Opportunities
Positive change is driven through new ideas and innovation. But innovation is complex. Sometimes projects need to be connected with new opportunities or looked at from new perspectives to make the difference. This is where Innovate UK Business Connect comes in.
If you’re looking for experienced input into your idea, product, service, research or challenge, then invite us to get involved. We will not only work with you in understanding your market or challenge but will also direct you to the latest opportunities available, and how you can apply.
Find out how Innovate UK Business Connect can support your application or help you find partners.
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Sectors:
DRIVE35 Innovation Fund: Demonstrate 2
Opens 05/01/2026
Closes: 11/03/2026
Up to £33m for late stage demonstration R&D projects to support UK transition to zero emission vehicles and net zero automotive industry.
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Energy Catalyst round 11
Opens 05/01/2026
Closes: 25/03/2026
Up to £7m for energy access in ODA eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific region and Latin America.
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IHI (Innovative Health Initiative) 12th Call For Proposals
Opens 21/01/2026
Closes: 21/04/2026
Up to €60m per project for international consortia to tackle unmet public health needs with ambitious public-private partnerships.
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Eurostars call for projects – March 2026
Opens 16/01/2026
Closes: 19/03/2026
Projects led by innovative SMEs can apply for up to €360k, which can cover up to 60% of costs.
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Horizon Europe 2026-2027: Health, Cluster 1
Various closing dates from Apr 2026 to Sep 2027
Topics available under Horizon Europe's Health programme for 2026/27, with funding of up to €90m per call.
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Increasing EV charging capacity on the strategic road network
Opens 03/11/2025
Closes: 25/03/2026
Up to £3m per project to develop and demonstrate solutions to increase public Electric Vehicle (EV) charging provision for longer journeys on the Strategic Road Network (SRN).
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British Business Bank Start-up Loans
Apply anytime
Unsecured loans of up to £25,000 for UK businesses which have been operating for 3 years or less, repayable over 1-5 years.
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DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund: open-ended competition
Deadlines approx. every 2 months: next 3 Dec 2025
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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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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Navigate AI adoption with data & digital transformation frameworks
Open indefinitely
Explore practical frameworks from Innovate UK BridgeAI programme partner Digital Catapult, designed to support organisations adopting AI. These resources offer structured guidance on data strategy, governance, and digital transformation to tackle common challenges.
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Horizon Europe 2026-27: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Various closing dates from Apr 2026 to Nov 2027
Research and innovation projects to boost top researchers’ careers through mobility and innovative doctoral and postdoctoral training, including academia-business collaborations.
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Defence Innovation Loans 2025-26
Next cycle closing date: 24 Mar 2026
Loans of up to £1m to help convert your mature defence innovation into a strong business proposition, with a below market interest rate of 7.4% per annum.
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From design to deployment: Accelerating responsible AI adoption with MLOps and design thinking
Digital Catapult’s new paper will help you navigate the complexities of responsible AI.
Explore Digital Catapult’s new paper developed for the Innovate UK BridgeAI programme that addresses the implementation of responsible AI (RAI) by integrating ethical principles into MLOps workflows using a design-thinking approach.
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AI Use Case Framework
Open indefinitely
Access an actionable and customisable framework to support your AI adoption journey. The AI Use Case Framework can simplify and accelerate your strategy for identifying, selecting, and implementing the right AI solutions.
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Applied AI Suite
Open indefinitely
Discover the Applied AI Suite: A comprehensive Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) solution, developed by Digital Catapult for the Innovate UK BridgeAI programme, to assess ML maturity, streamline AI/ML model deployment, and ensure optimal performance and scalability for organisations of all sizes.
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Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF): Expression of Interest
EOIs accepted on a rolling basis; quarterly assessments
Capital grants to support investments over £8m in the manufacture of human medicines, medical diagnostics and medtech products; assessed quarterly
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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.
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British Business Bank South West Investment Fund
Apply anytime
The South West Investment Fund will deliver a £200 million commitment of new funding to smaller businesses.
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British Business Bank Midlands Engine Investment Fund II
Apply anytime
The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II will deliver £400 million of new funding to small and medium-sized businesses across the Midlands.
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British Business Bank Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II
Apply anytime
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will deliver a £660 million commitment of new funding to smaller businesses.
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ICURe Explore programme cohorts
ICURe Explore cohort programmes throughout 2024 and 2025
Innovate UK ICURe Explore is a fast-paced, full-time, 12–16-week market exploration programme. Up to £35,000 for Entrepreneurial Lead’s salary and costs.
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