Innovation competitions

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35 competitions

  • BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst: AI for Operational Systems

    UK registered SMEs can apply for a share of up to £5 million to deploy Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions that perform, control or coordinate operational activity. Funding is from Innovate UK.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to collaborative projects only.

    The lead must be a UK registered AI SME with an existing AI or ML solution at TRL 5 to 6.

    Each application must include one UK registered medium or large organisation as a deployer.

    You may include one additional project partner.

    The consortium must include two or three organisations only.

    Opening soon

    Opens:
    21 October 2026
    Closes:
    8 December 2026

  • BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst: AI for Decision Critical Systems

    UK registered SMEs can apply for a share of up to £5 million to deploy Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions that support consequential judgements, recommendations or decisions. Funding is from Innovate UK.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to collaborative projects only.

    The lead must be a UK registered AI SME with an existing AI or ML solution at TRL 5 to 6.

    Each application must include one UK registered medium or large organisation as a deployer.

    You may include one additional project partner.

    The consortium must include two or three organisations only.

    Opening soon

    Opens:
    21 October 2026
    Closes:
    8 December 2026

  • BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst: AI for Assurance and Compliance

    UK registered SMEs can apply for a share of up to £5 million to deploy Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions that monitor, test, verify or evidence compliance with requirements, standards or controls. Funding is from Innovate UK.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to collaborative projects only.

    The lead must be a UK registered AI SME with an existing AI or ML solution at TRL 5 to 6.

    Each application must include one UK registered medium or large organisation as a deployer.

    You may include one additional project partner.

    The consortium must include two or three organisations only.

    Opening soon

    Opens:
    21 October 2026
    Closes:
    8 December 2026

  • Efficient, Structured and Controllable AI Systems

    UK registered SME businesses can apply for a share of up to £1.66 million to deliver experimental validation of prototype AI systems for novel reusable components of efficient, structured and controllable learning systems.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants.
    To work alone your organisation must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME).

    Opening soon

    Opens:
    12 October 2026
    Closes:
    18 November 2026

  • Eureka collaborative R&D: Globalstars Japan 2027

    UK registered organisations can apply for a share of £2 million for collaborative industrial research projects with partners from Japan and select Eureka countries.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to collaborations only.

    To be eligible for grant funding your collaboration:

    • must include at least one UK registered business of any size
    • must collaborate with a Japan registered SME as a minimum
    • can include other organisations from participating Eureka countries
    • can include other UK registered organisations

    Open now

    Opened:
    7 October 2026
    Closes:
    20 January 2027

  • Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation: CR&D Round 2

    Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to invest up to £7 million to support the development and adoption of sustainable technologies for the manufacturing of medicines.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to collaborations only.

    To lead a collaborative project your organisation must be a UK registered:

    • business of any size
    • research and technology organisation (RTO)
    • catapult centre
    • not for profit organisation
    • public sector organisation
    • charity

    The consortium must contain at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) claiming grant funding on this application.

    Open now

    Opened:
    5 October 2026
    Closes:
    2 December 2026

  • Investor Partnerships – Battery Innovation Programme

    UK registered SMEs can apply for grant funding alongside private investment from selected investor partners.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants only.

    To apply your organisation must:

    • be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized business (SME)
    • carry out its project work in the UK
    • intend to exploit the results from or in the UK
    • have been invited to apply by an investor from our pool of selected investor partners

    Open now

    Opened:
    5 October 2026
    Closes:
    25 November 2026

  • CfI: Counter UAS Demonstrations in Prison Environments

    Organisations can apply for a share of £900,000, inclusive of VAT, to demonstrate and test low-cost counter uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) technologies that are able to detect and track drones within UK prison estates.

    Eligibility

    To lead a project, you can:

    • be an organisation of any size, including those based in the EU, EEA or internationally
    • work alone or with other organisations as subcontractors

    Contracts will be awarded to a single legal entity only.

    Open now

    Opened:
    5 October 2026
    Closes:
    28 October 2026

  • MDI Programme Innovation and Scale-up Hub

    UK registered eligible organisations can apply for a share of up to £4 million for a Manufacturing Digitalisation Innovation and Scale-up Hub to improve the targeting, quality and commercial impact of grant funded activity.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants or collaborations.
    To lead a collaborative project, or work alone, your organisation must be a UK registered research and technology organisation (RTO) or academic institution.

    Open now

    Opened:
    2 October 2026
    Closes:
    18 November 2026

  • Frontier AI: SME Champions, Phase 1

    UK registered SME’s can apply for a share of up to £3.1 million to deliver feasibility studies for frontier artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) technologies with a clear route to defensible scale-up.

    Eligibility

    This competition is open to single applicants only. To work alone your organisation must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME).

    Open now

    Opened:
    1 October 2026
    Closes:
    11 November 2026

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