Home of the UK’s innovation networks

Innovate UK Business Connect brings together businesses, researchers, investors and partners to support innovation across the UK. As a strategic delivery partner to Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we connect organisations to funding opportunities, partnerships and expert support to help ideas move from concept to scale.

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Upcoming opportunities

iX Challenge: Reducing blood-cell loss and measurement variability in field-deployable microfluidic diagnostic cartridges

Opens: 05/10/2026

Closes: 06/11/2026

Beyond Blood Diagnostics seeks innovative solutions to reduce particle loss during flow stage process within a micro channel.

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iX Challenge: Secure, Cost-Effective Use of Cloud-Based AI Tools in the Defence Supply Chain

Opens: 05/10/2026

Closes: 06/11/2026

The challenge holder is seeking an innovative, secure and commercially viable way to use cloud-based, AI-enabled engineering and manufacturing tools while protecting sensitive customer and defence-related…

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iX Challenge: Resilient High-Altitude Communications, Navigation and Mission Connectivity for Persistent Autonomous Aircraft

Opens: 05/10/2026

Closes: 06/11/2026

Innovate UK Business Connect is supporting Advanced Integrated Technologies Ltd (AiT) to identify innovative technologies capable of providing reliable, resilient and low-SWaP command, control, navigation and…

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iX Challenge: Edge AI with Low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost

Opens: 05/10/2026

Closes: 06/11/2026

The iX programme is supporting Tekh to identify innovative hardware partners capable of developing low Size, Weight, Power and Cost (SWaP-C) computing hardware for Edge AI.…

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iX Challenge: Extending protection to personnel travelling in armoured vehicles under drone attack

Opens: 05/10/2026

Closes: 06/11/2026

VSS is looking to use open innovation to improve the survivability of personnel travelling in armoured vehicles when under drone attacks.

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iX Challenge: Verified reporting of the value created by defence contracts

Opens: 05/10/2026

Closes: 06/11/2026

The iX programme is supporting e50K to find innovators who can capture, verify and deduplicate social value delivery across a multi-tier supply chain, so that the…

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FOAK Builder: working towards climate tech first-of-a-kind deployment

Opens: 07/10/2026

Closes: 05/11/2026

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will invest a minimum of £4.77 million to support ambitious, late-stage climate tech businesses as they move…

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Eureka collaborative R&D: Globalstars Japan 2027

Opens: 07/10/2026

Closes: 20/01/2027

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of £2 million for collaborative industrial research projects with partners from Japan and select Eureka countries.

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Are you looking for a specific opportunity?

Search for funding, collaboration, support to grow or resources to bring your idea to life.

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Could our programmes support you?

We offer innovation programmes that help businesses and researchers develop and commercialise new products, processes and services.

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Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

For over 45 years Knowledge Transfer Partnerships have been helping businesses innovate for growth by accessing the UK’s world-leading knowledge base.

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Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe

Explore information on the UK’s official Horizon Europe Hub to help guide you on your research and innovation journey.

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ICURe
ICURe

The Innovate UK ICURe Programme gives researchers the chance to turn ground-breaking research into investment-ready spin-out companies and license agreements. We provide funding and personalised support…

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Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund
Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund

Decarbonising Great Britain’s energy networks is a huge undertaking, and it is urgent. Innovation is critical to reaching this goal. The Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund brings…

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Contracts for Innovation
Contracts for Innovation

Enabling innovators to work directly with the public sector to develop new technologies and processes.

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Featured events

Scaling interoperable V2X: In-person networking and market engagement 15/10/2026
Manchester 11.00 - 15.00
Scaling interoperable V2X: In-person networking and market engagement
Event details
Series Smart cities, resilient places: Innovations for climate and energy resilience Next webinar 21 Oct, 10am
Online
Smart cities, resilient places: Innovations for climate and energy resilience
Event details
UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase 2026 06/11/2026
London 09.00 - 16.00
UK National Quantum Technologies Showcase 2026
Event details
Rail Innovation Exhibition 2027 24/02/2027
London 09.00 - 17.00
Rail Innovation Exhibition 2027
Event details

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Want to join us and help advance the UK’s innovation networks?

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Innovate UK Business Connect highlights

Energy Efficient Computing - from innovation to impact Perspective
Energy Efficient Computing - from innovation to impact
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How place-based citizen engagement can shape a positive, decarbonised future for the UK Perspective
How place-based citizen engagement can shape a positive, decarbonised future for the UK
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Defence innovation:</br>Turning strategic ambition into economic growth News
Defence innovation:
Turning strategic ambition into economic growth
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Unlocking UK economic growth through AI: A practical guide for employers Perspective
Unlocking UK economic growth through AI: A practical guide for employers
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Innovative drug development models awarded funding to drive adoption and growth News
Innovative drug development models awarded funding to drive adoption and growth
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Acceptance of novel low environmental impact construction products Perspective
Acceptance of novel low environmental impact construction products
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