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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I’m interested in Foundation Industries

Learn more about our areas in Foundation Industries

Chemistry Composites Infrastructure Materials

Foundation Industries opportunities

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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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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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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Sustainable Chemical Supply Chains and Engineering Biology Innovation Exchange

Opens: 11/05/2026

Closes: 15/06/2026

An Innovation Exchange (iX) inviting industry led challenges to strengthen sustainable and resilient chemical supply chains through collaboration.

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Battery Innovation Programme: Battery skills initiatives

Opens: 20/04/2026

Closes: 18/06/2026

UK registered organisations can apply for up to £1.2m per project to establish or scale regional skills initiatives for battery manufacturing and its supply chain. This…

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National Materials Innovation Programme: Feasibility studies Rd 2

Opens: 04/05/2026

Closes: 24/06/2026

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £2 million for feasibility studies. These studies aim to speed the translation of advanced materials…

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Dual-use aviation systems and autonomy

Opens: 05/05/2026

Closes: 03/06/2026

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £10 million for the development of aviation technologies and systems that support both civil and…

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Counter UAS (Uncrewed Aerial Systems) Technologies

Opens: 05/05/2026

Closes: 03/06/2026

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £5m to develop dual use (civil & military) technologies to counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS).…

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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 Foundation Industries programmes support you?

We offer innovation programmes that help businesses and researchers develop and commercialise new products, processes and services.

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Emergent Sustainable Built Environment Materials Innovation Network
Emergent Sustainable Built Environment Materials Innovation Network

Driving rapid adoption of UK sustainable construction materials to reduce environmental impact.

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Engineering Biology Innovation Network
Engineering Biology Innovation Network

Driving the development of a joined-up UK innovation ecosystem to ensure synthetic biology tools, technologies and processes can be more easily developed and adopted by a…

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Zero emission heavy goods vehicles and infrastructure
Zero emission heavy goods vehicles and infrastructure

Supporting the development, uptake and demonstration of commercially available zero emission HGVs, and providing the crucial infrastructure to help the haulage sector decarbonise and transition to…

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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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Next-generation low-carbon concrete Advance Market Commitment
Next-generation low-carbon concrete Advance Market Commitment

Harnessing the power of collective demand to accelerate concrete decarbonisation.

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Semiconductors
Semiconductors

Ensuring that the UK has a secure and relevant position and capability within the global semiconductor landscape.

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Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network
Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network

The Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network, funded by Innovate UK, is a cross-sectoral and collaborative community of technology developers and end-users.

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Robotics Proving Ground
Robotics Proving Ground

Pioneering robotics evolution through powering a network of hubs to fast-track robotics from concept to market.

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BridgeAI
BridgeAI

Empowering UK organisations to harness the power of AI through support and funding, bridging the AI divide for a more productive UK.

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Women in Innovation
Women in Innovation

Enabling brilliant women across the UK to fully achieve their vision for their businesses and change the world, while championing and celebrating gender diversity throughout UK…

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Sustainable Aviation Fuel Innovation Programme
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Innovation Programme

Accelerating the development of UK’s SAF industry and enabling UK Government to achieve 10% SAF in the UK jet fuel mix by 2030. By fostering innovation…

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Innovation Exchange
Innovation Exchange

Innovate UK Innovation Exchange is a cross-sector programme supporting innovation transfer by matching industry challenges to innovative companies from other sectors. It does this by putting…

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Analysis for Innovators
Analysis for Innovators

Innovate UK Analysis for Innovators can help boost productivity and competitiveness in your business through solving existing problems.

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Foundation Industries events

Regulatory Science and Innovation Summit 2026 18/06/2026
London 09.30 - 16.30
Regulatory Science and Innovation Summit 2026
Event details
Navigating the Sustainable Chemicals Innovation Ecosystem 09/06/2026
Online 10.00 - 12.00
Navigating the Sustainable Chemicals Innovation Ecosystem
Event details
Ofgem SIF Launch: New challenges for RIIO-3 21/05/2026
Online 11.00 - 12.30
Ofgem SIF Launch: New challenges for RIIO-3
Event details
National Materials Innovation Programme: Feasibility studies Round 2 briefing webinar 07/05/2026
Online 10.30 - 12.00
National Materials Innovation Programme: Feasibility studies Round 2 briefing webinar
Event details
Innovate Local: Northern Ireland 20/05/2026
Derry/Londonderry 09.00 - 14.00
Innovate Local: Northern Ireland
Event details
Battery Innovation Programme Round 2 Competition Briefing 21/04/2026
Online 10.00 - 12.00
Battery Innovation Programme Round 2 Competition Briefing
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
Contracts for Innovation: Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT) – Call 1 – Competition Briefing 08/04/2026
Online 10.00 - 11.30
Contracts for Innovation: Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT) – Call 1 – Competition Briefing
Event details

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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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