Innovate UK Growth Catalyst December 2025

We are looking for applications from UK-registered companies seeking to scale by developing and deploying innovative solutions which will drive business growth in the sectors described above.

You should:

• Be planning to scale rapidly.
• Be seeking both grant funding and private investment.
• Be able to demonstrate evidence of high growth potential.
• Have established traction with at least one Innovate UK Investor Partner. Your Investor Partner must be identified in your application and confirm their support through an Expression of Interest (EOI) before the application close date. See directory of Investor Partners.

The award process will be on a competitive basis, and awards will follow a portfolio approach towards supporting submissions which best meet our strategic intent. Not all eligible applicants will secure an award.

Successful applicants receive an integrated support package to accelerate long-term growth, including:

• Grant funding for late-stage R&D projects of up to £2m in project costs, subject to aligned private investment through Innovate UK’s proven Investor Partners funding model.
• Structured support delivered by Innovate UK Business Growth, Innovate UK Business Connect, and other partners, tailored to applicants’ specific growth needs such as:
  • Developing your business model and operation.
  • Assessing and developing your investment readiness and fundraising preparation.
  • Helping you access markets and to understand and meet standards and relegations.
  • Supporting you as you seek export finance and your international growth.
  • Connecting to industry experts and research partners.
  • Accessing specialist skills and industry infrastructure

Your project must fall into one of the following categories:

Feasibility studies

• Total project costs: £50,000 to £300,000
• Duration: 6 to 12 months
• Grant funding: up to 70% of costs

Industrial research

• Total project costs: £100,000 to £1million
• Duration: 6 to 24 months
• Grant funding: up to 70% of costs

For feasibility studies and industrial research projects, aligned private investment must be at least equal to the grant amount. This investment does not need to directly fund the project but must be committed to the business before the grant can be made.

Experimental development

• Total project costs: £250,000 to £2million
• Duration: 12 to 24 months
• Grant funding: up to 45% of costs

For Experimental Development projects, aligned private investment must be at least twice the grant amount. This investment does not need to directly fund the project but must be committed to the business before the grant can be made.

The scope of this competition comprises six of the industry growth sectors identified in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, battery technology as part of the Battery Innovation Programme we are conducting with the Department of Business and Trade (DBT):

• Advanced Manufacturing (incl. Battery technology)
• Clean Energy Industries
• Creative Industries
• Defence and Security Technologies
• Digital and Technologies
• Life Sciences
• It also seeks applications from late-stage innovative companies working in foundation industries (typically cross-cutting industries that enable the above high-growth sectors).

We are interested in funding specific categories within these growth sectors. You will be able to find out more about these from the Innovation Funding Service application page soon.

We welcome applications from across the UK and encourage participation from underrepresented groups and regions.

To apply, you must have a confirmed relationship with one of Innovate UK’s approved Investor Partners. See directory of Investor Partners.

Your investor must have expressed serious intent to invest by the application close date, such as, for example, an indicative offer, ongoing due diligence, or a signed term sheet.

You will need to name your Investor Partner within your application. We will contact them to confirm their support and assess how the grant funding would impact their investment decision.

Help to prepare for investment or connecting with suitable investors may be available for suitable potential applicants by:

• Contacting Innovate UK Business Growth
• Contacting Innovate UK Business Connect for sector-specific investor connections
• Exploring support from relevant Catapult Centres in your sector

Details of an online briefing event will be available soon. The event recording and slides will be available here afterwards.

If you need more information about how to apply or you want to submit your application in Welsh, email support@iuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357.

Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).