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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Learn more about our areas in Life Sciences

MedTech

Life Sciences opportunities

Innovation Loans Expression of Interest

There is no submission deadline

UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprises can submit an Expression of Interest for loans for close to market innovative projects with strong commercial potential.…

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NHS Cancer Programme - Innovation Open Call 4

Opening Sep 2026; closing date tbc

Applications are invited for innovations that focus on productivity and supporting the NHS to meet Cancer Waiting Times, as well as innovations that support the earlier…

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Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 11, business and non-academic

Opens: 22/06/2026

Closes: 04/11/2026

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £110 million to deliver ambitious research and innovation and develop future leaders. This funding is…

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Full ADOPT Grant: Round 8

Opens: 04/06/2026

Closes: 29/07/2026

Farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England can apply for a share of up to £5 million for on-farm trial and demonstration projects, to improve…

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ARIA: Future Proofing Our Climate and Weather

Opens: 01/06/2026

Closes: 31/07/2026

Funding of up to £500,000 for early-stage research that explores new pathways for climate adaptation and resilience.

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NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) 2027 cohort

Opens: 01/06/2026

Closes: 03/07/2026

DIANA seeks cutting-edge and mature technological solutions to critical defence and security challenges through public challenge calls.

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ADOPT Facilitator Support Grant: Round 9

Opens: 29/05/2026

Closes: 08/07/2026

Farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England can apply for a grant of £2,500, to engage an external Project Facilitator to support the development of…

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Circular Bio-Based Europe: 2026 call for project proposals

Opens: 23/04/2026

Closes: 22/09/2026

CBE-JU is funding projects developing innovative and sustainable bio-based solutions, with up to €20m for the largest projects.

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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 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

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
Global Incubator Programme - Agri-Tech, New Zealand, Sprout: Programme Briefing Event 02/04/2026
Online 07.00 - 08.00
Global Incubator Programme - Agri-Tech, New Zealand, Sprout: Programme Briefing Event
Event details
Medicines manufacturing - Labs of the future: competition briefing 17/04/2026
Online 11.00 - 12.00
Medicines manufacturing - Labs of the future: competition briefing
Event details
AgriScale: Accelerating agri-tech manufacturing competition briefing 08/04/2026
Online 10.00 - 11.15
AgriScale: Accelerating agri-tech manufacturing competition briefing
Event details
Opportunities for UK agri-tech businesses to explore international markets in 2026 09/04/2026
Online 10.00 - 11.30
Opportunities for UK agri-tech businesses to explore international markets in 2026
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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