Defence Innovation Loans

Defence Innovation Loans provide concessional below-market financing to UK SMEs developing innovations with strong defence applications. Loans of £100K–£1M are offered at 7.4% per annum and cover up to 100% of eligible project costs. The program runs in recurring cycles — FY25/26 had 7 cycles; FY26/27 Cycle 1 ran 24 March – 19 May 2026. The programme is co-administered by UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), which handles innovation assessment, and Innovate UK Loans Ltd, which handles credit evaluation. Applications require a two-part submission: an innovation application via the UKDI Online Submission Service and a loan request via Innovate UK's Qualtrics form.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.