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Innovate UK Smart Grants

Innovate UK (UKRI)

Description

Status refresh (August 2026): Innovate UK's own Smart Grants guidance confirms the programme has been paused since January 2025 'to develop tailored support', with a pilot originally expected in spring 2025 — as of this pass there is no confirmed relaunch date, and secondary reporting on a 2026 reopening is conflicting. While live, it backed ambitious, genuinely disruptive R&D projects rather than incremental improvements — any UK-registered business, of any size and in any sector, could lead an application alone or with partners, typically via a feasibility stream (roughly £25,000–£100,000) or a full industrial research/experimental development stream (up to £500,000 for a single applicant, up to £2 million for a collaborative project).

Amount

Paused since January 2025 — previously £25,000–£2 million depending on project stream and stage; no relaunch date confirmed as of August 2026

Deadline

Rolling / no fixed deadline

Eligibility summary

  • Available across the whole UK (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).
  • Applicant must be a registered business.
  • Most relevant to: Technology & Digital, Research & Development, Manufacturing.
Notes
Paused since January 2025 — not currently running competition rounds. Check ukri.org or the Innovation Funding Service for relaunch news before advising a user to apply. When last live: grant intensity depended on company size (small/medium/large) and R&D category (industrial research vs experimental development).
Applicant type
UK-registered business, any size, can lead a project alone or with partners

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How to apply

Not currently open. When it relaunches, apply during an open competition window via the UKRI Innovation Funding Service (IFS): submit a project proposal, cost breakdown, and grant intensity calculation.

View official source

Last verified: 19 August 2026. See the footer disclaimer — this is general information, not financial or tax advice.