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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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MedTech

Life Sciences opportunities

IHI (Innovative Health Initiative) 13th Call for Proposals

Short proposal submission deadline: 8 Oct 2026

Topics on accelerating healthcare innovation through networks, reducing animal use in drug safety studies, and decoding the immuno-science of diseases affected by ageing and the immune…

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BBSRC Institutes ICURe Discover - October 2026

Opens: 01/07/2026

Closes: 18/09/2026

BBSRC Institutes ICURe Discover is a part-time online market discovery programme exclusively for research teams at BBSRC's eight strategically supported institutes, with up to £2,500 support…

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ARIA: Trust Everything, Everywhere - opportunity seeds

Opens: 22/06/2026

Closes: 27/07/2026

ARIA (the UK's Advanced Research & Innovation Agency) are seeking high-potential proposals to build a new cyber-physical trust infrastructure, with funding available up to £500,000 each.…

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Women TechEU 2026-27

Opens: 01/06/2026

Closes: 13/07/2027

Women TechEU 2 EIC is an EU-funded project designed to support women-led early-stage deep tech startups from Europe. Each startup can receive €75,000 in funding.

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UK Space Agency: Commercial Climate Services Call 4

Send intent to submit by 31 July, full submission required by 7 August

Grants of up to £85k per project are now available to support the development of commercial UK-based services using satellite Earth Observation data.

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Contracts for Innovation: Earlier identification of UK children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Opens: 23/06/2026

Closes: 05/08/2026

Organisations can apply for a share of £2.5m inclusive of VAT to develop innovations that enable earlier, fairer, more reliable identification of special educational needs (SEN)…

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HMGCC Co-Creation Challenge: Upgradeable sensors to rapidly detect chemical and biological hazards

Opens: 22/06/2026 Closes: 23/07/2026

HMGCC Co-Creation are offering up to £60k to develop next-generation sensors to enhance our ability to detect a broad range of chemical and biological substances in…

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Horizon Europe 2026-27: Horizontal Actions - Bridging Actions

Various closing dates between January and June 2027

A series of topics aiming to facilitate a smooth transition between Horizon Europe 2021–2027 and the next EU R&I Framework Programme, Horizon Europe 2028–2034.

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Could our Life Sciences programmes support you?

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

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Farming Innovation Programme: ADOPT
Farming Innovation Programme: ADOPT

Supporting collaborative farmer-led, on-farm innovation to explore and demonstrate innovative sustainable solutions to farming challenges, improving the adoption of new ideas in the rural sector.

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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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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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Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing
Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing

The Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme will focus on innovation in sustainable medicines manufacturing to improve the manufacturing innovation ecosystem in the UK towards a sustainable…

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Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership
Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership

Innovate UK Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership: UK-Brazil-Africa brings together innovative people and organisations to promote climate-smart agriculture in Africa.

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Investor Connect
Investor Connect

Innovate UK Investor Connect is a safe, secure, regulated digital marketplace where innovative Innovate UK-backed businesses can come together with investors at the right point in…

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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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Precision Medicines Landscape
Precision Medicines Landscape

Connecting the UK’s growing Precision Medicines community with industrial collaborators, research-based expertise, investment opportunities and funders.

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Innovate UK Unlocking Potential Award
Innovate UK Unlocking Potential Award

There should be no limits to success in innovation. So, if you’ve got a great idea or a business with big ambition, this is the place…

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AgriFood Investment Readiness Programme
AgriFood Investment Readiness Programme

For UK SMEs working on AgriFood innovations and looking for private investment.

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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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Biomedical Catalyst
Biomedical Catalyst

Accelerating the translation of innovative ideas and discoveries into healthcare solutions that improve lives. The Biomedical Catalyst transforms innovative ideas into commercially viable businesses. It delivers…

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Transforming Medicines Manufacturing
Transforming Medicines Manufacturing

Innovate UK’s Transforming Medicines Manufacturing programme aims to drive the de-risking and adoption of highly innovative flexible, agile and scalable manufacturing technologies through a culture of…

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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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Circular Economy Innovation Network
Circular Economy Innovation Network

The Circular Economy Innovation Network aims to create stronger, more collaborative, and resilient industries working together to achieve net zero through circular innovation.

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Growing the UK Sustainable Aviation Fuel Industry
Growing the UK Sustainable Aviation Fuel Industry

Innovate UK Business Connect has conducted an analysis to support the growth of the UK’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry and support the ambitions of the…

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Agrifood Africa Connect
Agrifood Africa Connect

AgriFood Africa Connect brings innovative people and organisations across the UK and Africa together to address key AgriFood challenges in Africa. We build diverse connections across…

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Medicines Discovery Landscape
Medicines Discovery Landscape

Connecting the UK’s growing Medicines Discovery community with industrial collaborators, research-based expertise, investment opportunities and funders.

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Medicines Manufacturing Landscape
Medicines Manufacturing Landscape

Connecting the UK’s growing Medicines Manufacturing community with industrial collaborators, research-based expertise, investment opportunities and funders.

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AgriFood Landscape
AgriFood Landscape

Connecting the UK’s growing AgriFood industry with industrial collaborators, research-based expertise, investment opportunities and funders.

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Synthetic Biology Landscape Map
Synthetic Biology Landscape Map

Connecting the UK’s growing Synthetic Biology community with industrial collaborators, research-based expertise, investment opportunities and funders.

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Industrial Biotechnology Landscape
Industrial Biotechnology Landscape

Connecting the UK’s growing Industrial Biotechnology community with industrial collaborators, research-based expertise, investment opportunities and funders.

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Synthetic Biology Leadership Council
Synthetic Biology Leadership Council

The Synthetic Biology Leadership Council (SBLC) brought together funding agencies, research community, industry, government and other stakeholders for strategic coordination of UK synthetic biology. In 2020…

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Life Sciences events

Farming Futures: Automation and Robotics consortia building webinar 13/08/2026
Online 10.00 - 11.30
Farming Futures: Automation and Robotics consortia building webinar
Event details
Engineering Biology Contracts for Innovation workshop 15/07/2026
London 10.30 - 15.00
Engineering Biology Contracts for Innovation workshop
Event details
Series Innovate UK Talent & Skills project showcase 08/07/2026
Glasgow 10.00 - 16.00
Innovate UK Talent & Skills project showcase
Event details
Future Leaders Fellowship Round 11 applicant support webinar for business and non-academics 06/07/2026
Online 14.00 - 15.30
Future Leaders Fellowship Round 11 applicant support webinar for business and non-academics
Event details
Regulatory Science and Innovation Summit 2026 18/06/2026
London 09.30 - 16.30
Regulatory Science and Innovation Summit 2026
Event details
Global Incubator Programme – Agri-Tech, Australia Farmers2Founders: briefing event 19/05/2026
Online 08.00 - 09.30
Global Incubator Programme – Agri-Tech, Australia Farmers2Founders: briefing event
Event details
Innovate Local: Northern Ireland 20/05/2026
Derry/Londonderry 09.00 - 14.00
Innovate Local: Northern Ireland
Event details
Global Incubator Programme - Agri-Tech, USA, THRIVE: Programme Briefing Event 10/04/2026
Online 12.00 - 13.00
Global Incubator Programme - Agri-Tech, USA, THRIVE: Programme Briefing Event
Event details

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Want to join us and help advance the UK’s innovation networks?

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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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