Innovate UK Grant Funding Competitions

Innovate UK have launched a number of funding competitions to help tackle industry challenges ranging from plastic packaging to farming innovation.

A selection of the current funding competitions are outlined below, the full list can be found on the Innovate UK website.

If you are interested in applying for an Innovate UK grant and require assistance, please talk to our Business Ready team on 02476 323121 or email businessready@uwsp.co.uk


Circular Economy for SMEs – innovating with NICER, round 2

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £1.5 million to research, test and develop step-change circular economy approaches.

  • Competition opens: Thursday 13 October 2022
  • Competition closes: Wednesday 7 December 2022 11:00am

PEMD Scale-up: Strand 1, adopting manufacturing best practice

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £5 million to scale up manufacturing in the power electronics, machines and drives supply chain. This strand will fund feasibility studies for innovative manufacturing solutions from other sectors.

  • Competition opens: Wednesday 21 September 2022
  • Competition closes: Wednesday 7 December 2022 11:00am

Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2022 to 2023 Round 4

UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £9 million to fund innovation projects with businesses or not for profits.

  • Competition opens: Tuesday 20 September 2022
  • Competition closes: Wednesday 16 November 2022 11:00am

SSPP Future Plastic Packaging Solutions Round 2

UK registered businesses and organisations can apply for a share of up to £2.5 million for early-stage and mid-stage projects in smart and sustainable plastic packaging.

  • Competition opens: Monday 12 September 2022
  • Competition closes: Wednesday 9 November 2022 11:00am

Farming Innovation Programme small R&D partnership projects R2

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £11million for Small R&D Partnership Projects from the Industry-led R&D Partnerships Fund, a part of the Farming Innovation Programme.

  • Competition opens: Wednesday 31 August 2022
  • Competition closes: Wednesday 2 November 2022 11:00am

Knowledge Asset Grant Fund: Extend

UK public sector organisations can apply for a share of up to £2.9 million to better exploit high-potential intangible assets. This funding is from the Knowledge Asset Grant Fund programme and delivered by the Government Office for Technology Transfer.

  • Competition opens: Friday 15 July 2022
  • Competition closes: Thursday 15 December 2022 11:00am