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Smart Grants

Innovate UK Smart Grants

Funds United Kingdom technology ventures across broad sectors through competitive grants for deep technology and innovation.

DiscontinuedInnovate UKUnited Kingdom
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About

Innovate UK Smart Grants was the UK's most widely used open innovation grant competition from 2017 until its suspension in January 2025. Operating on a quarterly cycle, the programme accepted applications from UK-registered businesses across any technology sector — science, engineering, creative industries, or digital — with no thematic restriction. At peak activity the programme funded more than …

What this grant funds

Any UK technology or innovation area — open scope across science, engineering, creative industries, and digital. Project must be industrial research or experimental development (TRL 3 to 7) with a clear UK commercialisation path.

Key facts
CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Multiple per year
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.—
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.18 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.—
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.30%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.£100M
Funding analytics

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Industries

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Eligibility criteria

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How they score you

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Timeline

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Last verified: 13 May 2026Source: www.ukri.org