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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2026 WAVEMAKER Water Innovation Award
Opens: 01/08/2026
Closes: 24/08/2026
Start-ups, spin-outs, and SMEs developing innovative solutions for the water, marine, and water system sectors are invited to apply to receive training, resources, and a grand prize of €5000.
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DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund Drawdown 5
Opens: 10/08/2026
Closes: 04/11/2026
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £150 million to create scale up manufacturing facilities for zero emission vehicle technologies.
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Critical Materials Supply Chains Investment Readiness 2026
Opens: 10/08/2026
Closes: 04/09/2026
Up to 15 UK SMEs will benefit from support to accelerate their investment journey.
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UK Defence Innovation Security Open Call
Opens: 03/08/2026
Closes: 27/08/2026
UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) has relaunched the Security Open Call, which seeks disruptive technologies that can help address some of the UK’s most pressing security challenges.
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Earthshot Prize Nominee Expression of Interest
Opens: 06/08/2026
Closes: 09/09/2026
The search for the winners of The Earthshot Prize 2027 has begun and Innovate UK is proud to be an official nominator.
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Quantum computing applications for large scale impact: CR&D
Opens: 04/08/2026
Closes: 16/09/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £13 million for building quantum computing software applications that show clear value and potential high impact on near term quantum computing systems.
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Accelerating adoption of quantum enabled sensing and PNT
Opens: 04/08/2026
Closes: 16/09/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £14.3 million to accelerate the adoption of quantum enabled position, navigation, and timing (PNT) and sensing technologies by addressing specific technical and commercial barriers.
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Ultra long duration energy storage project development studies
Opens: 03/08/2026
Closes: 30/09/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £3 million for project development studies to support the development of ultra long duration battery energy storage demonstrators in the UK.
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Farming Futures R&D fund: Automation and Robotics Round 2
Opens: 03/08/2026
Closes: 30/09/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £20 million to develop innovative solutions for automation and robotics in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
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HMGCC Co-Creation Challenge: Imaging hidden objects in walls
Opens: 10/08/2026 Closes: 17/09/2026
Could your technology help reveal hidden objects concealed in walls, ceilings and floors? This is the focus of the latest funded challenge launched by HMGCC Co-Creation, which is seeking imaging technologies able to prevent unwanted surveillance.
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NERC ICURe Engage - October 2026
Opens: 27/07/2026
Closes: 07/09/2026
A 4-week, part-time programme for those projects previously funded by NERC, tailored for researchers and technicians of NERC.
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European Space Agency: Environmental Crimes
Opens: 19/10/2026
Closes: 25/06/2027
This opportunity supports the development of space-based applications and services targeting environmental crimes.
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UK Space Agency: Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) Programme - Call 3
Opens: 20/07/2026
Closes: 07/09/2026
The UK Space Agency is seeking to award funding of around £4 million to £25 million per project for proposals that will drive innovation in satellite communications and strengthen the UK’s position in the global constellation supply chain.
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UK Space Agency: National Space Innovation Programme – Call 3
Opens: 20/07/2026
Closes: 21/08/2026
Proposals for UK-based space projects are invited, with up to £20 million of support available.
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Royce ICURe Discover: October 2026
Opens: 21/07/2026
Closes: 18/09/2026
A part-time online market exploration programme for researchers and technicians in advanced materials, with up to £2,500 support for market discovery activities.
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Global Incubator Programme: USA (New York) - Clean Energy Industries
Opens: 23/07/2026
Closes: 04/09/2026
Innovate UK seeks up to 8 high potential companies in the clean energy industries sector to work with the Urban Future Lab in New York.
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Join the DESNZ Carbon Management Innovation Challenge Coalition
Opens: 15/07/2026
Closes: 23/08/2026
Help the UK to accelerate the development, demonstration and commercialisation of innovative solutions for carbon capture and greenhouse gas removal.
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UK Defence Innovation: Novel Autonomy and Robotics (Phase 1)
Closing Soon
Opens: 14/07/2026
Closes: 12/08/2026
Competition to develop early-stage disruptive science and technology for future game-changing advances in Defence robotics and autonomous systems.
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Farming Innovation Programme: Feasibility Round 5
Opens: 15/07/2026
Closes: 09/09/2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £15 million for feasibility projects to benefit farmers, growers or foresters in England.
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AHRC CreaTech ICURe Discover: October 2026
Opens: 14/07/2026
Closes: 09/09/2026
AHRC CreaTech ICURe Discover is a part-time online market exploration programme for researchers and technicians, with up to £2,500 support for market discovery activities.
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HMGCC Co-Creation Challenge: Visualising Smart Cities
Closing Soon
Opens: 20/07/2026 Closes: 13/08/2026
Can you help us see inside a smart city? This is the focus of the latest funded
challenge launched by HMGCC Co-Creation.