UK Grants Database
Every open grant, Innovate UK competition, R&D tax credit and government funding scheme — in one place.
Showing 62 of 62 grants
Innovate UK Smart Grants
Open to any UK business regardless of size, age or sector. Fund game-changing innovation projects with strong commercial potential.
- UK registered business
- Any sector, any size
- Must demonstrate commercial potential
Frontier AI & Foundation Models
Funding for feasibility studies into frontier AI and foundation model development. Part of the UK's £2B AI investment programme 2026–2030.
- UK registered organisation
- Feasibility study scope
- AI/ML focus required
Battery Technologies for Electrification
Drive innovation in battery technology for electric vehicles and wider electrification. Part of the Advanced Propulsion Centre programme.
- UK registered business
- Battery/electrification technology focus
- SMEs and large companies eligible
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition
Develop, deploy and operate innovative clean maritime solutions to decarbonise UK shipping. One of the largest single Innovate UK competitions to date.
- UK registered organisation
- Maritime sector focus
- Decarbonisation solutions
Pre-Commercialisation Projects
Bridge the gap between research and market. Fund late-stage development projects taking innovations to commercial readiness.
- UK registered business
- TRL 4–7 projects
- Clear route to market
Product Technology Gap Projects
Close critical product technology gaps to strengthen UK industrial competitiveness. Targeted at manufacturing and engineering sectors.
- UK registered business
- Manufacturing or engineering sector
- Technology gap must be demonstrable
Innovation Loans (Round 25)
Low-interest loans for late-stage innovation projects nearing commercial deployment. Loan not grant — repayable at below-market rates.
- UK registered SME
- Late-stage innovation (TRL 6+)
- Viable repayment plan required
R&D Expenditure Credit (RDEC / Merged Scheme)
Claim a tax credit worth ~15p for every £1 spent on qualifying R&D. Applies to all companies under the merged scheme from April 2024. Can be paid as cash if loss-making.
- UK company subject to corporation tax
- Qualifying R&D expenditure
- Must resolve scientific or technological uncertainty
Enhanced R&D Intensive Support (ERIS)
For R&D-intensive SMEs spending 30%+ of total costs on R&D. Claim an enhanced 86% deduction — worth up to 33p per £1 spent. Aimed at deep tech, biotech and AI startups.
- UK SME only
- R&D spend must be ≥30% of total costs
- Corporation tax registered
Start Up Loans
Government-backed personal loans for new business owners. Comes with 12 months free mentoring. Fixed interest rate — no equity given up.
- Business under 3 years old
- UK resident aged 18+
- Not yet trading or trading less than 3 years
UK Defence Innovation Fund
Fast-track defence innovation to frontline use. £400M per year from 2025–26 for SMEs developing AI, cyber, materials and deep tech for defence applications.
- UK registered business
- Defence or security technology
- SMEs strongly encouraged
Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme
Develop next-generation aircraft technologies focusing on efficiency, emissions reduction and UK aerospace competitiveness. Large-scale collaborative projects.
- UK aerospace company
- Collaborative consortium required
- Minimum 2 partners
Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) Funding
Accelerate development of low-carbon propulsion technologies for road transport. Funded projects span batteries, fuel cells, and alternative fuels.
- UK registered business
- Propulsion technology focus
- Consortium of 2+ organisations
Full ADOPT Grant: Round 7 (Farming Innovation)
Help farming, growing and forestry businesses in England adopt innovative technologies and practices to increase productivity and sustainability. Round 7 requires collaboration with at least one other farming business.
- Active farming, growing or forestry business based in England
- Must collaborate with at least one other farming, growing or forestry business
- Technology adoption focus — not pure R&D
AgriScale: Accelerating Agri-tech Manufacturing
Transition innovative agricultural technologies from prototype to commercial-scale production. Two strands: Industrial Research (£250K–£750K projects) and Experimental Development (£1M–£3M projects). Focus on robotic systems, automated sensing, and data-driven agri-tech.
- UK registered business
- Collaborative projects only (lead must be UK business)
- Agri-tech manufacturing focus — robotics, automation, or sensing systems
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Round 5
Fund a graduate to work in your business on a strategic innovation project, supervised by a university. SMEs get up to 67% of costs covered. One of the most effective ways to bring academic expertise directly into your company.
- UK registered business of any size
- Must partner with a UK university or research organisation
- SMEs receive up to 67% funding; large companies up to 50%
Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26
Grant funding and bespoke business support for women-led innovative businesses. Open to women founders or co-founders at late-stage startup phase working in Advanced Manufacturing, Digital & Technologies or Life Sciences.
- Female founder or co-founder
- UK registered business at late startup stage
- Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing, Digital/Tech or Life Sciences
Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme
Vouchers to help rural businesses cover the cost of installing a gigabit-capable (full fibre) broadband connection. Up to £4,500 available for businesses in harder-to-reach rural areas.
- Business premises in a rural or hard-to-reach area
- Current connection must be below gigabit speeds
- Must use a registered voucher scheme supplier
Workplace Charging Scheme
Up to 75% off the purchase and installation of EV charge points at your business premises. Covers up to £500 per socket, capped at 40 sockets per site. Extended until March 2027.
- UK registered business, charity or public authority
- Must have dedicated off-street parking for staff or fleet
- EV chargepoints must be installed by an OZEV-authorised installer
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Capital grants to replace fossil fuel boilers with low-carbon heating such as air source or ground source heat pumps. Available in England and Wales. Extended to December 2027.
- Property owner in England or Wales
- Replacing an existing fossil fuel heating system
- Must use an MCS-certified installer
King's Trust Enterprise Programme
Grants, low-interest loans and free mentoring for 18–30-year-olds starting or growing a business. Includes business planning support, a pitch panel, and ongoing mentoring from experienced professionals.
- Aged 18–30
- UK resident
- Starting a new business or trading less than 3 years
England Woodland Creation Offer
Grants and annual payments to establish new woodlands on eligible land in England. Supports landowners, farmers and land managers to plant trees and create habitats. Up to £2M for larger schemes.
- Landowner, land manager or tenant farmer in England
- Land must be suitable for woodland creation
- Minimum 1 hectare of new woodland
Local Growth Fund 2026
A new £1.5 billion fund (April 2026) replacing fragmented competitive pots with flexible envelopes allocated to 11 Combined Authorities in England. Businesses apply through their local Combined Authority or Growth Hub — not centrally. Covers business support, infrastructure, and skills.
- Business based or operating in one of 11 Mayoral Combined Authority areas
- SMEs and larger businesses aligned with regional growth priorities
- Apply via your local Combined Authority or Growth Hub — not centrally
Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants
Open-access grants for arts, libraries and museum projects in England. Individuals, organisations and limited companies can all apply. Two strands: up to £30,000 and up to £100,000. Projects must have a clear public benefit element.
- Individuals, organisations or registered companies based in England
- Project must be arts, libraries, or museums focused
- Must demonstrate clear public benefit — not primarily commercial
Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) — Round 24
Grants for independent creative practitioners in England to develop their practice through research, new work, and networking. Opening June 2026 with a £7.5m budget. For self-employed or sole trader creatives — not for organisations.
- Individual independent creative practitioners based in England
- Self-employed, sole trader, or working as an individual — not organisations
- Activity must benefit you as an individual practitioner
BFI Filmmaking Fund — Discovery & Impact
National Lottery-funded grants for UK feature film production. Discovery supports debut directors (production budgets £1m–£3.5m, grant up to £1m). Impact supports experienced directors or larger-budget debuts (grant up to £1.25m). Apply at least 20 weeks before principal photography.
- UK-registered production companies
- Standalone live-action or animated fiction feature, minimum 70 minutes
- Discovery: debut director, budget £1m–£3.5m
UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF)
£18m/year fund (2026–2029) supporting the international growth of UK independent screen companies. Covers film, TV, documentary, animation and games. Four strands: International Distribution P&A Support, Festival Launch, Co-production, and Business Development.
- UK-registered, UK-centrally managed independent screen companies
- Active in film, TV, animation, documentary, or interactive narrative games
- Must be independent — not majority-owned by a broadcaster or studio
UnLtd Awards — Starting Up & Scaling Up
Grants and wraparound support (mentoring, workshops, legal advice) for social entrepreneurs across the UK. Starting Up: up to £8,000 for early-stage ventures. Scaling Up: up to £18,000 for ventures 1–5 years old. 50% ring-fenced for Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and/or disabled social entrepreneurs.
- Social entrepreneurs aged 16+ with right to live and work in UK
- Social venture registered for 4 years or fewer
- Scaling Up requires at least 5 jobs created over 3 years and full-time commitment
Scottish EDGE Business Competition
Scotland's biggest funding competition for startups and early-stage businesses under 5 years old. Three tracks: Scottish EDGE (up to £100,000 grant/loan split), Young EDGE (up to £15,000 grant, directors under 30), and Wild Card EDGE (up to £15,000 grant, pre-trading and sole traders).
- Scotland-based company under 5 years old with fewer than 24 employees
- Must have or be able to open a business bank account
- Capable of creating at least 5 more jobs in 3 years
SMART: SCOTLAND — Feasibility Grants
Grants for Scottish SMEs undertaking technical or commercial feasibility studies for innovative projects. Covers up to 70% of eligible costs for small enterprises and 60% for medium enterprises. Maximum grant £100,000. Currently on hold — expected to reopen summer 2026.
- SMEs based in Scotland (Scottish Enterprise territory)
- Feasibility study must be for an innovative product, process, or service
- Must demonstrate the project would not happen without grant (additionality)
Invest NI Innovation Vouchers
£5,000 vouchers allowing SMEs in Northern Ireland to access expertise from a registered knowledge provider (universities and colleges in NI and the Republic of Ireland). Voucher paid directly to the knowledge provider to solve your innovation challenge.
- SMEs based in Northern Ireland (fewer than 250 employees)
- Social enterprises and third sector organisations also eligible
- Voucher paid to knowledge provider — not directly to your business
UK Shared Prosperity Fund — Local Business Grants
Local business grants funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and administered by local councils. Typical grants of £2,500–£10,000 for productivity, growth, or decarbonisation projects. Availability varies significantly by local authority — check your local council or Growth Hub.
- SMEs registered and trading in the relevant local authority area
- Typically trading for at least 12 months
- Often under 50 FTE employees
Growth Guarantee Scheme
Government-backed loan guarantee giving lenders a 70% guarantee on eligible business finance, enabling SMEs to access loans and asset finance they might otherwise not secure. Apply through a participating commercial bank — not directly through the British Business Bank. Extended to March 2030.
- UK-based SMEs with turnover up to £45m
- Over 50% of income from UK trading activity
- Viable business proposition assessed by the lending bank
DCMS Create Growth Programme
Innovation grants for creative sector SMEs in 12 designated English regions. Small Projects: £20,000–£50,000 fully funded. Large Projects: £50,000–£200,000 with match funding. Designed to help creative businesses innovate, scale, and access private investment. Watch for Competition 5.
- UK-registered micro, small or medium enterprises in the creative sector
- Must be based in one of 12 DCMS Create Growth Programme regions
- Must demonstrate clear growth opportunity through innovation
UK Export Finance — General Export Facility
Government-backed guarantee scheme allowing SME exporters to access flexible trade finance up to £25m without needing a specific export contract. UKEF provides an 80% guarantee to the lending bank. Access via participating banks including HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest and Barclays.
- UK-based businesses generating or planning to generate export income
- Export sales ≥20% of annual turnover in any recent financial year, or ≥5% in each of last 3 years
- Apply through a participating commercial bank (HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Barclays, others)
Welsh Government Future Proofing Fund
Grants for micro, small and medium businesses in Wales in retail, hospitality and leisure to invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy and premises improvements. Covers up to 75% of project cost. Previous round ran 2024; new 2026 round expected.
- Micro, small or medium businesses in Wales
- Must be in retail, hospitality, or leisure sector
- Own or lease business premises on a minimum 3-year lease
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Grants
One of the UK's largest independent foundations distributing approximately £50m per year. Funds registered charities, CICs and social enterprises working in natural environment, social justice, or arts and communities. Median grant is £150,000 over 3 years. Rolling applications — no deadlines.
- Registered charities, social enterprises and CICs — not private businesses
- Work must align with natural world, a fairer future, or creative communities
- Start with an Expression of Interest — reviewed within 4–6 weeks
Cyber Local — Regional Cyber Security Grants
Grants to develop impactful regional activities that grow the cyber security sector and develop cyber skills across the UK. 100% funded, no match funding required. Grants of £25,000–£150,000. Next round expected — monitor Innovate UK.
- UK-registered businesses, RTOs, academic institutions, charities or public sector organisations
- Must lead activity in one of the specified UK geographical areas
- Must obtain endorsement from area steering group via DSIT
Social Enterprise EDGE (Scotland)
Dedicated competition for asset-locked social enterprises and charities in Scotland. Up to £75,000 structured as 70% grant and 30% loan. Aimed at social enterprises demonstrating how their business enriches communities. Part of the Scottish EDGE competition portfolio.
- Asset-locked social enterprises and charities only
- Scotland-based, under 5 years old with fewer than 24 employees
- Must demonstrate clear community benefit and enrichment
Power to Change — Trading for Good
Match Trading grants for early-stage community businesses in England. The grant is matched pound-for-pound against trading income earned during the programme — incentivising you to grow sales. Includes 12 days of structured learning and peer support. Runs in regional cohorts.
- Community businesses in England at early or developing stage
- Must be owned and accountable to local community, trading for social purpose
- Geographically focused: North West, Midlands, South East, South West England
Growth Catalyst: New Innovators Competition
Supports early-stage UK micro and small businesses developing innovations in five critical technology areas: AI, Semiconductors, Advanced Connectivity, Quantum Technologies, and Engineering Biology. Full grant funding with no match requirement, plus access to Innovation and Growth Specialists.
- UK-registered micro or small business only
- Must not have previously received direct Innovate UK funding
- Single applicants only — no collaborative applications
AI Champions: Frontier AI Phase 1
Funds UK SMEs to validate technical feasibility of ambitious AI innovations that could enable new products, services, or platforms. Focus on systems demonstrating state-of-the-art AI performance or novel capabilities. Projects run 3–6 months at TRL 3 or below.
- UK-registered SMEs only — no large companies
- Single applicants only
- Projects must begin at TRL 3 or below
BridgeAI Innovation Exchange
Competition funding AI and machine learning projects addressing industry-specific challenges in agriculture, construction, creative industries, and transport. Projects work with defined industry partners on productivity improvements and ethical AI applications.
- UK-registered SMEs or research organisations as single applicants
- Must address challenges in agriculture, construction, creative industries, or transport
- Projects must demonstrate productivity improvements through AI
UK Offshore Wind Technology Innovation Competition
Supports mid-stage innovation projects in offshore wind across two strands — Industrial Research (collaborative, up to £1.5M) and Feasibility Studies (single SME or collaborative, up to £250K). Aligned with the Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan.
- Industrial Research: collaborative applications led by a UK-registered business, must include at least one SME
- Feasibility Studies: single SMEs or collaborative groups
- Priority areas: advanced turbines, industrialised foundations, electrical systems, smart environmental services, next-gen installation
Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL) Grants
Grants for micro and small businesses developing new fintech and financial services products addressing specific regulatory and industry challenges including supply chain monitoring, data quality, cross-border compliance, and cloud risk management.
- Registered micro or small businesses
- Any development stage eligible
- Must address one of the published FRIL challenge statements
Santander X UK Awards
Equity-free cash awards for early-stage and scaling UK businesses across three tracks: University (up to £15,000), Startup (up to £20,000), and SME (up to £30,000). Nine winners share £135,000 and automatically enter the international Santander X Global Awards.
- University track: at least one team member must be a student, graduate (2019+), or university employee
- Startup track: UK-incorporated, annual revenue up to £250,000, demonstrable innovation
- SME track: UK-incorporated, revenue over £250,000, 25–250 employees
Horizon Europe — Collaborative R&I Projects
The EU's €95.5bn flagship R&I programme (2021–2027). UK is a fully associated country from 2024 onwards — UK businesses receive EC funding directly at the same rates as EU participants. Covers health, digital/AI, clean energy, manufacturing, agrifood, space, climate, and security. Requires a consortium of 3+ organisations from different countries.
- UK organisations fully eligible — same status as EU member state participants
- Consortium of at least 3 independent organisations from different countries required
- At least one partner must be from an EU member state
EIC Accelerator
Targets individual startups and SMEs with breakthrough innovations at TRL 6–8. UK businesses are eligible for the grant-only track (up to €2.5M). Note: UK companies are excluded from the blended finance option (grant + equity up to €10M+) available to EU applicants. Rolling monthly deadlines throughout 2026.
- UK SMEs eligible for grant-only track (up to €2.5M) — equity component not available to UK
- Breakthrough innovation at TRL 6–8 with market disruption potential
- Single applicant — no consortium required
EIC Pathfinder
Funds visionary early-stage research (TRL 1–4) aimed at future technology breakthroughs. UK organisations are fully eligible as Horizon Europe associated country members. Two tracks: Pathfinder Open (any topic, deadline 12 May 2026, €166M budget) and Pathfinder Challenges on specific themes including Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing, Cognitive AI Systems, and Advanced Materials for Energy Harvesting (deadline 28 October 2026, €96M budget).
- UK organisations fully eligible (Horizon Europe associated country)
- Open track: consortium of 3+ organisations from different countries required — deadline 12 May 2026
- Challenges track: smaller consortia or single applicants allowed — deadline 28 October 2026
Eurostars — International SME R&D Collaboration
Supports international collaborative R&D projects led by innovative SMEs. UK SMEs can lead or join projects with partners from other EUREKA countries. Innovate UK funds the UK portion (up to 60% of UK costs) — not the European Commission. Call 11 deadline is September 2026.
- UK SMEs — large companies, universities and research organisations cannot receive Innovate UK funding under this call
- Must partner with at least one organisation from another Eurostars country
- SME costs must represent at least 50% of total project budget
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026
UK businesses can act as host organisations for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellows, receiving EC funding directly covering the researcher's salary, training, and overheads for 1–3 years. An excellent route for companies to bring in advanced R&D talent with EU funding. Researchers apply jointly with the host organisation.
- UK businesses can act as host organisation — fully eligible
- The researcher applies; the business hosts and receives EC funding directly
- Fellowship covers researcher salary, travel, training costs and overheads
Secure Software for Resilient Growth
Collaborative R&D grants for UK businesses developing secure software products aligned with the Government's Software Security Code of Practice. Covers security-by-design architectures, vulnerability management tooling, software supply chain security, and related technologies. Projects run 12–18 months. Closes 29 April 2026.
- UK registered businesses — lead must be a UK business
- Collaborative applications (2+ partners) preferred; single-applicant option available
- Projects must address the Government's Software Security Code of Practice objectives
ARIA: Universal Fabricators
ARIA's bold programme to harness proteins and biological systems to produce a functionally universal range of materials at scale. Seeks to engineer protein-based or bio-inspired manufacturing processes that could replace or complement conventional materials synthesis. Share of £50M total programme budget. High-risk, high-reward ambition required.
- UK registered organisations including businesses, universities, and research institutes
- High-risk, high-reward proposals targeting transformative manufacturing breakthroughs
- Must address the protein/biological manufacturing challenge defined in the ARIA call specification
ARIA: Massively Scalable Neurotechnologies
ARIA programme funding non-surgical neural interface engineering across three focus areas: high-density neural recording, neural signal processing at scale, and wireless neural communication. Full proposals stage (TA1) — submit ambitious, unconventional approaches to building massively scalable interfaces between biological and digital systems.
- UK registered organisations including businesses, universities, and research institutes
- Full proposals (TA1) stage — must respond to specific ARIA challenge areas
- Ambitious, unconventional approaches strongly encouraged — ARIA funds high-risk, high-reward work
Contracts for Innovation: Commercial Quantum Networking
Contracts for Innovation funding to develop deployable prototypes of enabling components or sub-systems for commercial quantum networking, including quantum key distribution (QKD), quantum repeaters, photonic integration, and quantum-safe communications. Share of £20M total. Note: delivered as a contract, not a grant.
- UK registered businesses — SMEs and large companies eligible
- Collaborative consortia required — lead must be a UK business
- Must develop a deployable prototype demonstrating real-world quantum networking capability
Frontier AI Benchmarking Datasets
Funding for the creation, curation, annotation, and exploitation of FAIR-data benchmark datasets to support UK AI industry growth and safety evaluation. Part of the UK's AI investment programme. Benchmarks must be publicly accessible to UK AI developers and reproducible under independent conditions.
- UK registered businesses, universities, and research organisations
- Collaborative applications encouraged
- Benchmarks must be FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)
Medicines Manufacturing: Labs of the Future
Grants for UK SMEs to develop and deploy digital, automated, and robotic technologies in pharmaceutical manufacturing and process development. Targets productivity improvements across drug discovery, formulation, quality control, and bioprocessing. Share of £7.5M total. Projects run up to 2 years.
- UK registered SMEs only — small and medium enterprises
- Must address digital, automation, or robotics in medicines manufacturing
- Collaborative applications welcomed; at least one partner must be a UK SME
Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF)
Major capital investment grants for life sciences companies to establish or expand UK manufacturing capacity, strengthening health and economic resilience. Covers pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostics, and medical technology manufacturing. Designed for large-scale capital expenditure projects by private sector life sciences companies.
- UK registered private sector life sciences companies only — NHS and public sector not eligible
- Must be establishing or significantly expanding UK manufacturing capability
- Covers pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, and medical technology manufacturing
EIC Transition
Bridges the gap between EIC Pathfinder or ERC Proof of Concept results and market-ready solutions. Funds validation and demonstration of breakthrough technologies in operationally relevant environments (TRL 3–5 advancing to TRL 5–6). Up to €2.5M (≈£2.1M) per project. UK organisations fully eligible as Horizon Europe associated country members.
- UK organisations fully eligible as Horizon Europe associated country members
- RESTRICTED: only organisations with prior EIC Pathfinder, FET, or ERC Proof of Concept funding can apply
- Single applicants or small consortia of 2–5 partners from different countries
MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026
Funds international networks of universities, research institutes, and businesses to deliver joint doctoral programmes. UK businesses can join as non-academic consortium partners, hosting PhD researchers and contributing to industry-facing work packages. €593M budget. Call opens 28 May 2026. UK fully eligible as Horizon Europe associated country.
- UK organisations fully eligible as Horizon Europe associated country
- UK businesses participate as non-academic consortium partners hosting PhD researchers
- Consortium must include a university lead plus partners from multiple countries
Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI)
Major UK competition to decarbonise the maritime sector through zero-emission vessel technologies and the shore-side infrastructure to support them. Covers hydrogen, ammonia, battery-electric, and other clean propulsion systems alongside bunkering, charging, and port infrastructure. Share of £150M total fund.
- UK registered businesses, research organisations, and public sector bodies
- Focus on zero-emission vessel propulsion or shore-side infrastructure
- Collaborative applications encouraged — lead must be a UK registered business
PEACE PLUS Programme
The only Interreg programme where UK entities participate in 2021–2027. €1.1bn fund covering Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. Supports cross-border cooperation on economic development, SME support, innovation, renewable energy, health, education and community building.
- Northern Ireland organisations only (and cross-border Irish border counties)
- Open to local authorities, public bodies, voluntary/community sector and private entities
- Projects must involve cross-border cooperation with Republic of Ireland partners