Grants by country and industry

Photonics grants in the United Kingdom

Explore Photonics grants for companies in the United Kingdom. This list brings together funding for lasers, optics, integrated photonics, imaging and optical communications from UK innovation agencies, research funders and foundations, international programs open to applicants in the United Kingdom, and competitions any company can enter, with the deadline, award size and eligibility on every listing. Grants aimed at Photonics in the United Kingdom come first.

Photonics grants elsewhereUnited StatesNetherlands

Showing 1-24 of 218 grants

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council logo
Open

Optical wireless communications research and testing facility

🇬🇧EPSRC · United Kingdom

Funding to establish a national optical wireless communications test facility.

AIDefense+4
£7.1MSep'26
Science and Technology Facilities Council logo
Open

Funding for STFC core summer schools for 2027

🇬🇧STFC · United Kingdom

Funding for five STFC core summer schools taking place in 2027.

Photonics
Sep'26
Science and Technology Facilities Council logo
Open

Early Independence: Ernest Rutherford Fellowships 2026

🇬🇧STFC · United Kingdom

A fellowship for early-career researchers building an independent STFC research niche.

AerospaceAI+3
£6MSep'26
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council logo
Open

Japan-UK Joint call for collaborations in Advanced Connectivity Technologies

🇬🇧EPSRC · United Kingdom

Collaborative UK-Japan research in advanced connectivity technologies.

AIIoT & Edge+4
£1.1MOct'26
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council logo
Open

Future computing paradigms Network Plus

🇬🇧EPSRC · United Kingdom

Build a multidisciplinary network for future computing paradigms.

AIHardware+4
£2.8MOct'26
Edinburgh Innovations logo
Open

OCC Ventures

🇬🇧Edinburgh Innovations · United Kingdom

Backs University of Edinburgh associated companies through OCC Ventures with seed and Series A co-investment.

BiotechAI+7
£150K – £350K
HM Revenue and Customs logo
Open

Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) — Company Certification

🇬🇧HMRC · United Kingdom

Offers United Kingdom start-up founders investment support through certified tax relief for early innovation and development.

AIBiotech+14
£250K
Business Wales logo
Open

SMART Innovation Funding

🇬🇧Business Wales · United Kingdom

Funds Wales-based businesses of all sizes to research and develop new products, processes, or services through discretionary Welsh Government R&D grants.

AIAgritech+12
Business Wales logo
Open

SMART Partnerships

🇬🇧Business Wales · United Kingdom

Funds collaborative R&D between Wales-based businesses and knowledge-base partners, with the Welsh Government covering 100% of the academic or research partner's eligible costs.

AIAgritech+12
Scottish Enterprise logo
Open

SMART: SCOTLAND

🇬🇧Scottish Enterprise · United Kingdom

Funds Scottish SMEs conducting high-risk feasibility studies to prove out novel technologies through Scottish Enterprise R&D grants.

BiotechClimate Tech+6
£100K
Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre (QTIC) logo
Open

University of Bristol QTIC / Engine Shed Translational

🇬🇧QTIC · United Kingdom

Supports University of Bristol teams with translational resources from QTIC and Engine Shed pathways.

QuantumPhotonics
£25K – £500K
HM Revenue and Customs logo
Between cycles

Enhanced R&D Intensive Support (ERIS) — Scheme

🇬🇧HMRC · United Kingdom

Provides enhanced tax relief for loss-making United Kingdom companies with intensive innovation spending.

AIBiotech+12
HM Revenue and Customs logo
Between cycles

Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) — Company Certification

🇬🇧HMRC · United Kingdom

Offers United Kingdom startups with certification support tied to investor incentive access for high growth innovation.

AIBiotech+14
£10M
HM Revenue and Customs logo
Between cycles

Patent Box — 10% Corporation Tax Rate on IP Profits

🇬🇧HMRC · United Kingdom

Offers United Kingdom innovation firms an improved tax route on qualifying intellectual property income.

BiotechHardware+8
HM Revenue and Customs logo
Between cycles

R&D Tax Relief — Merged RDEC (Scheme)

🇬🇧HMRC · United Kingdom

Administers United Kingdom tax-research support claims through HMRC filing workflows connected to corporate innovation activity.

AIBiotech+14
Science and Technology Facilities Council logo
Between cycles

STFC Projects Peer Review Panel (PPRP)

🇬🇧STFC · United Kingdom

Supports invited large-scale United Kingdom particle, astronomy, and nuclear projects through STFC Projects Peer Review Panel, a route for complex funding.

QuantumAerospace+1
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council logo
Closed

Expression of interest: Japan-UK joint call for collaborations in Advanced Connectivity Technologies

🇬🇧EPSRC · United Kingdom

Joint UK-Japan research partnerships in advanced connectivity technologies.

AIIoT & Edge+3
£1.1M
UK Defence Innovation (formerly DASA) logo
Closed

Innovation Support to Operations Phase 3

🇬🇧UKDI / DASA · United Kingdom

Funds UK-registered companies delivering manufacturable, TRL 6-ready defence technology innovations scalable to operational use within twelve months.

DefenseRobotics+5
£1M
Innovate UK logo
Closed

National Materials Innovation Programme: Feasibility Studies

🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom

Funds UK registered businesses conducting feasibility studies in advanced materials innovation through Innovate UK grants under the National Materials Innovation Programme.

Advanced MaterialsSemiconductors+5
£50K – £100K
Innovate UK logo
Closed

Scaling Supply Chains for Quantum Enabled Sensing and PNT

🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom

Funds UK business-led consortia developing supply chains for quantum enabled sensing and positioning, navigation and timing technologies.

QuantumHardware+4
£4M – £6M
Innovate UK logo
Closed

UK-Switzerland Collaborative R&D

🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom

Funds UK businesses doing joint R&D in specific technology areas with Swiss partners through Innovate UK bilateral competition rounds.

AIBiotech+10
£450K
Science and Technology Facilities Council logo
Discontinued

STFC Bridging for Innovators

🇬🇧STFC · United Kingdom

Supports United Kingdom university and deep tech teams by bridging research outputs to follow-on funding.

Advanced MaterialsHardware+2
EUREKA Network logo
Open

Eurostars Call 11

🇪🇺EUREKA · Global / Multinational

Funds small and medium enterprises across Europe via Eurostars Call 11 for collaborative innovation with international partners.

AIBiotech+12
Sep'26
European Innovation Council logo
Open

EIC Transition Open

🇪🇺EIC · European Union

Supports European deep-tech ventures advancing laboratory research toward validated prototypes and near-market technologies.

AerospaceAgritech+22
€500K – €2.5MSep'26

Browse by Category