There are currently several UK funding schemes that can help to finance your R&D and innovation activities. PNO has an excellent track record in helping organisations successfully apply for these R&D grants, with a success rate 5 times higher than the national average. The programmes listed are by no means fully comprehensive, so for further information regarding the types of scheme available specifically for you, please contact our consultancy team. Further information regarding available calls can also be found using PNO’s innovation platform, Innovation Place.
UKRI has announced a £9 million Proof of Concept (PoC) Fund to help bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world impact. This funding opportunity aims to de-risk the commercialisation of research by enabling spinouts, social ventures, licencing or other commercialisation pathways. Applications are welcomed from any disciplines and applicants must be based at a UK research organisation.
Competition closes: 29 May 2025, 4pm UK time
Competition closes: 29 May 2025, 4pm UK time
The Advanced Research and Innovation Agency (ARIA) is offering up to £500,000 per project to fund bold ideas in the Programmable Plants space. They seek high-risk, high-reward research on engineered plants, plant-microbe interactions or novel bioengineering approaches to tackle challenges like carbon capture, climate resilience and sustainable biomaterials.
Application deadline: 9 April 2025, 13:00 GMT
Application deadline: 9 April 2025, 13:00 GMT
i4i Product Development Awards (PDA) support collaborative research and development of medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for use in the NHS or social care system. PDA aims to de-risk innovations, supporting early product development and real-world evaluation, to make them more attractive for follow-on funding or commercial investment. Research proposals may address any area of unmet need. Projects must have a clear pathway towards adoption and commercialisation.
Competition opens: 9th April 2025
Competition opens: 9th April 2025
Mobilise is a structured early-stage accelerator programme designed to support ambitious businesses developing early-stage, zero-emission technology products or Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) services or solutions become investment and market-ready.
Competition closes: 19 March 2025, 12noon GMT
Competition closes: 19 March 2025, 12noon GMT
The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) Round 6 is part of a suite of interventions launched by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE). This competition is in three strands, with a total pot of £30Mn: Strand 1) Pre-deployment Trials (£100k-£2Mn), Strand 2) Feasibility Studies (£75k-£1Mn), and Strand 3) Smart Shipping (£75k-£2Mn).
Competition closes: 16th April 2025, 11 am
Competition closes: 16th April 2025, 11 am
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £25 million for late stage R&D projects that help accelerate the UK transition to zero emission vehicles and towards a net zero automotive future.
Competition closes: 02 April 2025 11am
Competition closes: 02 April 2025 11am
Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF)’s are personal awards to support fellows to develop as impactful and influential research or innovation leaders.
Academic funding opportunity closing date: 18 June 2025, 4:00 pm
Non-academic funding opportunity closing date: 5 November 2025, 11:00 am
Academic funding opportunity closing date: 18 June 2025, 4:00 pm
Non-academic funding opportunity closing date: 5 November 2025, 11:00 am
i4i Connect is aimed at small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developing medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for use in the NHS or social care system. The funding stream aims to help SMEs reach the next stage in the development pathway to apply for further funding, in particular for an i4i Product Development Award.
Stage 1 submission deadline: 18th March 2025, 1pm
Stage 2 submission deadline (if invited): 19th May 2025, 1pm
Stage 1 submission deadline: 18th March 2025, 1pm
Stage 2 submission deadline (if invited): 19th May 2025, 1pm
UK registered SME’s can apply for loans for highly innovative late-stage (experimental development) R&D projects with strong commercial potential to significantly improve the UK economy.
Competition closes: 05 March 2025, 11am
Competition closes: 05 March 2025, 11am
The Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF) is a capital grants fund which aims to build resilience for future health emergencies and capitalise on the UK’s world-leading research and development capabilities
Closing date: 31 March 2030, 11:59pm (Midnight)
Closing date: 31 March 2030, 11:59pm (Midnight)
The MOD Test and Evaluation Transformation Programme, exists to ensure Defence can validate technologies at speed in an increasingly complex threat environment. A key part of this is that the T&E enterprise becomes and remains innovative by instinct. The MOD knows that industry is integral to meeting this objective, and therefore is working with the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to invite proposals to present innovative/novel techniques to conduct and deliver T&E.
Competition closes: 25 Feb 2025
Competition closes: 25 Feb 2025
The aim of this CR&D competition is to advance the development of collaboration with innovators in the creative industries. Innovate UK will invest between £150k-£200k (£2Mn total pot) in collaborative innovation projects for products and tools across the creative supply chain which benefit and strengthen the UK creative economy.
Competition closes: 29th January 2025, 11:00 am
Competition closes: 29th January 2025, 11:00 am
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £2 million for Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to support AI upskilling in BridgeAI key sectors.
Competition closes: 29th January 2025, 11am
Competition closes: 29th January 2025, 11am
