Guide
Apply for innovation funding
Access Innovate UK grants and competitions for research, development, and game-changing technologies.
Apply for Innovate UK funding to develop new products, processes or services. Check available competitions, prepare a strong application showing innovation and market potential, and be ready to contribute 30-70% of project costs.
- Check Innovate UK competitions for funding opportunities
- Grants range from £25,000 to over £2 million
- Businesses must usually contribute 30-70% of project costs
- Show innovation, market potential and technical details in your application
- Apply through specific competitions announced throughout the year
- Some funding is sector-specific, others open to all innovations
- Successful applications demonstrate a clear route to commercialisation
- Assessors are experts in their fields — technical detail matters
Innovate UK is the UK's innovation agency, running hundreds of funding competitions each year for businesses developing innovative products, processes, or services.
Types of funding available
Funding ranges from small 'smart grants' for feasibility studies to multi-million pound collaborative R&D projects. Some are sector-specific (e.g., clean energy, health), others are open to all innovations.
What makes a strong application
Successful applications clearly demonstrate innovation (not just improvement), market potential, and a viable route to commercialization. Technical detail matters - assessors are experts in their fields.