4mPer successful application | 14 Oct 2026Expected date, based on the published cycle | Closes in 2 daysEvery day counts, speak to us today. | Expected to open. Consortium (min 3 / 3 countries); UK eligible |
| [ATI] Stage 2: ATI: SME PROGRAMMEAerospace Technology InstituteOfficial page | up to £1.5MPer successful application | 16 Oct 2026 | Closes in 4 daysEvery day counts, speak to us today. | Open to UK-registered organisations developing civil aerospace technology; the lead must be a UK-registered SME, or a business of any size with at least one SME in its consortium, with project work carried out and results exploited in the UK. Applicants may apply alone or as part of a collaborative consortium (which can include businesses of any size, academic institutions, charities, public sector bodies, or RTOs), though research organisations cannot lead. |
| [ATI] Stage 1: ATI: SME PROGRAMMEAerospace Technology InstituteOfficial page | up to £1.5MPer successful application | 16 Oct 2026 | Closes in 4 daysEvery day counts, speak to us today. | This call is for UK-registered small and medium-sized aerospace supply-chain companies (or consortia led by/including an SME) wanting non-dilutive grant funding for R&D that strengthens their position in civil aerospace. Applicants can apply solo or in collaboration with other businesses, academic institutions, RTOs or public sector bodies, but research organisations cannot lead the project. Projects must be carried out and exploited in the UK, align with the ATI's Engineering Growth technology strategy, and ensure at least 50% of eligible project costs go to MSMEs in the consortium. This sui… |
| [IUK] CfI: Counter UAS Demonstrations in Prison EnvironmentsInnovate UKOfficial page | Total eligible project costs £40,000–£80,000, inclusive of VAT.Per successful application | 28 Oct 2026 | Closes in 16 daysEvery day counts, speak to us today. | Contracts for Innovation to demonstrate a high-TRL, low-cost counter-UAS system for UK prison estates. Projects last 2 months (1 Feb–31 Mar 2027). Costs £40,000–£80,000 inc VAT. |
| [IUK] CfI: Battery innovation for dual use & defence Phase 1Innovate UKOfficial page | Phase 1 total eligible costs £20,000–£50,000, inclusive of VAT.Per successful application | 4 Nov 2026 | Closes in 23 daysEvery day counts, speak to us today. | Contracts for Innovation Phase 1 to adapt civil battery technologies for defence and dual-use challenges. Up to 3 months, costs £20,000–£50,000 inc VAT, all spend before 31 March 2027. |
| [IUK] FOAK Builder: Programme Entry Expression of InterestInnovate UKOfficial page | If a FOAK Support plan is agreed, in-kind support can be up to £315,000. Successful EOIs may be invited to Phase 2 grant.Per successful application | 5 Nov 2026 | Closes in 24 daysEvery day counts, speak to us today. | Innovate UK Climate Tech FOAK Builder programme-entry EOI. UK SMEs apply as a single applicant for in-kind support of up to £315,000. This is not the same competition as Contracts for Innovation: FOAK26. |
| [Horizon - Civil Security for Society] Targeted innovative capabilities for the resilience of critical entities to natural and hu…Horizon EuropeOfficial page | €4.5MPer successful application | 5 Nov 2026 | Closes in 24 daysEvery day counts, speak to us today. | Open to entities from EU Member States and Associated Countries (per Horizon Europe eligibility rules), excluding organisations directly or indirectly controlled by China; proposals must include at least 3 relevant practitioner organisations as beneficiaries (e.g. critical infrastructure operators, civil protection authorities, first responders, or security providers) from EU Member States or Associated Countries. |
Always confirm dates on the funder page before you plan around them. Competitions are amended and cycles shift.
Not sure which of these fits you?
Picking the wrong programme costs months. Our specialist team maps your technology, stage and timeline against live competitions and tells you honestly where you are competitive, and where you are not.
Pair your grant with R&D tax credits
R&D tax relief can recover part of the match funding a grant asks you to cover. Our R&D tax credit specialists plan both together. Use the R&D tax relief calculator to see what your spend could return.
Find the right grant, first time
Talk to us about your grant funding plans and we'll help you make it happen through effective, results-driven grant writing.