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Innovate UK

Innovate UK Themed Competitions

Funds sector-themed innovation competitions in the United Kingdom for hydrogen, manufacturing, agri-tech, health, and AI.

OpenInnovate UKUnited Kingdom

Innovate UK is the UK's national innovation agency, operating as one of nine councils within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Following the pause of Smart Grants in January 2025, with no Smart rounds in financial year 2025/26, Innovate UK's grant funding flows primarily through themed sector-specific competitions published on the…

Sector-specific Innovate UK competitions published on the Innovation Funding Service portal. Each competition has its own brief, deadline, and award range. Common themes: net-zero technologies, advanced manufacturing, healthtech, agritech, AI, space, defence.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Rolling
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.Rolling
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.£200M

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Guides for this application

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Department for Science, Innovation and Technology logo
Open

National Space Innovation Programme - Call 3

🇬🇧DSIT · United Kingdom

Co-funded R&D for UK space technologies, applications and services

SpaceAdvanced Manufacturing+1
£150K – £2MNov'26
European Commission logo
Scheduled

International AI Partnerships for Local Innovation

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €1.5M projects that adapt European AI to local data, innovation hubs and real-world challenges in low- and middle-income countries.

AgritechAI+2
€1.5MMar'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Space Partnership: Connected Earth Observation and SatCom

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds €1.5–3M projects linking Earth observation and SatCom technologies for resilient, secure and commercially useful space services.

SpaceAI+2
€1.5M – €3MSep'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Circular Logistics in Cities

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds three €7.5M innovation actions that make urban freight packaging reusable, trackable and part of a circular logistics system.

MobilityAdvanced Manufacturing+2
€7.5MOct'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Cancer Mission: First-in-Human Trials for Rare Cancers

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds €7–9M projects taking biomarker-guided rare-cancer treatments into first-in-human, multicentre phase 1 trials.

BiotechMedtech+1
€7M – €9MSep'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Mission Soil: Community Research on Polluted Land

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €5.5M projects that let communities map the health risks of polluted soils and shape safer local responses.

Climate TechMedtech+2
€5.5MApr'27