Back
GrantUK-wide

Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards

Innovate UK (UKRI)

Description

Updated August 2026: the award value has risen to £75,000 (previously £50,000). An annual competition for women leading a UK-registered business with a genuinely innovative idea, offering £75,000 in grant funding alongside 12 months of bespoke leadership and business support (training, networking, mentoring) rather than cash alone. Designed to address the funding gap women-led innovation businesses often face in accessing early-stage capital; the 2025/26 round required the project to align with advanced manufacturing, digital and technologies, or life sciences.

Amount

£75,000 grant funding plus 12 months of bespoke leadership/business support

Deadline

Rolling / no fixed deadline

Eligibility summary

  • Available across the whole UK (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).
  • Applicant must be a registered business.
Notes
The 2025/26 round required alignment with one of three growth sectors: advanced manufacturing, digital and technologies, or life sciences — narrower than 'any sector'. Individual applicants only, not groups.
Applicant type
Female founder or co-founder of a UK-registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise, at the late-stage start-up phase

Want help with this application?

R&D claims and business grants are exactly where a specialist can make the biggest difference — both in claim size and time saved. We're building relationships with vetted professionals who can help with applications like this — register your interest and we'll follow up when we have someone to recommend.

Some of the organisations we may connect you with pay us a referral fee if you use their service. This never affects which listings you see in the directory. No live partner is confirmed yet for this listing.

You can also do this yourself for free via the official source

How to apply

Apply via the annual competition on the UKRI Innovation Funding Service during the open window. The 2025/26 round's deadline (4 February 2026) has already passed; check ukri.org for the next round's opening date.

View official source

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