Innovation competitions
32 competitions
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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
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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
Opening soon
- Opens:
- 7 October 2026
- Closes:
- 20 January 2027
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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
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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
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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
Open now
- Opened:
- 5 October 2026
- Closes:
- 28 October 2026
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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
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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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Engineering Biology Investor Partnerships Round 1
UK registered SMEs can apply for a share of up to £8 million to develop engineering biology products and services with 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
- be seeking private financing of at least twice the amount of the grant requested
Open now
- Opened:
- 1 October 2026
- Closes:
- 2 December 2026
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ADOPT Facilitator Support Grant: Round 12
Farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England can apply for a grant of £2,500, to engage an external Project Facilitator to support the development of a Full ADOPT Grant application.Eligibility
This competition is open to single applicants only.
To apply for this grant your organisation must:
- be an active farming, growing or forestry business of any size based in England
- be able to evidence that you are an established business, including sole traders and partnerships
- have a UK bank account
Open now
- Opened:
- 1 October 2026
- Closes:
- 11 November 2026
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UK-Germany Bilateral Collaborative R&D: Round 5
UK registered SME’s can apply for a share of up to £2.4 million for the purpose of developing innovative proposals with Germany. You must collaborate with at least one German SME applying under the equivalent German ZIM programme.Eligibility
This competition is open to UK and Germany collaborations only.
To lead a project your organisation must be a UK registered:
- micro, small medium-sized enterprise (SME)
- collaborate with a Germany-registered SME which must be a separate non-linked entity to the UK project partner or partners
Open now
- Opened:
- 28 September 2026
- Closes:
- 1 December 2026
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