The UK registered partners in your Eureka project must nominate one business, of any size, to start an Innovate UK application. We refer to them as the ‘lead organisation’ and the person they nominate to have overall responsibility as the ‘lead applicant’.

The UK lead applicant must collaborate with at least one SME from Japan participating in the competition. It must be a separate legal entity, not linked to the UK partners.

You can also collaborate with other participating Eureka members in addition to Japan.

The UK lead applicant can also collaborate with:

• other UK registered businesses of any size
• UK registered research organisations

Your collaboration can include organisations from Eureka members that are not participating in this funding competition provided:

• they have secured full funding elsewhere
• you describe in your application why and how they will be involved and where they have secured financing from

A business can only lead on one application but can be included as a collaborator in a further 2 applications.

An RTO or academic institution can collaborate on any number of applications.

UK applicants can apply for total grant of up to £600,000 for each project. This can cover up to 70% of costs depending on business size.

No single organisation can claim more than 70% of the total project costs.

Your project can last up to three years and is expected to start by 1st August 2027. The start date depends on the national funding procedures of the Eureka members involved in the selected projects.

The aim of this competition is to fund business-led, collaborative research and development (CR&D) projects focused on industrial research. This competition will be for innovative proposals developed between the UK, Japan and the other Eureka participating countries. Innovate UK will be funding the UK partners only.

Your project must have high market potential and develop at least one of the following:

• innovative products
• technology based applications
• technology based services

Your collaborative R&D proposal must demonstrate:

• an effective collaboration between the UK partners and Japan as a minimum
• a clear game changing and disruptive innovative idea leading to new products, processes or services
• a strong and deliverable business plan that addresses (and documents) market potential and needs
• sound, practical financial plans and timelines
• good value for money, which will always be a consideration in Innovate UK funding decisions
• a clear, evidence based plan to deliver significant economic impact, return on investment (ROI) and growth through commercialisation, as soon as possible after project completion
• clear, considerable potential to significantly benefit the UK economy or national productivity
• the benefit of participants from the countries working together and how this adds value
• a clear definition of where intellectual property (IP) can be used and shared between the participants and countries
• a clear route to market within 2 to 3 years of project completion

We are looking to fund a portfolio of projects, across a variety of technologies, markets, technological maturities and research categories.

Your project must have high market potential and focus on one or more of the following:

• Semiconductors
• Quantum
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cyber Security
• Advanced Connectivity Technologies
• Biotechnology (including Engineering Biology)
• Space

We will not fund projects that:

• work on non-civilian technologies
• are not in scope
• do not meet Innovate UK’s eligibility criteria
• do not submit all mandatory documentation
• do not include at least one UK registered business and one eligible Japanese SME as a minimum
• request grants of more than £600,000
• pose a risk to the UK’s national security, economic security, or strategic interests

Innovate UK will hold an online briefing at 2pm on Tuesday 13 October 2026: click here for the joining link (Zoom required).

If you would like help to find a collaboration partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Global team.