Innovate UK have launched a number of funding competitions to help tackle industry challenges ranging from semiconductors for smart electronic platforms to manufacturing facilities for zero emission vehicle technologies.
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 [email protected].
UK registered SME businesses can apply for a share of up to £3 million to deliver feasibility studies for frontier artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) technologies with a clear route defensible scale-up. This is funded by Innovate UK.
- Competition opens: Tuesday 17 March 2026
- Competition closes: Wednesday 29 April 2026 11:00am
Semiconductors and components for smart electronic platforms
UK registered businesses can apply with CR&D or R&D projects for a share of up to £18.5 million to mature and accelerate the availability of components that include semiconductors or novel technologies ready for integration into Smart Electronic Platforms
- Competition opens: Friday 20 February 2026
- Competition closes: Wednesday 1 April 2026 11:00am
UK-Germany Collaborative Innovation for Quantum Technologies 2026
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £3 million for innovative projects in quantum. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
- Competition opens: Thursday 12 February 2026
- Competition closes: Wednesday 15 April 2026 11:00am
Farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England can apply for a share of up to £5 million for on-farm trial and demonstration projects, to improve adoption of new ideas or solutions in the agricultural sector.
- Competition opens: Thursday 5 February 2026
- Competition closes: Wednesday 8 April 2026 11:00am
UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £10 million to fund innovation projects with businesses.
- Competition opens: Monday 2 February 2026
- Competition closes: Wednesday 1 April 2026 11:00am
UK registered government research organisations can apply for grants from £50,000 up to £250,000 to move viable public sector knowledge assets towards commercial readiness. This funding is provided by the Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT).
- Competition opens: Wednesday 17 December 2025
- Competition closes: Thursday 7 May 2026 11:00am
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £150 million to create scale up manufacturing facilities for zero emission vehicle technologies.
- Competition opens: Wednesday 17 September 2025
- Competition closes: There is no submission deadline
