Looking for funding for your business innovations?
We’ve rounded up the relevant public funding and competitions that have been announced and are open for applications in August. You can also find out more about public and private funding sources in our online directory
Detailed designs of smart, local energy systems
UK organisations can apply for a share of up to £30m to develop clean, cheap, local energy systems that create prosperous, resilient UK communities. Closes 7 August
CivTech 4.0 Challenges
Solve a challenge, build a business. Part of the Scottish Government’s Digital Directorate, CivTech brings together public expertise and private sector creativity to solve real problems, develop new products and deliver better services and make people’s lives better. Two rounds of challenges have recently been released. Closes 12 August (round 1) and 21 August (round 2)
Creative Europe Desk UK: Pilot Project – Makers’ Mobility
This new pilot will award funds to projects that facilitates mobility and exchange between innovators and creatives working across different cultural hubs and spaces. Closes 12 August
Creative Europe Desk UK: Pilot Project for Cultural and Creative Industries
This new pilot project focuses on supporting the initial and continuing development of qualified professionals and the improvement in knowledge management & transfer in the cultural heritage sector. Closes 12 August
August expression of interest: ATI Programme
The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme provides grant funding to industrial research and capital projects to encourage innovation in UK civil aerospace. Closes 21 August
SBRI Accelerating the building of housing using geospatial intelligence
Organisations can apply for a share of £250k to explore how technology can be used to monitor developments of all sizes and types. Closes 21 August
Enabling data access in accountancy, insurance and legal services: Innovation Lab
Individuals can apply to join a workshop developing project proposals to enable increased access to data in the accountancy, insurance and legal sectors. Closes 4 September
Analysis for innovators round 5: phase 1 expression of interest & phase 1 expression of interest (de minimis)
UK businesses can apply for funding to address measurement and analysis problems with one or more analysis partner organisations. Briefing events are being held in July/August in Swansea, London & Manchester, as well as via a webcast. Both the funds close 4 September. Read more about the phase 1 EOI and the phase 1 EOI (de minimis)
The Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK
A total of £100K prize money is available for those with disabilities who have demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial spirit and business ability in the face of significant barriers. In partnership with Leonard Cheshire Disability and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. Closes 10 September
Innovation Loans: July 2019
Innovate UK is offering up to £10m in loans to SMEs for game-changing late stage innovations with strong commercial potential that will significantly improve the UK economy. Competition briefing events in Warrington, Birmingham & webcast. Closes 11 September
Eureka Eurostars 2: round 12
UK based SMEs can apply for a share of up to £2.5m to collaborate in research with partners across Europe and associated countries. Closes 12 September
The Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge
This Challenge gives scientists and deep tech start ups around the world a platform for their research and projects. It provides equity-free prize money (up to €100k for the grand prize winner). Closes 13 September
Targeted Popular Solutions for Improved Diabetes Control
The Wessex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) is innovative industry solutions for improved diabetes control. Successful companies will benefit from a committed NHS research partnership and trial support to deliver a clinical study within the NHS. Closes 23 September
Creative Europe Desk UK: Preparatory Action – Cinemas as innovation hubs
This scheme is designed to empower cinemas to innovate and play a more important role in their local communities. Closes 25 September
EUREKA: Singapore open competition
UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £1m to develop innovative proposals with Singapore and other EUREKA countries. Closes 26 September
UK Research and Innovation strength in places fund: wave 2 EoI
Consortia of UK businesses and research organisations can apply for ‘seed corn’ funding of up to £50k to develop full applications for wave 2 of the UKRI strength in places fund. Closes 9 October
Key technology components for local energy systems
A share of up to £3m is open for applications to develop technology components that help improve the efficiency of local energy systems. Closes 9 October
Innovate UK Smart Grants: July 2019
Apply for a share of up to £25m to deliver ambitious or disruptive R&D innovations that can make a significant impact on the UK economy. Closes 16 October
Newton-Ungku Omar Fund Grand Challenge 2019: phase 1
Innovate UK, in partnership with the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) are looking to invest in innovative projects that provide collaborative solutions to the challenges of urban mobility and waste to wealth in Malaysia. UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £1m. Closes 16 October
XR4ALL: open call
XR4ALL, co-funded from Horizon 2020, will give financial support to XR research teams from start-us, SMEs, research institutions and academia to develop XR solutions. A total of €1.5m is available, with a maximum of €50k per selected project. Closes 31 October
New Ideas Fund
Through BFI Lottery funding, Creative England is wanting to find untapped talent and fund new ideas in storytelling. The New Ideas Fund offers small seed funding to sole traders, start-ups and SMEs for their creative business ideas. It is designed to help with business costs, improving your offering and diversifying revenue streams. Read more
Epic MegaGrants
Epic Games has committed $100m to support games developers, entrepreneurs, media & entertainment creators, students, educators and tool developers doing amazing things with Unreal Engine or enhancing open-source capabilities for the 3D graphics communities. Find out more