We support innovative ideas and business growth through:
- tailored support
- grant funding
- loans or procurements
You can sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest information on our competitions straight to your inbox or register for email alerts to get page updates from Innovate UK.
We may occasionally run closed competitions that are for invited applicants only. These are run based on the challenge requirement or need.
UKRI Challenge Fund
Through this fund, the government is bringing world-class research and businesses together to take on the major industrial and societal challenges of our time.
The challenges are aligned with the four grand challenges (GOV.UK) named in the industrial strategy.
New challenges and funding opportunities are announced intermittently.
Challenge fund details are available on GOV.UK.
Knowledge transfer partnerships
You can get funding to bring in new knowledge and expertise through a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP). Taking part will allow you to work with an academic organisation and a highly qualified graduate to innovate within your business.
You can apply if you are a UK registered business or not-for-profit organisation.
Innovate UK Contracts for Innovation
Through Contracts for Innovation, you can apply for funded procurement contracts with government organisations to develop their innovative ideas.
Innovation loans
Innovation loans aim to provide affordable, flexible and patient capital to SMEs. They will support late-stage research and development projects with a clear route to commercialisation and business growth through innovation.
To receive a loan you need to apply for, and be successful in, a loan competition.
Your application must show that you have a high quality innovative project, your business is suitable to take on a loan and that you need public sector support.
Read our introduction to innovation loans to find out if they are right for you and how to apply.
Investor partnership
Investor partnership programmes offer a package of public sector grant funding alongside private equity investment to support ambitious businesses with innovative early-stage research and development projects.
The aligned investment means that the business is better capitalised and with supportive investors provides a clearer route to commercialisation.
Search the IFS for other funding competitions.
Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe)
The ICURe pilot programme funds research teams to accelerate the time it takes to get ideas out of the laboratory and to commercialisation.
If your organisation is a start-up that has emerged through the programme, you could get funding to help you establish your business and support future growth.
Read an evaluation of the pilot programme so far.
Biomedical Catalyst
The Biomedical Catalyst funds businesses and researchers to test and develop innovative health and care projects.
It supports the acceleration and scale up of ideas that, prevent and manage diseases, offer better detection and diagnosis, and create tailored treatments to improve patient outcomes.
The programme is run by Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council.
Energy Catalyst
The energy catalyst programme offers funding to businesses and researchers to develop ideas for tackling the global need for clean, affordable and secure energy.
It funds projects from early stage through to commercialisation to quickly develop and bring innovative new energy solutions to market.
The programme is run by Innovate UK with co-funding from partners including the:
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Department for International Development
- Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
International programmes
We run a number of initiatives that can help you get access to international opportunities and partners. This includes Horizon Europe, EUREKA Eurostars and the Newton Fund. These are open to a range of organisation sizes and types.
You can also search for:
- International opportunities on the Innovation Funding Service
- European research and innovation on the European Commission funding and tender portal
Managed programmes
Innovate UK also manages funding competitions on behalf of other organisations. Details and how to apply are published as new competitions are announced.