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 May. You can also find out more about public and private funding sources in our online directory
Audience of the Future Immersive Technology Investment Accelerator
Up to £2M of grant funding and a comparable amount of private investment is available to support business led R&D and to invest in companies in the creative industries that have real potential for growth. Closes 3 July
Innovate UK Smart Grants: April 2019
Apply for a share of up to £25m to deliver ambitious or disruptive R&D innovations with significant potential for impact on the UK economy. Closes 24 July
June expression of interest: UK Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme
The ATI programme provides grant funding to industrial research and capital projects to encourage innovation in UK civil aerospace. Competition opens 1 July
SME support to evaluate innovative medical technologies: round 4
SMEs can apply for a share of £1.5m to support the evaluation of innovative medical devices, diagnostics and regulated digital health products. Closes 3 July
APC13: advancing the UK’s low carbon automotive capability
£25m of collaborative match funding is available for UK-developed late stage R&D, to support growth in advanced low carbon propulsion capability in the automotive sector. Closes 10 July
Nesta EdTech Innovation Fund
Nesta is working in partnership with the Department of Education to support effective use of technology in schools and colleges. Grants of up to £100k are available for up to 20 projects, to develop products and build evidence for what works across 4 challenge areas. Closes 15 July
SBRI: Using data and digital technology to deliver better adult social care
Organisations can apply for a share of £1.25m to develop data and digital technology to deliver better adult social care. Registration closes 17 July
SBRI Artificial Intelligence-supported early fracture diagnosis
Organisations can apply for a share of £240k to develop an innovative AI solution for radiological diagnosis of fractures of upper and/or lower limbs. Closes 31 July
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
UK and USA: innovation in global composites markets
UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £1.7m to develop innovative technologies for global composites markets with US partners. Closes 21 August
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
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
Energy Catalyst round 7 – early, mid and late stage strands
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £22m to help provide clean, affordable and secure energy in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or both. Closes 18 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
XR4ALL Open Call
XR4ALL, co-funded from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 fund will give financial support to XR research teams from start-ups, SMEs, industry, research institutions, and academia to develop XR solutions. A total of €1.5M is available and the maximum funding per selected project is €50,000. 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