Innovation funding opportunities
Looking for funding and support to develop your idea? At Innovate UK Business Connect, we connect businesses, researchers and innovators with the right opportunities they need to grow.
Explore opportunities for funding and expert guidance, to help turn your innovation into a commercial success.
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Digital Catapult: Digital Twin Adoption Accelerator 2026
Opens: 08/07/2026
Closes: 06/09/2026
The Digital Twin Adoption Accelerator Programme 2026 is a nine-month programme that supports partnerships between UK technology SMEs and industry adopters to accelerate the adoption of digital twin technologies.
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Deep Tech Co-Creation Accelerator 2026-2027
Opens: 02/07/2026
Closes: 08/09/2026
The Co-Creation Accelerator pairs early-stage ventures with industry partners to validate technology, with grants of up to €250,000.
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UK Defence Innovation - Space to Innovate: Delta Drop
Opens: 02/07/2026
Closes: 28/07/2026
Dstl and the UK Space Agency seek innovations to improve future space capabilities for defence and security.
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European Space Agency: The Arctic Region: Safety, Navigation and Operations
Opens: 05/09/2026
Closes: 05/11/2026
Applications are invited on space-enabled solutions targeting safe maritime navigation and operations in the Arctic where the melting ice is not only resulting in increased traffic but also posing significant hazards to vessels.
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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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HMGCC Co-Creation Challenge: Cooling in high power battlefield comms
Opens: 06/07/2026
Closes: 06/08/2026
HMGCC is inviting applications to help stop high-bandwidth radios from emitting too much heat.
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Global Business Innovation Programme: Advanced Connectivity Technologies, India
Opens: 02/07/2026
Closes: 10/08/2026
The UK Government is inviting advanced connectivity companies to explore new partnerships and business opportunities in India, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing telecoms markets.
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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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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 real-time.
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Global Incubator Programme: Seabed to Space Dual-Use Technologies, Canada
Opens: 08/06/2026
Closes: 24/07/2026
Innovate UK seeks up to eight innovative UK companies with dual-use civilian & military tech within the national security, defence, and marine technology sectors to join our tailored 12-month incubation programme delivered in partnership with COVE, a global innovation hub located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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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. They must significantly improve the UK economy and drive societal benefit.
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ACTASAP Pilot Phase 1
Opens: 04/06/2026
Closes: 28/07/2026
UK registered academic institutions can apply for up to £32,000 each to take part in ACTASAP, an accelerator to bring academic research to market.
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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 from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
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Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnerships 6 (AKT 6)
Closing Soon
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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European Space Agency: Connectivity and Secure Communications (ARTES)
Calls open year-round
ARTES is ESA’s main programme for technology development in satellite communications – it transforms investment in space into successful products and services.
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Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 7
Closing Soon
Opens: 11/03/2026
Closes: 15/07/2026
Funding for feasibility studies, pre-deployment testing, and real-world trials of clean maritime technologies for UK vessels, infrastructure, and/or skills.
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European Innovation Council: Pathfinder, Transition, and Accelerator 2026
Opens: 01/01/2026
Closes: 28/10/2026
Funding opportunities worth over €1.4 billion for strategic technologies and scaling up companies, with grants of up to €4m.
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Horizon Europe 2026-27: EU Missions - Adaptation to Climate Change
Various closing dates from Sep 2026 to Sep 2027
Calls in the Adaptation to Climate Change EU Mission, with funding of up to €20m for the largest calls
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Horizon Europe 2026-27: Civil Security for Society (Cluster 3)
2026 calls close 5 Nov 2026, 2027 calls close 4 Nov 2027
Calls available under Cluster 3, covering challenges arising from persistent security threats, including cybercrime, as well as natural and man-made disasters.
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Cyber Security in the Age of AI
Open indefinitely
This cyber security course aims to facilitate an understanding of the new data and cyber security landscape and provide actionable guidance and best practices for companies to adopt.
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British Business Bank Investment Fund for Scotland
Apply anytime
The Investment Fund for Scotland will deliver a £150 million commitment of new funding to the country.