Infrastructure

Against an overarching low carbon agenda, our mission is to support the development of UK innovation to deliver clean, accessible and secure energy & water systems through a digitally enabled construction sector and so provide smart, resilient and successful cities and communities.

We do this by simplifying the UK Innovation landscape and providing rapid transfer of high-quality information on technologies, markets, funding and partnering opportunities.

The expertise we bring spans energy systems, water, infrastructure and construction.

From cutting edge solar research and battery storage development, through digital technologies for nuclear, water and construction to supporting the development of the strategic direction of the infrastructure sector, we join up the dots. We put the right people in touch with each other and make the value introductions that spark ideas.

We convene safe spaces where industry can share innovation and challenges. These include the Infrastructure Industry Innovation Partnership (i3P) and the Innovation Exchange which also draws on our unrivalled cross-sector reach for novel solutions.

We engage internationally through the Energy Catalyst programme.

Our current focus in this area

The Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network is a collaborative community of technology developers and end-users from multiple sectors.

Our focus is on transforming the construction industry by adopting modern methods of construction, and decarbonising.

What makes our modern lives relatively easy, interconnected and seamless is this seldom thought of, but very vital soft infrastructure – the electromagnetic spectrum.

Innovate UK Business Connect supports activities across the nuclear landscape including existing generation, new build and decommissioning and waste management. There are also strong links with the fusion energy community.

Related Opportunities

Contracts for Innovation: Net Zero Living Tech Trials, phase 3

Opens: 19/05/2025   Closes: 25/06/2025

Organisations can apply for a share of £800,000, inclusive of VAT, to develop pre-commercial innovations that support Local Authorities in meeting net zero goals. Projects must include field trials to test and improve solutions ahead of commercialisation.

More Information

Contracts for Innovation: FOAK 2025 – Bridge Strikes

Opens: 07/04/2025   Closes: 28/05/2025

Organisations can apply for a share of up to £4.7m across four themes to develop a prototype, conduct field testing and demonstrate their solution.

More Information

Innovation Exchange challenge: Net Zero Heating of Heritage Public Buildings

Opens: 28/04/2025   Closes: 29/05/2025

Seeking solutions to achieve Net Zero heating for a Grade II listed building, possibly leading to future strategies for other national heritage buildings.

More Information

European Space Agency: Coastal Resilience To Climate Change

Opens: 09/06/2025   Closes: 30/01/2026

ESA seeks services that leverage space technology to address the challenges posed by climate change to coastal cities, rural coastal regions, and ports.

More Information

European Space Agency: Space For Sustainable, Connected and Liveable Cities

Proposals reviewed periodically - apply from 28/3/25, final deadline 30/9/25.

ESA invites proposals for feasibility studies and demonstration projects to leverage space-based services and applications for smart cities.

More Information

Horizon Europe 2025 EU Missions: 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030

Opens: 06/05/2025   Closes: 20/01/2026

Funding available through Horizon Europe to support climate-neutral and smart cities, with up to €15m for the largest projects.

More Information

Related Events and Recordings

Thu
7
Dec
2023

Financing, planning and delivering local net zero projects: new support for local authorities

09.30 - 11.00 | Online

Watch now
Mon
12
May
2025

Opportunities in Horizon Europe Cluster 5: Climate, Energy, and Mobility

14.00 - 15.30 GMT | Online

Watch now
Thu
5
Jun
2025

Funding and Finance for Innovation

09.30 - 14.00 | Oxford

Register for this event
See all events
Neil Appleton

Our Expert

Neil Appleton

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For general enquiries regarding our Infrastructure sector contact us now

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