Accelerate your company’s growth through innovation
Innovate UK Women in Innovation was launched in 2016 to encourage more women to apply to Innovate UK funding opportunities. Since its inception, the programme has enabled brilliant women across the UK to fully achieve their vision for their businesses and change the world.
Our research into women innovators highlighted access to funding and finance as their biggest barrier to success. They also struggled with the lack of visible role models and inability to reach the right networks.
Over the last eight years, we’ve championed women entrepreneurship and aimed to dismantle barriers to growth, whilst inspiring more women into innovation.
The Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards are open to all backgrounds, sectors, regions and innovation areas. We want to support women who are at a critical stage with their business, where an award will enable them to take an important step forward. The funding should help you make a real difference to innovation in the UK including in and beyond your sector or innovation area.
The Women in Innovation programme is a powerful catalyst for change, not just for the brilliant women entrepreneurs it supports, but for the entire UK innovation landscape. By breaking down barriers and amplifying diverse voices, Innovate UK are fostering a more inclusive and dynamic ecosystem that drives progress across all sectors. This programme is about more than funding – it’s about creating role models, building networks, and inspiring the next generation of women innovators to dream big and transform our world.
Stella Peace, Innovate UK Interim Executive Chair
Women in Innovation newsletter
We are proud to support a vibrant Women in Innovation community that encompasses over 10,500 members. Sign up to the Women in Innovation newsletter to learn about our latest news, events and funding opportunities.
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Impact
Women in Innovation has had an incredible impact so far and kickstarted real change across the innovation system.
>£11m
awarded since 2016
>200
winners supported
>100%
increase in women applying for Innovate UK funding
>10,500
in our vibrant community
Previous winners
Sara Berkai
Fuelling STEM learning among displaced children through play
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Iris Kramer
Using deep learning to detect unknown archaeological sites
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Fatemeh Ameri
Analysing medical images with AI
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Zijing Li
Self-monitoring concrete for a more sustainable future
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CASE STUDIES
Success stories from pioneering women innovators
Previous winners of the Women in Innovation Awards have had a huge impact on developing innovative businesses while creating a new community of women entrepreneurs, proving that anything is possible. The stories of our remarkable award winners will inspire the next generation of women change-makers.
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Our partnerships
The Women in Innovation programme campaign works to promote women role models and business leaders to inspire the younger generation into innovation. We work with the investor community and UK Business Angels Association to foster a more gender-diverse investment ecosystem in the UK, to enable our Women in Innovation community to inspire students up and down the country.
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“Each year I am blown away by the brilliant ideas and talent we uncover through our Women in Innovation programme. Despite these challenging economic times, this year’s winners have shown great leadership, passion and resilience in driving their innovations forward. Innovate UK will work alongside them now to ensure they have the resources and support required to grow and scale their businesses, while encouraging a new generation of women to get involved in innovation, pursue their ambitions and transform our economy and society.”
— Emily Nott, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Programmes, Innovate UK
“I'm passionate about the way we choose to treat our planet and I want to encourage people to make more conscious decisions in their purchasing habits. I feel incredibly privileged to have won this Innovate UK Award and it fills me with confidence for the future. It’s come at a critical time for me to re-strategise and make my vision tangible. Now is the time for sustainable innovation to really flourish – before it’s too late.”
— Ameenah Begum, Founder, Planet Friendly Paint
"90% of people across the world don't have access to the prosthetics they need, mostly due to lack of doctors, lack of access and expensive products. ExpHand Prosthetics looks to change this by creating affordable prosthetics that can grow with you. I'm really grateful to be recognised as a Women in Innovation. The award gives me a great platform to grow the business further, and will hopefully inspire more women to start their own companies and take on new leadership roles.”
— Kate Allan, Founder, ExpHand Prosthetics
“2.5 million women in the UK are experiencing significant menopausal symptoms. 1 in 10 will end up leaving their job as a result. That’s just not right in this day and age. The vast majority are not getting appropriate treatment and support. For those who may be unable to take Hormone Replacement Therapy, or simply prefer not to, psychological-therapy based approaches can be a huge benefit. I am hugely excited to be one of this year's winners. Some amazing women have been awarded this Innovate UK Award in previous years, and I'm so proud to be following in their footsteps.”
— Becky Cotton, Co-founder, Lumino
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Empowering innovation, diversity and shaping the future of UK manufacturing
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Thirty-three companies, which took part in Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst pilot accelerators, have been awarded funding to further develop their innovative projects.
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Support for Innovators
Whether you are an early-stage, pre-seed innovator, or a more established company, there are many networks and resources out there to support your innovation journey. It can be confusing to know which is right for your innovation and stage of business.
No Limits
Develop your talent, discover opportunities to build your skills and secure investment for innovation. No Limits, launched by Innovate UK, brings you the best programmes from innovative organisations across the UK.