IUK: Innovate UK innovation loans future economy: Round 22

This programme supports large scale projects that develop and scale bio based solutions to replace fossil based materials and processes. The focus is on building more sustainable industries across areas like materials, chemicals, food, and manufacturing, while improving resource use and reducing environmental impact.

‍This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing bio based materials, chemicals, or products
✔️ Working on recycling, biodegradability, or circular solutions
✔️ Building technologies that use biomass or waste streams
✔️ Able to collaborate across industry, research, and supply chains

Should you apply?
If you are developing a sustainable solution that can replace fossil based products and want to scale it through strong European partnerships, demonstrate real environmental impact, and bring it closer to industrial use and market adoption, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

‍

The UK Battery Innovation Competition funds projects that advance battery technology and strengthen the UK supply chain. It supports innovations in materials, manufacturing, testing, and recycling to reduce costs, boost performance and safety, and cut environmental impact. Priority areas include production process optimisation, battery reuse and recycling, and building a resilient, sustainable UK supply chain. Projects may trial new technologies, adapt existing methods, or commercialise scientific advances for sectors such as automotive, aerospace, energy storage, and defence. Grants range from £70,000 to £500,000 for projects lasting 6–18 months, led by a UK-registered business with at least one SME partner. Collaborators can include other businesses, universities, RTOs, or charities. Projects focusing on system integration or non-rechargeable batteries are not eligible.

‍

This opportunity supports projects that aim to reduce harmful emissions from aircraft beyond just carbon dioxide. The focus is on developing technologies that tackle issues like fuel impact, onboard systems, and how aircraft are operated, helping make aviation cleaner while strengthening the UK aerospace sector.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing aerospace technologies that reduce environmental impact
✔️ Working on fuels, propulsion systems, or onboard aircraft components
✔️ Using data, modelling, or systems to improve aviation efficiency
✔️ Collaborating across industry and research to drive innovation

Should you apply?
If you are building a solution that can reduce aviation emissions and want to develop it further, prove its impact, and position your technology for adoption across the civil aerospace industry, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has launched Phase 2 of the Innovation in Support of Operations competition, aiming to identify and fund innovative, cost-competitive solutions that can be rapidly manufactured and scaled within approximately twelve months. These solutions should address specific operational challenges faced by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD).

This competition funds feasibility studies developing new solutions to on-farm or post-farmgate challenges that improve productivity, resilience, and sustainability in UK agriculture. Projects should support low-emission farming and deliver commercial benefits for farmers, growers, and foresters, focusing on areas such as farmed animals, plants, novel food systems, and the bioeconomy or agroforestry. Funding excludes equine, fisheries, aquaculture, and medicinal crop projects. Eligible applicants are established UK businesses collaborating with at least one other organisation, such as another business, research body, or charity.

‍

Companies developing biotechnology solutions for healthier agricultural soils can access funding to accelerate the commercialisation and scale-up of innovations that improve soil health, increase agricultural resilience, and reduce reliance on harmful chemicals.

The programme supports deep tech startups and SMEs developing breakthrough biotechnologies that restore soil quality, enhance biodiversity, improve crop productivity, and strengthen Europe's sustainable bioeconomy.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A startup or SME developing biotechnology solutions for sustainable agriculture or soil regeneration
✔️ Working on bioremediation, soil microbiome management, renewable fertilisers, bio-stimulants, or other biological approaches to improving soil health
✔️ Using technologies such as AI, sensors, or digital monitoring to optimise soil management and measure environmental impact
✔️ Developing circular solutions that transform agricultural waste, biomass, or biological materials into sustainable agricultural products
✔️ Able to demonstrate a clear pathway to commercialisation, environmental impact, and adoption within agricultural production systems

Should you apply?

If you have a breakthrough biotechnology with the potential to improve soil health, increase agricultural productivity, and support more sustainable farming, this is a highly relevant opportunity. Successful applicants will combine strong scientific innovation with a clear route to market, measurable environmental benefits, and a compelling contribution to Europe's transition towards a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.

‍

NIHR is seeking research proposals to develop and evaluate interventions aimed at preventing and/or managing lymphoedema following breast cancer resection. Proposals should focus on innovative approaches to address this condition, which affects many breast cancer survivors. The goal is to improve patient outcomes and quality of life through effective prevention and management strategies.

This competition funds research projects focused on developing new treatments for childhood cancers. The aim is to help move early therapeutic ideas forward by generating the key data needed to support further development, investment, or clinical use. Projects should focus on real treatment solutions and show a clear path towards helping patients.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A UK research organisation working on childhood cancer treatments
✔️ Developing new therapies such as drugs, biologics, or immunotherapies
✔️ Running preclinical studies to prove a treatment could work
✔️ An SME supporting with technology, drug development, or specialist expertise

Should you apply?
If you are working on a new treatment for childhood cancer and need support to generate the data required to move it closer to real world use, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

‍

This opportunity supports projects that take existing research results and move them closer to real world use. The focus is on turning earlier EU funded research into practical applications by testing and validating the technology in relevant environments, helping bridge the gap between research and commercialisation.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Building on results from previous EU funded research projects
✔️ Looking to move a technology closer to real world application
✔️ A startup, SME, or research organisation with validated early results
✔️ Working on innovation that needs further development before market

Should you apply?
If you already have strong research results from an EU funded project and want to develop them further, prove real world use, and move towards commercialisation or investment, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

Apply for AHRC standard research grant funding to support collaborative arts and humanities projects. Projects must involve a UK-based project lead and at least one co-lead to develop and manage the research. These grants aim to foster collaborations within and beyond academia, enhance career development for researchers, and promote effective dissemination of research outcomes. Proposals can involve interdisciplinary or international partnerships and may include individual research components that demonstrably add value to the overall project.

The Circular Electricals Fund provides up to £1 million in funding to support projects that contribute to a more circular economy for electrical products. The aim is to fund initiatives that encourage reuse, refurbishment, recycling, or resource efficiency in the electricals sector, helping to reduce environmental impact and drive sustainability through innovation.

This grant focuses on accelerating the shift to electric-powered maritime systems by funding large-scale projects that build, deploy and operate battery-electric vessels and supporting infrastructure in real-world conditions over multiple years.

The aim is to move beyond testing and into full operational use, proving that electric maritime solutions can work reliably at scale across ports, inland waterways and wider maritime environments.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing 100% battery electric vessels or electrification upgrades for existing fleets
✔️ Building charging infrastructure, shore power systems or port energy solutions that support vessel electrification
✔️ A UK business capable of leading a large consortium and delivering complex infrastructure and deployment projects
✔️ Ready to demonstrate your solution in a live operational environment for an extended period

Should you apply?
If you have an advanced clean maritime solution focused on electrification, with a clear plan to build, deploy and operate it at scale alongside strong commercial partners and end users, this is a highly relevant opportunity.

‍

This funding topic focuses on improving the security, resilience, and trustworthiness of artificial intelligence systems, particularly those used in cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and decision-making environments. As AI adoption grows, these systems are becoming increasingly vulnerable to adversarial attacks that manipulate inputs, poison training data, or introduce hidden vulnerabilities.

‍

Projects should develop stronger and more trustworthy AI systems by improving their ability to withstand threats such as adversarial manipulation, data poisoning, and backdoor attacks. This includes creating new defence techniques, real-time detection systems for suspicious behaviour, and tools to identify compromised datasets.

‍

The call aims to develop robust AI systems that can detect, resist, and recover from these threats, while also ensuring sensitive data remains protected.

‍

The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched the "Space for Intermodal Transport" funding opportunity to support European teams in developing sustainable, space-based services and applications that enhance intermodal transport for both freight and passengers. This initiative aims to improve the efficiency, flexibility, and environmental sustainability of transportation systems by integrating multiple modes of transport through innovative solutions utilizing satellite data and space-based technologies. ​

This competition funds large, long term research programmes focused on understanding cancer at a deeper level. The aim is to support ambitious projects that explore how cancer works, helping generate new knowledge that could lead to future breakthroughs in treatment or prevention.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A UK based researcher leading a major cancer research programme
✔️ Working on core cancer biology or discovery research
✔️ Building a long term, multi study research plan
✔️ An SME supporting with technology, data, or specialist expertise

Should you apply?
If you are leading an ambitious research programme that aims to unlock new understanding of cancer and drive future breakthroughs, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

‍

Organisations developing innovative solutions for identifying Special Educational Needs (SEN) can access funding to create, validate, and prepare tools for widespread adoption across education and health settings.

The programme focuses on improving the early, fair, and consistent identification of children with SEN, helping ensure they receive appropriate support sooner while reducing variation in assessment across the UK.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing innovative assessment tools, digital platforms, frameworks, or services that improve the early identification of SEN
✔️ Creating solutions that support frontline professionals, schools, health services, or early years providers to identify children's strengths and support needs more accurately
✔️ Using technologies such as AI, data analytics, speech and language assessment, or health data with a clear educational application
✔️ Working with schools, healthcare providers, local authorities, or family support organisations to pilot and validate your solution
✔️ Able to demonstrate a clear route to commercialisation or adoption within existing education or health systems

Should you apply?

If you have an innovative solution that can improve the speed, consistency, and accuracy of SEN identification, and can demonstrate real-world testing, user co-design, safeguarding, and a credible pathway to adoption and scale, this is a strong opportunity. Successful projects will deliver practical tools that improve outcomes for children while supporting future integration into education and healthcare services.

‍

This topic aims to improve understanding and management of the cumulative environmental impacts of large-scale offshore wind deployment, including effects on biodiversity and marine ecosystems, throughout the full project life cycle. Projects should develop and validate monitoring tools, models, and assessment methods to support Maritime Spatial Planning, environmental impact assessments, and mitigation strategies, ensuring data are FAIR and widely accessible. Expected outcomes include better-informed planning and decision-making, improved environmental monitoring, and deployment of offshore wind with minimal or net-positive impacts on marine and coastal environments. Proposals should also ensure complementarities with existing Horizon Europe projects and relevant European research infrastructures.

‍

This topic aims to develop and demonstrate smart building solutions that reduce energy demand, integrate renewable energy sources, and enhance grid flexibility while ensuring user comfort and satisfaction. Projects should upgrade existing building management systems, be user-friendly, and address societal needs, including the perspectives of diverse social groups. Proposals must include at least three pilot demonstrations covering different climatic zones, building types, and technical systems, and provide methods to measure energy savings, flexibility, and interoperability improvements. Societal Readiness should be embedded throughout, with SSH expertise supporting the socio-technological interface and ensuring the solutions are socially acceptable and replicable.

‍

Women founders building deep tech startups can access equity-free funding and tailored business support to accelerate technology development, strengthen investment readiness, and prepare for future scale-up funding opportunities.

The programme is specifically designed to help women-led deep tech companies bridge the gap between technical validation and commercial growth while increasing female representation within Europe's innovation ecosystem.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A woman founder or co-founder in a senior leadership role (CEO, CTO, CSO, or equivalent) within a deep tech startup
✔️ Developing a proprietary technology in areas such as AI, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, energy, robotics, quantum, space, connectivity, or advanced sensing
✔️ Operating at TRL 4-6 and looking to accelerate commercialisation and market validation
✔️ An SME less than five years old that has raised under €1 million in equity funding
✔️ Seeking investor readiness support, mentoring, and access to European innovation and investment networks


Should you apply?

If you are leading an early-stage deep tech company with a strong technological innovation and clear commercial potential, this is an excellent opportunity to secure non-dilutive funding while building the foundations for future investment. Successful applicants typically combine a novel technology, ambitious growth plans, and a clear pathway towards commercialisation, scale-up, and future programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

‍

‍

This grant supports UK businesses in validating and demonstrating early-stage AI technologies that deliver frontier performance and are aligned with national sovereignty goals. It focuses on developing proof of concept demonstrators that showcase novel system architectures or subsystem components with the potential to scale. Applicants are expected to deliver technical validation of their AI capabilities, whether through simulation, synthetic data, or early prototype testing while clearly articulating their path to scalable data access and compute infrastructure. The competition underpins the UK government’s ambition to secure leadership in AI development and infrastructure, safeguarding future economic competitiveness, national security, and strategic independence.

‍

Programme is designed to support the creation and growth of early-stage deep-tech spin-outs, with a strong focus on helping them become investment-ready and secure their first significant funding round.

The emphasis is on bridging the gap between initial customer validation and investor readiness, by providing targeted support, funding, and guidance to build strong commercial proof points.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A newly formed or soon-to-be spin-out in Frontier AI, Engineering Biology, or Advanced Materials
✔️ Past early customer discovery and now preparing to raise your first investment round
✔️ Looking to build clear investor proof points rather than continue core R&D
✔️ A high-growth deep-tech venture with strong commercial potential

Should you apply?
If you are an early-stage spin-out with validated market interest and need support to become investment-ready, remove key commercial barriers, and secure your first funding round, this is a highly relevant opportunity to pursue.

‍

This competition funds feasibility studies that explore new solutions to major on-farm or post-farmgate challenges, aiming to improve productivity, resilience, and sustainability while moving towards low-emission farming. It supports early-stage projects that could significantly enhance the efficiency and environmental performance of UK agriculture, focusing on practical benefits for farmers, growers, and foresters. The goal is to accelerate research and development by encouraging collaboration with the wider UK research community. Projects should align with one or more key themes: farmed animals, plants, novel food production systems, or the bioeconomy and agroforestry.

Companies developing deep tech solutions that help communities, infrastructure, agriculture, and natural systems adapt to climate change can access funding to accelerate commercialisation and scale across Europe.

The programme supports startups and SMEs developing breakthrough technologies that address Europe's most urgent climate adaptation challenges, with a strong focus on deployment in partnership with regional and local authorities.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A startup or SME developing deep tech solutions for climate adaptation and resilience
✔️ Building innovations that address urban heat, climate-smart agriculture, water scarcity, or flood and coastal resilience
✔️ Combining engineering, AI, advanced materials, biotechnology, or nature-based solutions to improve climate resilience
✔️ Developing scalable technologies that can be deployed by cities, local authorities, utilities, infrastructure providers, or the agricultural sector
✔️ Able to demonstrate a clear route to commercialisation, measurable climate impact, and adoption across Europe

Should you apply?

If you have a breakthrough technology that helps communities, infrastructure, or industries adapt to climate change while delivering measurable environmental and commercial impact, this is a highly relevant opportunity. Successful applicants will combine strong deep tech innovation with a clear business case, scalable deployment model, and the potential to strengthen Europe's long-term climate resilience.

‍

Organisations developing technologies, products, services or business models that help consumers actively participate in a flexible energy system can access significant funding to accelerate commercialisation and support the UK's transition to a clean energy future.

The programme is designed to support innovations that enable consumer-led flexibility, helping households and businesses shift energy use, support grid resilience, and contribute to the UK's Clean Energy Superpower Mission. Projects are expected to deliver real-world impact by 2030 and demonstrate a credible route to deployment and adoption.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing solutions that encourage or enable consumer participation in energy flexibility markets
✔️ Able to demonstrate how your innovation can contribute to clean energy adoption, grid flexibility, or energy system optimisation by 2030
✔️ Bringing together energy sector expertise, end users, and commercial partners to accelerate impact
✔️ Looking to progress feasibility, industrial research, or experimental development activities towards commercialisation

Should you apply?

If your innovation can help unlock consumer participation in a more flexible energy system, has a clear route to UK deployment, and can demonstrate measurable impact on the transition to clean energy, this is a highly relevant opportunity. The competition supports projects ranging from early feasibility through to near-market development, with grants available up to £3 million depending on project stage.

‍

The Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) funding, administered by Scottish Enterprise, is a discretionary grant aimed at encouraging capital investment and job creation in designated Assisted Areas of Scotland, classified as Tiers 2 and 3. The primary objective of RSA is to support projects that contribute to economic growth, job creation, and Scotland's transition to a greener economy.

This pilot aims to accelerate high-risk deep tech innovation by supporting breakthrough solutions in areas where commercial uptake is limited, while testing whether stage-gated funding and early involvement of end-users improve market adoption. It focuses on two major challenges: Physical AI for next-generation robotics, and New Approach Methodologies that can replace or reduce animal testing in biomedical research and product safety. Eligible applicants include start-ups, SMEs, and research organisations, with funding delivered across two stages to develop, validate, and test solutions in real-world settings. Successful projects can receive up to €300,000 in Stage 1 and up to €2.5 million in Stage 2, alongside access to partners, experts, and a wider innovation ecosystem.

This funding call is focused on taking clean maritime technologies into real world use by funding full deployment trials. The aim is to help teams prove their solutions work in live operational environments, such as on vessels or within ports, and show clear impact in reducing emissions. Projects must go beyond testing and demonstrate real performance over a sustained period.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Ready to deploy a clean maritime solution in real conditions
✔️ Working on low or zero emission vessel or port technologies
✔️ Looking to prove performance through live operational trials
✔️ Partnering with end users like vessel operators or ports

Should you apply?
If you have a mature maritime solution and want to demonstrate it in real world operations, generate strong performance data, and position it for large scale commercial rollout across the industry, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

This opportunity supports organisations developing space enabled solutions to improve water systems and resilience. The focus is on tackling challenges like water quality, leakage, flooding, and infrastructure issues by using satellite data and technologies to build smarter, more efficient water management systems.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Using satellite data, sensors, or connected systems in your solution
✔️ Working on water management, utilities, or environmental monitoring
✔️ Looking to develop or test a new service or product
✔️ Building solutions for infrastructure, climate resilience, or resource efficiency

Should you apply?
If you are developing a solution that can improve how water is managed and want support to prove it works, test it with real users, and move towards commercial deployment using space technology, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

Companies developing breakthrough technologies for critical raw materials can access funding to accelerate the commercialisation and scale-up of innovations that strengthen Europe's supply chains and reduce reliance on imported strategic materials.

The programme supports deep tech solutions across the critical raw materials value chain, from exploration and extraction through to processing, refining, and recycling, while improving sustainability and supporting Europe's industrial resilience.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ An SME or startup developing deep tech innovations for critical or strategic raw materials
✔️ Working on technologies for exploration, mining, processing, refining, metallurgy, or recycling of critical raw materials
✔️ Using advanced technologies such as AI, robotics, remote sensing, autonomous systems, bioleaching, hydrometallurgy, nanofiltration, or urban mining
✔️ Developing solutions that improve sustainability, resource efficiency, circularity, and reduce environmental impact across the raw materials value chain
✔️ Able to demonstrate a strong commercial case, clear market opportunity, and contribution to Europe's strategic raw materials security

Should you apply?

If you have a breakthrough deep tech innovation that strengthens Europe's critical raw materials supply chain and has the potential to scale internationally, this is a highly relevant opportunity. Successful applicants will combine technical innovation with a clear route to commercialisation, measurable sustainability benefits, and a compelling contribution to Europe's strategic autonomy and industrial competitiveness.

‍

Companies developing highly innovative, late-stage products, services or processes can access flexible loan funding to accelerate commercialisation while retaining equity.

The programme supports UK SMEs undertaking close-to-market experimental development projects with strong commercial potential, providing repayable finance for businesses that can demonstrate both innovation and the ability to repay the loan.

‍

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise developing a highly innovative product, process, service or business model
✔️ Working on a late-stage R&D project with a clear route to commercialisation and significant economic impact
✔️ Operating within one of the six Industrial Strategy sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, or Life Sciences
✔️ Able to demonstrate that public funding is needed, while having the financial capability to meet interest payments and repay the loan
✔️ Looking for flexible funding to support both experimental development and eligible pre-commercialisation activities without giving up equity

‍

Should you apply?

If your innovation is close to market, has a compelling commercial opportunity, and your business has a strong financial plan with the ability to repay the loan, this is a highly relevant opportunity. Successful applicants will combine strong technical innovation with a credible commercial strategy, clear market demand and the potential to deliver lasting economic and societal benefits for the UK.

‍

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.

The LSIMF will provide capital grants across the UK and sector-wide to support investments in the manufacturing of human medicines (including active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished products), medical diagnostics (for disease identification and monitoring), and MedTech products (medical devices for human health). The fund will remain open until all funding is allocated.

This topic supports the demonstration of innovative thermal energy storage solutions for concentrated solar power and solar thermal applications, aiming to improve performance, cost-effectiveness, and lifespan compared with current technologies. Projects should deliver a clear go/no-go milestone before demonstration, including detailed engineering plans, techno-economic assessments, and all necessary permits. Expected outcomes include reduced levelised costs of heat or energy, improved bankability for technology providers, and enhanced grid reliability for variable-output renewables. Proposals must address environmental and socio-economic sustainability, align with Safe and Sustainable by Design principles, and include robust exploitation and dissemination plans with commercialisation and scalability strategies.

‍

Companies developing advanced materials technologies can access funding to bridge the gap between innovation and industrial adoption, helping move promising materials from feasibility stage concepts towards real-world commercial use.

The programme focuses on accelerating industrial uptake in healthcare, sustainable materials, power electronics, connectivity, and metamaterials, with a strong emphasis on market demand and end-user engagement.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing advanced materials with a clear commercial application and identifiable end-user demand
✔️ Working in healthcare, sustainable structural materials, power electronics, advanced communications, or metamaterials and metasurfaces
✔️ Looking to validate a materials innovation and demonstrate its value in a specific industrial sector
✔️ Able to secure support from an end user operating within one of the UK's Industrial Strategy priority sectors
✔️ Seeking to overcome technical, commercial, or adoption barriers before larger-scale development and deployment

Should you apply?

If you have an advanced materials innovation with a clearly defined application, a credible route to industrial adoption, and support from a relevant end user, this is a strong opportunity. Successful projects will demonstrate commercial potential, value chain alignment, contribution to UK industrial competitiveness, and a realistic pathway towards adoption and future scale-up.

‍

This competition funds small, early stage research projects focused on improving how cancer is detected and diagnosed. The aim is to support initial ideas by helping teams test feasibility, generate early data, or prove that a concept could work. It is designed to build the foundation for larger future research projects with real clinical impact.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A UK research organisation exploring early stage cancer detection ideas
✔️ Testing a new concept, tool, or approach for diagnosis
✔️ Running a pilot or feasibility study to generate early data
✔️ An SME supporting with technology, data, or specialist expertise

Should you apply?
If you have an early idea that needs initial validation before scaling into a larger project, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

‍

This opportunity supports very early stage AI ideas, helping teams move from rough concepts to tested solutions. There are two entry points depending on how developed your idea is, either exploring the idea at a very early stage or testing whether it can actually work in practice. The goal is to help shape strong AI innovations and prepare them for further development and larger funding.

‍

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Exploring a new AI idea that is still being shaped
✔️ Testing whether an AI concept is technically possible
✔️ Building early proof that your solution can work
✔️ Looking to move from idea stage into structured development

‍

Should you apply?
If you have an early stage AI idea and want funding to explore it, test feasibility, and build a clear path towards a more developed and scalable solution ready for future funding stages, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

We are interested in funding high quality applied health and social care research to increase and improve the evidence base about early action and prevention with health and social care services. Innovation that could facilitate a marked change in how we deal with complex health issues.

We are looking to fund research which has the potential to inform prevention services at a national level, and therefore local or regional evaluations are unlikely to be fundable. Similarly, evaluations focused on emerging technologies will require evidence of readiness for research on large-scale service delivery, including the published evidence base. All research should consider health and/or social care inequalities, or research focusing on how reducing inequalities can be integrated into prevention services. Alongside this, increasing access to neighbourhood health and social care services, moving care from hospitals into the community, and/or avoiding hospital admissions in the context of prevention are of particular interest to HSDR.

‍

The Advanced Battery Innovation Competition funds UK projects that speed up the development and commercialisation of battery technologies, strengthen the supply chain, and boost global competitiveness. Projects must show market demand and address technical, financial, and environmental challenges in areas such as materials, cell design, manufacturing, quality control, or digital tools. They should deliver benefits like reduced cost, improved performance, or lower environmental impact. Priority areas include scalable UK manufacturing, battery recycling and recovery, and local, sustainable supply chains. Projects can support concept development or validation for sectors such as automotive, aerospace, energy storage, rail, and defence. Grants range from £500,000 to £4 million for 1–3 years, led by a UK-registered business with at least one SME partner, and collaboration open to academic, public, or non-profit organisations.

‍

This opportunity supports organisations developing solutions that improve how wildfires are detected, monitored, and managed using space technology. The focus is on helping teams build and test services that can support real time response, improve decision making, and reduce the impact of wildfires in operational settings.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Using satellite data, positioning, or communications in your solution
✔️ Working on wildfire detection, monitoring, or prediction tools
✔️ Building systems for emergency response or environmental monitoring
✔️ Looking to develop or test a service with real world users

Should you apply?
If you are developing a solution that can improve wildfire response and want support to prove its value, test it in real conditions, and scale it with backing from ESA and industry partners, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

Rail suppliers with mature technologies now have an opportunity to prove their solutions in live railway environments and accelerate adoption across the UK rail network.

The programme focuses on high-maturity demonstrations that help organisations validate integration, gather operational evidence, de-risk implementation, and demonstrate measurable benefits for the rail industry.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing a TRL 5+ solution ready for real-world railway trials
✔️ Able to work with rail operators, infrastructure owners, or integration partners
✔️ Looking to demonstrate operational, safety, customer experience, infrastructure, or environmental benefits
✔️ Seeking to accelerate commercial adoption through live testing and evaluation

Should you apply?

If your technology is ready for demonstration in a railway environment and you can clearly show how it integrates into rail operations while delivering measurable outcomes, this is a highly relevant opportunity to pursue.

‍

This funding opportunity supports high-quality applied health and social care research focused on early action, prevention, and reducing inequalities at a national level. It aims to generate evidence that improves prevention services, enhances access to community-based care, and reduces hospital admissions. Research should address preventative strategies, early diagnosis, and interventions for those at risk of long-term conditions, demonstrating clear national impact and relevance to the NHS and social care. Areas of interest include improving prevention pathways, integrating preventative approaches, using data to deliver proactive support, and evaluating innovative service models or technologies. There are no specific eligibility restrictions for applicants.

‍

This competition is designed to accelerate the development of enabling technologies for commercial quantum networking, with a strong focus on building deployable components that can integrate into real-world systems.

The emphasis is on delivering practical prototypes that support secure, scalable quantum communications, while strengthening the UK’s position in next-generation networking infrastructure and sovereign technology capability.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing quantum networking components such as photonics, encryption, interfaces, or communication subsystems
✔️ Able to build a deployable prototype with a clear integration pathway into real-world platforms
✔️ Working on technologies that enable secure data transmission, distributed quantum systems, or hybrid quantum-classical networks
✔️ Focused on commercial applications with a defined market need and route to adoption

Should you apply?
If you have a prototype-stage innovation that can act as a critical building block for quantum networking, with clear technical differentiation, integration readiness, and a strong commercial pathway, this is a highly relevant opportunity to pursue.

‍

Breakthrough 6 invites innovative ideas from appointed water companies in England and Wales to tackle major water sector challenges and deliver benefits for customers, communities, and the environment. Entries should request £150,000–£2 million in funding, with partners contributing at least 10% financially. Collaboration is strongly encouraged, particularly with SMEs and other sector organisations. Projects can run for less than a year or extend beyond 2031, with successful applicants notified by April 2026 following eligibility checks and panel review.

‍

The READ-OUT Digital Cognitive Dementia Assessments competition, funded by Innovate UK, supports the deployment and evaluation of high-maturity digital cognitive assessments (DCAs) for dementia within the READ-OUT blood-based biomarker study led by the University of Oxford, contributing to wider initiatives like the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative.With up to £1.2 million in total funding (inclusive of VAT), single projects can receive up to £600,000, starting on 1 August 2025 and lasting up to 20 months, to be completed by 31 March 2027. Proposals must demonstrate real-world readiness, show potential impact on dementia diagnosis and care, and be aimed at integrating DCAs into existing clinical pathways. The competition is open to organisations of any size, with collaboration optional, and projects must stay within the £600,000 cost limit and adhere to the defined timeline.

The NIHR's Health Technology Assessment Programme seeks research proposals to evaluate the effectiveness and economic impact of technology-based interventions aimed at improving care and support for individuals with deafblindness in social care settings.

​The European Space Agency's Open Call for Proposals invites businesses from any sector to apply for funding throughout the year to develop new commercial services that utilise one or more space assets, such as satellite communications, Earth observation, or satellite navigation.

Solutions that strengthen public transport as the backbone of a resilient, sustainable, inclusive and multimodal mobility ecosystem, by improving its attractiveness and competitiveness – with the clear goal of attracting users away from private cars.New concepts, technologies and business models that enhance demandresponsive transport and integrate shared mobility services with public transit – aimed at improving first- and last-mile connectivity and expanding overall network coverage are encouraged.

The Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 10 competition, administered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), aims to support ambitious research and innovation projects across various sectors. It seeks to foster excellence in innovation, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, and develop the next generation of research and innovation leaders.

This fund aims to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across Wales.

This opportunity supports projects testing clean maritime technologies before they are deployed in real world conditions. The focus is on developing and trialling solutions on land, such as in factories or dry docks, to reduce emissions in the maritime sector. Projects should show clear potential to cut carbon and prepare technologies for future use on vessels or within port infrastructure.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing clean maritime or shipping technologies
✔️ Working on low or zero emission fuels, energy systems, or vessel upgrades
✔️ Building smart shipping or digital solutions that improve efficiency
✔️ Already have partners including end users like ports or vessel operators

Should you apply?
If you have a maritime innovation that needs real world testing before deployment, and want to prove its impact on reducing emissions while preparing for future commercial use across vessels or ports, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

You can apply for funding from ESA for the Open Call for Proposals or through specific themed opportunities. Your project must delivered R&D related to the space industry

This oppportunity is centred on accelerating the adoption of alternative fuel technologies in the maritime sector by supporting projects that build, deploy and operate vessels and refuelling infrastructure at scale.

The focus is on enabling real-world use of low and zero-emission fuels, alongside the infrastructure required to support them, proving that these solutions can operate reliably and commercially over a sustained period.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing vessels powered by alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, methanol or other low-carbon fuel systems
✔️ Building bunkering, storage or refuelling infrastructure within ports to support alternative fuel adoption
✔️ A UK business able to lead a large consortium delivering both vessel and infrastructure components
✔️ Working with ports, operators or supply chain partners to enable real-world deployment and long-term operation

Should you apply?
If your project is ready to move beyond development into full-scale deployment, with a clear plan to build, operate and validate alternative fuel systems in real-world maritime environments alongside committed partners and end users, this is a highly relevant opportunity to pursue.

‍

The MRC-NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme invites applications to assess novel non-pharmacological approaches for diagnosing, treating, or managing ADHD in children and adults. Proposals should target core symptoms or related conditions and provide strong clinical rationale and proof of concept. Evaluations must focus on interventions or technologies with convincing human evidence of efficacy, including diagnostic tools with promising sensitivity, specificity, or predictive value.

‍

The Zenzic CAM Competition supports UK businesses developing products or services that advance Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) technology toward commercial use. Projects must mature CAM solutions to a stage where they can be demonstrated, validated, and ready for real-world deployment, helping UK companies strengthen their position in the global CAM supply chain. Eligible projects should focus on technologies enabling No-User-in-Charge (NUiC) platforms and achieve at least TRL 5–6 or MRL 4–5 by completion. Themes include on-vehicle innovations (such as sensors, control systems, and automated driving software) and off-vehicle innovations (such as connectivity, cybersecurity, data management, AI tools, and testing services). Projects can involve hardware and software development, testing, manufacturing pilots, and safety or regulatory assurance but cannot focus on trials, feasibility studies, or non-automotive applications. Only UK-registered, commercially focused businesses can lead projects, while partners may include academic, public, or non-profit organisations. All partners must pay a 3.5% industrial contribution on grants received to Zenzic, and outcomes must be showcased at a Cenex Expo event.

Solutions that advance zero-emission urban mobility through innovation across the electrification value chain, vehicles, new battery technologies, smart /dynamic charging infrastructure, grid integration or life battery extension, reuse and recycle.Alternative fuels solutions such as hydrogen applications, that support early adoption, reducing initial or operative costs, offer integrated solutions to the urban environment, and are viable to scale-up.

The Content Fund is a joint plan between Government and industry to drive growth, build talent and develop skills across the creative sectors.

Solutions that promote active mobility as a foundation for healthier urban lifestyles, by improving safety, convenience, inclusivity and integration within the urban environment, facilitating a modal shift towards active modes. Proposals should go beyond typical behavioural change campaigns, to include innovative and market-oriented solutions that strengthen the European cycling industry and align with the goals of the European Declaration on Cycling. Digital or public space design innovations must demonstrate a disruptive approach and clear potential for adoption by public authorities.This topic also includes innovations that monitor, reduce, or mitigate the health impacts of air and noise pollution in urban mobility systems – including solutions for cleaner transport, reduced exposure, and health informed planning.

This topic aims to develop open-source tools and integrated platforms for managing energy community assets, optimising local energy use, and enabling seamless interaction between households, prosumers, aggregators, and DSOs. Projects should implement real-time monitoring, forecasting, and autonomous control of energy systems, while ensuring secure, standards-based communication and interoperability across devices and networks. Solutions must be tested in at least three diverse European energy communities and involve stakeholders such as smart appliance manufacturers, home energy system developers, DSOs, and aggregators. The work should actively contribute to the BRIDGE initiative, foster replication potential, and integrate social sciences and humanities expertise to maximise societal impact.

‍

This competition aims to strengthen collaborative research and development between the Netherlands and the UK to commercialise quantum technologies. It funds feasibility and industrial research projects focused on developing, prototyping, and testing commercial quantum solutions in areas such as entanglement-based quantum networking, quantum computing algorithms and software, and quantum sensing for applications like biosensing, public infrastructure, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT).

This opportunity supports the development of healthcare technologies that can be used in the NHS or social care. It focuses on helping teams move proven ideas closer to real world use by funding product development, testing, and real world validation. The aim is to reduce risk and make innovations more attractive to buyers, investors, and healthcare providers.
‍

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing a medical device, diagnostic, or digital health solution
✔️ Working on a product that already has proof it can work
✔️ Looking to test, validate, or scale a healthcare innovation
✔️ Able to collaborate with at least one other organisation
‍

Should you apply?
If you have a healthcare solution that already shows promise and need funding to develop it further, prove its value in real settings, and move towards NHS adoption and commercial success, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

Innovate UK and its partners seek projects that:

‍
–Focus on innovation in agri-tech or food technology, including but not limited to productivity, quality, nutritional value, resilience, and resource efficiency; food processing, manufacturing, and new market development; sustainability, biodiversity, and rural resilience.

‍
–Demonstrate ongoing contribution to the cluster, such as local innovation activities, value creation, engagement with other innovation-active organisations, and increased innovation activity post-project.

‍
–Align with regional priorities and the UK government’s goals for local economic growth.

‍
–Are led by UK-registered businesses and involve collaboration with at least one UK-registered SME claiming grant funding.

‍

Solutions (products, services and business models) that reduce the negative externalities of urban logistics – such as congestion, emissions and noise – while enhancing efficiency, resilience, sustainability and integration with the urban environment, especially in last-mile operations.Innovative concepts for logistics hubs and digitally enabled solutions that foster greater collaboration among logistics operators, cities and users are particularly encouraged.

This opportunity supports bold, early stage ideas that could lead to major breakthroughs in science and technology. The focus is on high risk, high reward projects that explore new directions, challenge current thinking, and have the potential to open up entirely new fields or capabilities.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Exploring a novel or unconventional research idea
✔️ Working on early stage science or breakthrough technologies
✔️ Challenging existing approaches or assumptions
✔️ An individual, startup, SME, or research team with a bold concept

Should you apply?
If you have a high risk idea that would not typically get funded elsewhere and want support to explore it, prove its potential, and turn it into a future breakthrough or larger programme, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

This competition focuses on tackling the growing threat of unauthorised drones, supporting organisations to develop and validate counter-UAS technologies that can operate effectively across both civil and defence environments.

The emphasis is on building scalable, real-world solutions that can detect, track, identify and mitigate drone threats, while operating safely within regulatory constraints and protecting critical infrastructure and public spaces.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing counter-drone technologies such as detection, tracking, identification or mitigation systems
✔️ Working on dual-use solutions applicable to both civil and military environments
✔️ At TRL 5+ (or earlier stage for specific use cases like prisons) with a clear pathway to deployment
✔️ Focused on real-world use cases such as airports, prisons, critical infrastructure or public safety

Should you apply?
If you have a counter-UAS solution with strong technical capability, clear operational use, and a realistic pathway to safe, compliant deployment, this is a highly relevant opportunity to pursue.

‍

Competition is designed to accelerate the development and scale-up of battery-grade materials, with a strong focus on strengthening the UK’s battery supply chain and enabling large-scale manufacturing capability.

The emphasis is on addressing critical gaps in material processing, extraction, and recycling, while reducing reliance on overseas supply and supporting a more resilient, circular UK battery ecosystem.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing battery materials, processing technologies, or recycling solutions for electrification
✔️ Working on scaling technologies from lab to pilot or pre-commercial manufacturing
✔️ Addressing supply chain challenges such as critical material access, quality, or circularity
✔️ Part of a collaborative consortium targeting UK-based manufacturing and supply chain growth

Should you apply?
If you have a battery materials innovation with clear potential to scale, improve supply chain resilience, and support UK-based manufacturing and circular economy goals, this is a highly relevant opportunity to pursue.

‍

Businesses developing highly innovative, near-market technologies can access patient finance through an Innovation Loan to support late-stage R&D, validation, and commercialisation activities where traditional funding is not available on suitable terms.

Unlike a grant, this programme is designed for ambitious SMEs with a clear route to revenue, strong commercial potential, and the ability to repay the loan through future business growth.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ An SME developing a highly innovative product, process, service, or business model that is significantly ahead of current market offerings
✔️ Undertaking late-stage experimental development activities such as prototyping, piloting, testing, validation, or commercial-scale preparation
✔️ Operating within one of the UK Government's priority sectors, including Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Digital & Technologies, Defence, Life Sciences, or Creative Industries
✔️ Able to demonstrate a credible commercialisation strategy, market demand, and strong economic impact for the UK
✔️ Unable to secure suitable finance from private investors, lenders, or other funding sources

Should you apply?

If you have a commercially focused innovation at TRL 5 or above, a strong management team, clear customer demand, and a realistic plan to generate revenue and repay the loan, this is a highly relevant funding opportunity. Successful applicants will demonstrate both technical innovation and commercial readiness, alongside a compelling case for why loan funding is required to unlock growth and market adoption.

‍

This topic supports large-scale demonstration of advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin to meet the needs of sectors such as aviation, shipping, and energy-intensive industries. Projects should engage feedstock developers, technology providers, fuel suppliers, end users, and public authorities to deliver ready-to-deploy, economically viable solutions while assessing the impact of actual feedstocks on plant design and operation. Expected outcomes include de-risking innovative technologies, supporting scale-up, enhancing sustainability and GHG reduction, and providing evidence to inform policy, regulatory decisions, and investment. Proposals must include robust exploitation and dissemination plans, covering commercialisation, scalability, business cases, local economic impact, and full value chain assessments.

‍

The DASA Open Call for Innovation aims to identify and fund innovative ideas that enhance the defence and security of the UK. It provides a broad mechanism for innovators to present disruptive concepts, technologies, or services to defence and security stakeholders, even in the absence of a specific requirement.

The Active Travel Innovation Fund by Active Travel England (ATE) offers grants to UK-registered small and medium-sized organisations to develop, deliver, or scale innovative projects that encourage walking, wheeling, and cycling across England. It focuses on behaviour change and engagement rather than infrastructure or product development, supporting ideas that make active travel safer and more accessible. The fund prioritises initiatives benefiting underrepresented groups such as women, ethnic minorities, children, disabled people, and those less physically active and aligns with wider government goals like reducing NHS pressure, creating safer streets, boosting the economy, and achieving net zero. Projects must be delivered within England over a 12-month period, followed by evaluation, with up to 10% of the grant allocated to monitoring, reporting, and impact assessment.

This topic seeks projects that develop and validate integrated space technologies to support crisis and security practitioners, enhancing EU security, resilience, and cybersecurity. Proposals should leverage Galileo, EGNOS, and, where relevant, Copernicus or GOVSATCOM to deliver close-to-market solutions in security operations, critical infrastructure resilience, or crisis management. Projects must include a business plan, involve SMEs and midcaps, and demonstrate large-scale operational impact, with participation from at least two crisis or security organisations across different EU or associated countries. Activities are expected to reach TRL 7–9 by project end, focusing on commercial readiness and practical uptake of space-based technologies.

‍

Companies with mature healthcare innovations can access funding to accelerate product development, commercialisation and investment readiness across Europe.

The programme supports high-growth SMEs developing innovative solutions in biotech, medtech, digital health, AI, and biomarkers or diagnostics, helping them reach the next stage of commercial growth while addressing significant unmet clinical needs.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ An SME developing an innovative biotech, medtech, digital health, AI, or diagnostic solution
✔️ Have a mature product with demonstrated technical and commercial progress (IML 5–7+, depending on technology area)
✔️ Have raised at least €2 million in equity investment within the previous 36 months, including investment from at least one new investor
✔️ Looking to accelerate product development, strengthen your commercialisation strategy and prepare for your next fundraising round
✔️ Able to provide 50% co-funding alongside the EIT Health grant

Should you apply?

If you have a well-funded healthcare startup with a mature innovation, clear clinical value and strong commercial potential, this is a highly relevant opportunity. Successful applicants will demonstrate readiness to scale, a robust commercial strategy, and the ability to translate innovation into widespread healthcare adoption and future investment.

‍

PACE funds innovative, high-risk, early-stage drug discovery and diagnostic projects aimed at developing new therapeutics for bacterial infections with high unmet need. It supports Hit-to-Lead and Lead Optimisation projects targeting Gram-negative bacteria, especially those causing respiratory, bloodstream, and urinary tract infections, including priority pathogens such as A. baumannii, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and P. mirabilis. Eligible applicants include academic researchers and SMEs worldwide, with projects lasting up to two years. Late-stage, clinical, or vaccine-focused projects, as well as those not directly developing antimicrobials, are out of scope.

Companies developing mature digital health, AI or data-driven healthcare solutions can access funding to accelerate commercialisation and adoption across European healthcare systems.

The programme supports commercially ready healthcare innovations by funding real-world validation, market access activities and deployment, helping companies generate the evidence needed to scale across Europe.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ An SME or industry-led organisation developing a mature digital, AI-powered or data-driven healthcare solution
✔️ Ready to validate your product in real-world healthcare settings and prepare for commercial scale-up
✔️ Able to form a consortium with at least two independent organisations from different eligible countries, including partners from at least two sides of the Knowledge Triangle (Industry, Research and Education)
✔️ Looking to strengthen market access through usability testing, health economics, reimbursement planning and commercial validation
✔️ Able to co-fund 50% of the project and demonstrate a clear route to market

Should you apply?

If you have a clinically validated digital health innovation that is ready for commercial deployment across Europe, this is a highly relevant opportunity. Successful applicants will demonstrate strong commercial potential, a robust consortium, a clear market access strategy and the ability to generate real-world evidence that supports widespread adoption across healthcare systems.

‍

This topic aims to advance the observability, monitoring, and management of electricity distribution grids by developing smart substation ecosystems that integrate power electronics, intelligent devices, and software solutions. Projects should demonstrate real-time monitoring, data consolidation, and AI-assisted decision-making across multiple pilots in different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Expected outcomes include optimised grid operation and maintenance, enhanced resilience to disturbances and natural hazards, and the creation of best practices for integrating smart substations into flexible, responsive distribution networks. Collaboration with multiple distribution system operators, technology suppliers, and at least one TSO is encouraged, with contributions feeding into the BRIDGE initiative.

‍

This opportunity supports organisations developing space enabled services or applications, helping them move from idea to real world use. It funds both early stage work to prove a concept and later stage projects that test solutions with real users, with the goal of reducing risk and preparing for commercial launch.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing a service that uses space data or technology
✔️ Looking to validate an idea or build a minimum viable product
✔️ Ready to test your solution with real customers or users
✔️ Working across sectors where space data can add value

Should you apply?
If you have a space enabled solution and want support to prove it works, test it in real world conditions, and move towards commercial deployment with customers and partners, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

This topic focuses on assessing and optimising the value chains of advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin to strengthen EU energy security and industrial competitiveness. Projects should analyse current and future scenarios, identify integration challenges across stakeholders, and propose research, innovation, and standardisation actions to improve reliability, sustainability, and carbon removal potential. Multidisciplinary aspects—including sustainable farming, CO₂ valorisation, fuel standardisation, and land-use trade-offs—should be considered to develop win-win, integrated solutions across the entire value chain. All proposals must include a life-cycle-based sustainability assessment covering techno-economic, environmental, and social dimensions.

‍

This competition by the Department for Transport aims to develop affordable, user-friendly hardware and software solutions for coaches to comply with the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023. The solutions must provide accessible audio and visual route, destination, and location information, supporting disabled passengers. Proposals should prioritize scalability, compatibility, and affordability while incorporating innovative technologies.

This topic aims to develop and pilot generative AI-powered tools to enhance the digitalisation, decarbonisation, and optimisation of the EU energy system across electricity, mobility, and buildings. Projects should demonstrate AI-driven energy services, system planning, and smart grid functionalities, integrating distributed assets, flexibility markets, and data exchange while ensuring interoperability across sectors and regions. Solutions must be tested across at least three EU Member States or Associated Countries, involving traditional and new energy stakeholders, including DSOs, aggregators, energy communities, and digital infrastructure providers. The work should build on existing open-source digital solutions, leverage AI Factories, adhere to relevant standards, and actively contribute to the BRIDGE initiative.

‍

This programme is focused on taking clean maritime technologies all the way through to real-world deployment and operation at scale. It is designed for ambitious projects that can build, deploy and run solutions over multiple years in live environments, helping position the UK as a leader in maritime decarbonisation.‍

‍

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing vessel or port technologies that significantly reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency
✔️ Able to deliver a large-scale project involving build, deployment and multi-year real-world operation
✔️ A UK business leading a consortium with strong commercial and delivery partners
✔️ Targeting solutions such as alternative fuels, electrification, charging infrastructure or vessel efficiency upgrades‍

‍

Should you apply?
If you have a mature, high-value solution ready to be deployed and operated in real-world maritime environments, with the capability to deliver a large collaborative project and demonstrate long-term impact, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

The Life and Health Sciences Launchpad (Northern Ireland) competition funds innovative projects led by UK-registered SMEs in life and health sciences. Projects must support business growth and strengthen innovation activity within Northern Ireland’s cluster, working with local partners such as HIRANI. Eligible themes include diagnostics and therapeutics, data, digital and medical devices, and healthcare service delivery, with enabling areas like AI, quantum, and advanced therapies also welcomed. Projects must last 6–12 months, request £25,000–£100,000, start after 1 April 2026, and finish by 31 March 2027.

Companies developing advanced materials for renewable energy generation or energy storage can access funding to accelerate commercialisation and strengthen Europe's energy supply chain.

The programme supports startups and SMEs creating next-generation materials that improve the performance, efficiency and sustainability of renewable energy and energy storage technologies, while reducing dependence on critical raw materials and imported materials.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A startup or SME developing advanced materials for renewable energy generation or energy storage systems
✔️ Creating innovations for solar, wind, energy harvesting or medium to long-duration energy storage technologies
✔️ Designing, synthesising, scaling or manufacturing advanced materials with improved functionality or performance
✔️ Developing solutions that reduce reliance on critical raw materials while improving sustainability and circularity through lifecycle thinking
✔️ Building technologies with a clear pathway to commercialisation and integration into Europe's renewable energy value chain

Should you apply?

If you have a breakthrough advanced materials technology that can improve renewable energy or energy storage performance while strengthening Europe's manufacturing capability and strategic autonomy, this is a highly relevant opportunity. Successful applicants will combine strong technical innovation with a credible route to scale, commercial adoption and measurable environmental impact.

‍

This competition offers loan funding to help UK SMEs bring defence innovations to market. It is designed for companies with more developed technologies that are ready to scale and commercialise. The focus is on supporting businesses that can meet real defence needs while also delivering commercial value in the UK or globally.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A UK based SME with a defence related innovation
✔️ Ready to commercialise an existing product or technology
✔️ Able to take on a loan and demonstrate how you will repay it
✔️ Building a solution with clear defence and commercial use
‍

Should you apply?
If you have a mature defence innovation and need funding to bring it to market while growing your business, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

This competition focuses on helping agri-tech SMEs bring near-market innovations into real-world farming, especially those that can deliver measurable gains in productivity, sustainability, and resilience.

The emphasis is on developing and scaling technologies that improve productivity, sustainability, and resilience, while supporting the transition to net zero agriculture by 2050.

This is a strong fit if you are:
✔️ An SME developing late-stage agri-tech solutions close to market deployment
✔️ Able to demonstrate clear improvements in farm productivity, sustainability, or resilience
✔️ Working in key areas such as livestock, crops, novel food systems, or the bioeconomy
✔️ Supported by an investor willing to co-invest significantly in your growth

Should you apply?
If you have a near-market agri-tech innovation with strong commercial potential, clear return on investment, and the backing to scale adoption across the farming sector, this is a highly relevant opportunity to pursue.

‍

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst is a program that supports high-potential UK startups and scaleups by combining grant funding of up to £900k per company with aligned private investment and structured growth support. It targets late-stage innovation across key sectors—including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, creative industries, defence and security, digital technologies, life sciences and foundation industries—and requires applicants to have confirmed backing from an approved Innovate UK Investor Partner. Projects may involve feasibility studies, industrial research or experimental development, each with specific funding and match-investment requirements, with awards made competitively to those best aligned with Innovate UK’s strategic objectives.

This competition funds research projects focused on improving how cancer is detected earlier and diagnosed more effectively. It supports innovative ideas that could lead to better screening, earlier treatment, and improved patient outcomes. Projects should show clear potential to move into real healthcare settings and make a difference in how cancer is identified.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A UK research organisation working on cancer detection or diagnosis
✔️ Developing new diagnostic tools, technologies, or biomarkers
✔️ Part of a collaborative project with hospitals, researchers, or industry
✔️ An SME contributing technology, expertise, or services to a research project

Should you apply?
If you are working on a new way to detect or diagnose cancer earlier, and can show clear potential to improve patient outcomes or healthcare systems, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

‍

​The European Space Agency (ESA) invites proposals for feasibility studies and demonstration projects that leverage space-based services and applications to enhance smart cities. This initiative addresses challenges arising from rapid urban population growth and climate change, focusing on areas such as urban development, emissions, air pollution, digital communication, transport, and urban overheating.

This opportunity focuses on developing advanced electronic components that can be used in smart systems for automation and autonomy. The aim is to help businesses create components that are ready to be integrated into real platforms, such as robotics, drones, or industrial systems, and support how these systems sense, make decisions, and act.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing hardware or components for smart or autonomous systems
✔️ Working on AI, sensors, processing, or control technologies
✔️ Building solutions for industrial, robotics, or high performance environments
✔️ Looking to make your technology ready for integration and wider use

Should you apply?
If you are creating a component that can be used in next generation smart systems and want to make it ready for real world integration, adoption by other companies, and commercial use across multiple industries, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

This opportunity supports projects that create high quality datasets and benchmarks to help train and test advanced AI systems. The focus is on building reliable, well structured data that can be used by others to develop better AI models, especially in areas like healthcare and advanced materials.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Working with large datasets or data platforms
✔️ Building tools for AI training, testing, or evaluation
✔️ Involved in healthcare or materials innovation using AI
✔️ Able to collaborate across data, engineering, and AI teams

Should you apply?
If you are developing valuable datasets or benchmarking tools and want to turn them into widely used resources that support AI innovation, commercial use, and industry adoption, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

Arts Council National Lottery are offering funding to people in England who are creative, or work in the arts, museums or libraries. The fund supports thousands of individual practitioners, community and cultural organisations

This competition funds long term research programmes that help mid career researchers build independence and lead their own work in cancer research. The aim is to support strong, connected research projects that explore key questions in cancer biology and generate knowledge that can lead to future breakthroughs or larger funding.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A UK based researcher ready to lead your own cancer research programme
✔️ Working on core cancer biology or early stage scientific questions
✔️ Building a multi year research plan with several linked studies
✔️ An SME supporting with technology, data, or specialist expertise

Should you apply?
If you are ready to step into a leadership role and build a long term research programme in cancer, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

‍

This opportunity supports agri-tech businesses that need to improve and prove their product before scaling. The focus is on closing key gaps in performance, reliability, and real world testing so solutions can gain market acceptance and move towards manufacturing and wider adoption.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing an agri-tech product that still needs validation
✔️ Looking to improve performance or reliability before scaling
✔️ Working on solutions for farming, food production, or sustainability
✔️ Preparing your product for real world use and customer adoption‍

‍

Should you apply?
If you have an agri-tech product that is not fully proven yet and need funding to refine it, test it in real conditions, and build confidence for customers and future scale up, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

This opportunity supports UK SMEs developing advanced AI and machine learning solutions that could unlock major improvements or entirely new capabilities. The focus is on proving that your idea works in practice, building early evidence, and showing clear potential to scale into real products or platforms. It is part of a wider funding pathway, meaning successful projects can progress to larger funding rounds.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Building a new AI or machine learning solution with strong innovation
✔️ Working on areas like healthcare, materials, defence, or core AI systems
✔️ Looking to prove technical feasibility and performance
✔️ Planning to scale your solution into a product or platform

Should you apply?
If you are developing a cutting edge AI solution and want to validate it, demonstrate strong technical performance, and position your business for larger follow on funding and long term growth, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

The Space4Rail initiative, led by the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to enhance the railway sector by integrating space-based assets—such as satellite navigation, satellite communications, and Earth observation—into innovative and sustainable applications and services. The goal is to improve the performance, efficiency, safety, and attractiveness of railways for both operators and end-users. ​

‍

The Zenzic CAM Deployment Trials Competition funds large-scale trials that bring Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) services closer to commercial use in the UK. Projects must demonstrate mature CAM technologies in live or realistic settings, develop operational models, and build business cases for future deployment. They should run for 18–24 months, request £2–4 million, and be delivered in the UK. Eligible leads include UK-registered businesses, local or transport authorities, and must be the service operator or entity directly benefiting from the CAM service. Collaborators may include businesses, academic institutions, charities, or RTOs. Projects using public roads must follow the Department for Transport’s Automated Vehicle Trialling Code of Practice and identify key roles such as the Authorised Self Driving Entity (ASDE) and No-User-in-Charge Operator (NUiCO).

‍

The competition is designed to accelerate early-stage innovation in battery technologies, with a focus on validating feasibility and preparing solutions for commercial development across electrification sectors.

The emphasis is on demonstrating how novel battery technologies can meet real market needs, overcome industry challenges, and strengthen the UK’s battery supply chain and global competitiveness.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ Developing new or improved battery technologies, materials, or systems at an early stage
✔️ Looking to validate technical and commercial feasibility before moving to development
✔️ Addressing clear industry challenges in electrification (e.g. performance, cost, scalability, sustainability)
✔️ A UK business aiming to strengthen its position within the battery value chain

Should you apply?
If you have an early-stage battery innovation with a clear application, strong market demand, and a credible plan to validate feasibility and unlock future commercialisation, this is a highly relevant opportunity to pursue.

‍

Ambitious innovators and researchers looking to establish themselves as independent leaders can access long-term funding and support to accelerate both their career development and the delivery of high-impact innovation.

The programme is designed to help emerging leaders build independent careers through ambitious research and innovation programmes that deliver meaningful economic, societal or technological benefits for the UK.


This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ An early-career innovator or researcher with leadership potential
✔️ Developing a novel, ambitious innovation or research programme with significant UK impact
✔️ Looking to establish an independent career pathway and build leadership capability
✔️ Supported by a UK-based host organisation such as a business, charity, public sector organisation, research organisation or Agri-Tech Centre

Should you apply?

If you have a compelling vision, a strong host organisation, and can demonstrate how the fellowship will accelerate both your leadership development and the impact of your innovation, this is one of the UK's most prestigious opportunities for future research and innovation leaders.

‍

This programme supports SMEs working on innovative products, services, or processes through international collaboration. The focus is on helping businesses develop and commercialise new solutions by partnering with organisations across different countries, with strong emphasis on real market potential and impact.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ An SME developing a new or improved product or technology
✔️ Looking to collaborate with international partners
✔️ Building a solution with clear commercial potential
✔️ Working on innovation that solves real industry or societal challenges

Should you apply?
If you are an SME ready to develop your innovation with international partners and want support to bring it to market, grow your business, and access funding through national programmes across Europe, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

The SMART: SCOTLAND grant, administered by Scottish Enterprise, aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in conducting feasibility studies for high-risk, highly ambitious research and development (R&D) projects. The grant focuses on projects that represent a significant technological advance for the UK industry or sector concerned and have a clear commercial endpoint.

This opportunity supports early stage startups building solutions for urban mobility, helping them raise funding and scale across Europe. The focus is on high impact innovations that improve how people and goods move in cities, including areas like clean transport, shared mobility, and data driven systems.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A startup with a mobility solution already in development
✔️ Working on transport, logistics, or city mobility challenges
✔️ Raising investment at pre seed, seed, or Series A stage
✔️ Building a product with clear potential to scale across cities

Should you apply?
If you are a startup looking to raise funding while scaling your mobility solution, and want support to grow faster, expand into new markets, and deliver real impact in cities across Europe, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

This competition funds large research programmes focused on improving how cancer is detected and diagnosed at an earlier stage. It supports long term, ambitious projects that bring together multiple research areas to solve a central challenge in early detection, with a clear path to real world healthcare impact. Projects should go beyond basic research and show how they could improve patient outcomes or healthcare systems.

This is a strong fit if you are:

✔️ A researcher, clinician, or healthcare professional in a UK institution
✔️ Working on early cancer detection or diagnostic tools
✔️ Part of a collaborative research programme across multiple teams
✔️ An SME supporting with technology, data, or specialist expertise

Should you apply?
If you are involved in a large research programme aiming to improve how cancer is found and diagnosed earlier, and can show real impact on patients or healthcare systems, this is a strong opportunity.

‍

‍