Innovate UK Launchpads

Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme is aimed at supporting clusters of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the most innovative businesses to progress their ideas toward commercialisation, contributing to local economic growth. Each Launchpad has been developed in collaboration with local leadership, to strengthen innovation in targeted clusters across the UK.

Programmes

Launchpads

Innovate UK Launchpads

Funded by Innovate UK, Launchpads align with the UK government’s goals outlined in the Levelling Up White Paper.

Each Launchpad cluster benefits from various forms of support such as funding for research and development, opportunities for networking and collaboration, and access to innovation specialists including Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs).

Innovate UK has opened eleven Launchpads. In 2022 two pilots were opened for Liverpool City Region and Teesside, through which £15 million of funding was provided. In 2023 a further eight Launchpads were rolled out to support clusters across the UK, into which an initial £16 million of funding has been offered to support over 100 new projects. During 2024, further investment of up to £44 million will be made available across these eight clusters. Most recently, an additional Launchpad of up to £5 million was announced in Spring Budget 2024 for mid and north Wales.

Click on each of the Launchpads below to read more about the cluster and the related funding and support opportunities.

Located in the South West of Wales, this Launchpad is dedicated to the pursuit of sustainable solutions in the realm of Net Zero industrial emissions. Innovate UK is partnering on this Launchpad with Welsh Government.

Initial funding has been offered for six projects – four collaborative consortia projects plus two solely for SMEs. The themes of the projects offered funding include green hydrogen, modular solar power, and floating wind technologies.

Latest news: A new pot of up to £1 million for innovative projects in parts of the South Wales Industrial Cluster funding competition opened on 4 November and will close on 11 December 2024.
- Net zero industry, South West Wales – Round 2 Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) grant funding of £25k-£100k per project, single applicants only
- Free online competition funding briefing event. 13:00, 14 November (online). Register now.
To be eligible, your business must be growing your innovation activities in the net zero industry innovation cluster in South West Wales. For this competition, this region consists of Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and the City and County of Swansea. For advice on applications, you can contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Net Zero team.

This Launchpad will be supported by Net Zero Industry Wales, who have been awarded the Cluster Management Organisation (CMO) grant by Innovate UK due to their sector and regional knowledge. They will enrich the strategies and impact of innovators in the cluster, alongside providing a hub of intelligence and community engagement for the wider cluster practitioners.
Positioned in North East England, this Launchpad will be at the forefront of digital technologies applied into fast growth and emerging markets. Innovate UK is partnering on this Launchpad with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and North of Tyne Combined Authority.

Thirteen projects are moving forward with their offer of funding – two collaborative R&D projects and eleven solely for SMEs. Eight of the projects are focused on making significant advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning. More than half of the business offered funding through this Launchpad are to receive Innovate UK funding for the first time.

Latest news: A funding competition of up to £2.5m opened on 4 November and will close on 11 December 2024.
- Investor Partnerships in digital technologies, North East – Round 1 – Funding for single applicants and invited to apply by an investor from Innovate UK’s pool of investor partners.
- Free online competition funding briefing event. 13:00, 14 November (online). Register now.
To be eligible, your business must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized businesses (SMEs) who will use the funding to grow their innovation activities in the digital technology cluster in North East England, both during and after the project. For this competition, North East England refers to the geography of the North East Combined Authority which includes Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham.

This Launchpad will be supported by the Innovation SuperNetwork, who have been awarded a grant by Innovate UK due to their sector and regional knowledge. They will enrich the strategies and impact of innovators in the cluster, alongside providing a hub of intelligence and community engagement for the wider cluster practitioners.
Based in West Yorkshire, this Launchpad is dedicated to pioneering breakthroughs in technologies that will improve healthcare outcomes. Innovate UK is partnering on this Launchpad with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Innovate UK has offered funding initially to ten projects for this cluster, two collaborative R&D projects and eight solely for SMEs. Four of the projects are centred on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data within healthcare.

Latest news: A funding competition of up to £2.5m opened on 4 November and will close on 11 December 2024.
- Investor Partnerships in health technologies, West Yorkshire – Round 1 – Funding for single applicants and invited to apply by an investor from Innovate UK’s pool of investor partners.
- Free online competition funding briefing event. 13:00, 14 November (online). Register now.
To be eligible, your business must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized businesses (SMEs) who will use the funding to grow their innovation activities in the health technology cluster in West Yorkshire, both during and after the project.

This Launchpad will be supported by Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber who have been awarded a grant by Innovate UK due to their sector and regional knowledge. They will enrich the strategies and impact of innovators in the cluster, alongside providing a hub of intelligence and community engagement for the wider cluster practitioners.
This Launchpad will drive innovations in bio-based manufacturing, promoting sustainable production methods. Innovate UK is partnering on this Launchpad with Scottish Enterprise.

In this cluster, Innovate UK has offered funding to thirteen projects – four collaborative R&D projects and nine solely for SMEs. Projects are located across Scotland and cover a wide range of innovations including feedstocks, sustainable peat-free growing media, seaweed processing and wastewater treatment screening. One of the projects is to be led by a previous Young Innovators award winner, supporting advancements in their unique technologies.

Latest news: A funding competition of up to £5.25m with two strands opened on 4 November and will close on 11 December 2024.
- Bio-based manufacturing innovation in Scotland, Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA), Round 2 – Grant funding of £25k-£100k per project, single applicants only.
- Bio-based manufacturing, Scotland, Round 2 Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) – Grant Funding of £150k to £1M per project, consortia based applications.
- Free online competition funding briefing event. 13:00, 14 November (online). Register now.
To be eligible, your business must be growing your innovation activities in the bio-based manufacturing innovation cluster in Scotland both during and after the project.

If you would like advice about which strand is more appropriate for your project, or help to find a collaboration partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s biotechnology and/or manufacturing teams.

This Launchpad will be supported by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) who have been awarded a grant by Innovate UK due to their sector and regional knowledge. They will enrich the strategies and impact of innovators in the cluster, alongside providing a hub of intelligence and community engagement for the wider cluster practitioners.
Situated in Northern Ireland, this Launchpad is dedicated to the advancement of healthcare solutions and medical breakthroughs. Innovate UK is partnering on this Launchpad with Invest Northern Ireland.

Funding has initially been offered to fourteen projects, across digital health, biotech therapeutics and diagnostics and medical technologies disciplines – two collaborative R&D projects and twelve projects solely for SMEs.

Latest news: A funding competition of up to £4.3m with two strands opened on 4 November and will close on 11 December 2024.
- Life and health sciences, Northern Ireland, Round 2 De minimis or Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) – Grant funding of £25k-£100k per project, single applicants only.
- Life and health sciences, Northern Ireland, Round 2 Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) – Grant funding of £150k to £1M per project, consortia based applications.
- Free online competition funding briefing event. 13:00, 14 November (online). Register now.
To be eligible, your business must be growing your innovation activities in the life and health sciences cluster in Northern Ireland both during and after your project.

If you would like advice about which strand is more appropriate for your project, or have other queries about this funding, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Health team.

This Launchpad will be supported by Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI) who have been awarded a grant by Innovate UK due to their sector and regional knowledge. HIRANI will enrich the strategies and impact of innovators in the cluster, alongside providing a hub of intelligence and community engagement for the wider cluster practitioners.
Centred on Coventry and Warwickshire in the West Midlands, this Launchpad will champion technologies for the creative industries and immersive experiences, paving the way for groundbreaking innovations. Innovate UK is partnering on this Launchpad with Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council, and the West Midlands Combined Authority. Innovate UK will also deliver this Launchpad in collaboration with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) who support the universities at the heart of this cluster.

In this cluster, Innovate UK has offered funding to thirteen projects – two collaborative R&D projects and eleven solely for SMEs. The projects are developing technologies for the creative industries and immersive applications in industry.

Latest news: A funding competition of up to £4.35m with two strands opened on 4 November and will close on 11 December 2024.
- Immersive and creative, Coventry and Warwickshire, Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA), Round 2 – grant funding of £25k-£100k per project, single applicants only.
- Immersive and creative industries, Coventry and Warwickshire – Round 2 Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) – Grant Funding of £150,000 to £1M per project, consortia based applications.
- Free online competition funding briefing event. 13:00, 14 November (online). Register now.
To be eligible, your business must be growing your innovation activities in the immersive and creative industries cluster centred on Coventry and Warwickshire in the West Midlands, both during and after the project.

If you would like advice about which strand is more appropriate for your project, or help to find a collaboration partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Creative Industries or Immersive Tech teams.

This Launchpad will be supported by a Cluster Management Organisation (CMO) who have been awarded a grant by Innovate UK due to their sector and regional knowledge. They will enrich the strategies and impact of innovators in the cluster, alongside providing a hub of intelligence and community engagement for the wider cluster practitioners. The CMO will be announced shortly.
This Launchpad will develop revolutions in agri-tech and food technology, driving innovation in food production and sustainability. Innovate UK is partnering on this Launchpad with the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority.

Innovate UK has offered funding initially to twelve projects for this cluster – five collaborative R&D projects and seven solely for SMEs. The projects cover the full breath of the sector including improving the yield and nutritional value of crops, automating harvesting, and producing food and drinks with enhanced health benefits. The projects are led by businesses in each of the four areas and two of the successful applicants previously had the support of Innovate UK’s Young Innovators programme.

Latest news: A £2.5m funding competition with two strands opened on 23 September and will close on 16 November 2024.
- Agri-tech and food technology, Eastern England – Round 2 Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) (single SME applicants only, £25k-£100k grants, covering 100% of project costs)
- Agri-tech and food technology, Eastern England – Round 3 Collaborative Research and Development (collaborative applications only, £150k-£300k grants, covering up to 70% of costs)
To be eligible, your business must be growing your innovation activities in the agri-tech and food technology cluster in Eastern England. For this competition, Eastern England consists of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership area, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk. For advice on applications, you can contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Agrifood team.
Located in the Great South West, this Launchpad will support initiatives in marine and maritime industries, fostering growth and sustainability in this sector.

Innovate UK has offered funding to twelve projects in this cluster – three collaborative R&D projects and nine solely for SMEs. Applications were across clean maritime, marine autonomy and digital marine technologies with an emphasis on water quality and monitoring and uncrewed surface vessels. All the projects aim to make our oceans safer and support the transition towards a net zero ocean economy.

Latest news: A £3m funding competition with two strands opened on 2 September 2024 and closed on 16 October 2024. The results will be announced soon.

This Launchpad will be supported by Maritime UK South West who have been awarded a grant by Innovate UK due to their sector and regional knowledge. They will enrich the strategies and impact of innovators in the cluster, alongside providing a hub of intelligence and community engagement for the wider cluster practitioners.
In the Spring Budget 2024, UK Government announced up to £5 million for an agri-food Launchpad in Mid and North Wales. This Launchpad will support a critical mass of business-led projects that grow activities in the agri-tech and food technology cluster in Mid and North Wales.

Latest news: A new pot of up to £1.5m for innovative projects in parts of the Mid and North Wales South Wales agri-tech and food technology cluster competition opened on 4 November and will close on 11 December 2024.
- Agri-tech and food technology, Mid & North Wales – Round 2 Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) – Grant funding of £25k-£100k per project, single applicants only.
- Free online competition funding briefing event. 13:00, 14 November (online). Register now.
To be eligible, your business must be growing your innovation activities in the agri-tech and food technology cluster in Mid and North Wales, both during and after the project. For this competition, Mid and North Wales consists of Ceredigion, Powys, Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.

For advice on applications, you can contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s AgriFood team.

This Launchpad will be supported by a Cluster Management Organisation (CMO) which will also be awarded through open competition.

Pilot Launchpads

Manufacturing Launchpad in Liverpool City

This pilot focused on the manufacturing sector, with digital technologies and net zero outcomes, building on the local economic strengths, R&D assets and strategic priorities. Innovate UK partnered on this Launchpad with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The area includes STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory at the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus. A total of 34 projects received funding from Innovate UK and the cluster management project led by Lyva Labs provides ongoing cluster support.

Net Zero Launchpad in Tees Valley

Tees Valley was selected as the location for Net Zero Launchpad with the initial focus of offshore wind, hydrogen production, distribution and usage, and carbon capture, usage and storage within the net zero theme. Innovate UK partnered on this Launchpad with the Tees Valley Combined Authority. 24 projects received funding from Innovate UK and the cluster management project led by Tees Valley Business provides ongoing cluster support.

Next steps

As described in the listings above, the next funding opportunities are tailored to the needs and opportunities evidenced by Innovate UK and our Launchpad partners.

The cluster management projects for each cluster are also in start-up phase and more information on their activities will become available in due course.

Please visit our funding pages to find open opportunities, or get in touch with our expert for more information.

Our Expert