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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Advanced Manufacturing Clean Energy Industries Creative Industries Defence Digital and Technology Life Sciences Financial Services Professional & Business Services Foundation Industries Global UK Places Investment

Upcoming opportunities

Contracts for Innovation: Improving Outcomes for Children Experiencing Homelessness

Opens: 19/05/2026

Closes: 08/07/2026

Organisations can apply for a share of £2m inc VAT to develop innovative interventions, technologies, and frameworks to support children and families experiencing homelessness.

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Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG), Cohort 19

Opens: 11/05/2026

Closes: 05/06/2026

Funding to develop feasibility studies, proofs of concept, or prototypes to shape a safer, greener, accessible, and more resilient transport network.

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High Assurance Detection Systems in UK Airports (HADes) 2026

Opens: 14/05/2026

Closes: 19/06/2026

The competition aims to enhance UK airports’ checkpoint security screening capability, focusing on alarm resolution and any operating concept that can enhance the performance of checkpoint…

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Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnerships 6 (AKT 6)

Opens: 26/05/2026

Closes: 15/07/2026

UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £2.5 million to fund innovation projects with businesses.

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iX Challenge - Industrial Voltage Resilience

Opens: 15/05/2026

Closes: 25/06/2026

The challenge is to identify cost-effective, behind-the-meter solutions that can reduce the frequency of electrical trips in a short duration voltage excursion scenario to improve site…

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IBIC ICURe Discover: September 2026

Opens: 08/05/2026

Closes: 17/07/2026

IBIC (Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst) ICURe Discover is a part-time hybrid market exploration programme for researchers, technicians and research students, with up to £2,500 support for…

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Contracts for Innovation: First of a Kind (FOAK) Rail Programme 2026

Opens: 11/05/2026

Closes: 24/06/2026

Organisations can apply for a share of £4.3 million, inclusive of VAT, across eight themes to develop a prototype, conduct field testing, and demonstrate their solution.…

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Defra Farming Innovation Investor Partnership 2026

Opens: 11/05/2026

Closes: 17/06/2026

UK registered micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can apply for a share of up to £5 million to develop innovative farming solutions. This must…

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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

Contracts for Innovation: First of a Kind 2026 20/05/2026
Online 10.00 - 13.00
Contracts for Innovation: First of a Kind 2026
Event details
Series Next Generation Low Carbon Concrete Growth Cohort Briefing Event 21/05/2026
Online 11.00 - 12.00
Next Generation Low Carbon Concrete Growth Cohort Briefing Event
Event details
Series Introduction to Horizon Europe 2026 27/05/2026
Online 10.00 - 11.00
Introduction to Horizon Europe 2026
Event details
Connected Capabilities Workshop 17/06/2026
London 10.00 - 16.00
Connected Capabilities Workshop
Event details
Cross-Sector Battery Showcase - Advancing Innovation Across Industries 18/06/2026
Leicester 09.00 - 16.00
Cross-Sector Battery Showcase - Advancing Innovation Across Industries
Event details
Regulatory Science and Innovation Summit 2026 18/06/2026
London 09.30 - 16.30
Regulatory Science and Innovation Summit 2026
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

Robotics adoption in the UK - The real innovation challenge Perspective
Robotics adoption in the UK - The real innovation challenge
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Net Zero Lessons from across the UK Perspective
Net Zero Lessons from across the UK
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Behind the breakthroughs: what we’ve learned about the UK’s hidden innovation workforce Perspective
Behind the breakthroughs: what we’ve learned about the UK’s hidden innovation workforce
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Professional and Business Services - A growing investment opportunity Perspective
Professional and Business Services - A growing investment opportunity
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The GeoAI Festival - Creating impact and opportunities in nature finance, sustainable agri-food systems, and spatial planning Perspective
The GeoAI Festival - Creating impact and opportunities in nature finance, sustainable agri-food systems, and spatial planning
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AgriFood Innovation Showcase 2026 event highlights News
AgriFood Innovation Showcase 2026 event highlights
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UK-Netherlands Quantum Innovation pilot winners announced News
UK-Netherlands Quantum Innovation pilot winners announced
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The Growth of UK’s Maritime Industry Perspective
The Growth of UK’s Maritime Industry
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