Current opportunities
The opportunities listed below are in order of closing date. If you are looking to apply for one of the opportunities listed below, we can assist with grant applications. Visit our grant writing page to find out more.
EIC Accelerator
First closing date: 7 January 2026 {2026 cut-off schedule gives multiple opportunities per year to apply)
Grant: Up to €2.5M for innovation activities,
The EIC Accelerator is a highly competitive European funding instrument designed to help start-ups and SMEs turn disruptive, high-potential innovations into market-ready products or services. It is aimed at ventures that are too risky for conventional investors but with targeted support could scale across Europe or globally. Through a mix of grant funding and equity investment it helps bridge prototype and commercial launch. Because funding is coupled with mentoring, networking, and ecosystem access via the EIC, it also offers a growth-acceleration and investor-readiness pathway.
To learn more, visit the EIC website.
Innovate UK Growth Catalyst – Investor Partnerships Round 2
Deadline: 3 February 2026
This competition provides UK-registered SMEs with a blend of grant funding and private investment to accelerate growth from seed to Series A stages. It uses the Investor Partnerships model, where Innovate UK co-invests alongside approved investors who have already shown interest and completed due diligence. Projects must align with sectors in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital, defence, creative industries, and life sciences. Eligible project costs range from £50k–£300k for feasibility studies, £100k–£1m for industrial research, and £250k–£2m for experimental development.
Successful applicants will receive R&D grant funding and tailored business support through Innovate UK’s networks, contingent on securing the matched equity investment. The programme focuses on investment readiness and requires applicants to demonstrate a strong relationship with an approved investor partner before applying.
To find out more, visit Innovate UK’s website
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) 2025–2026 Round 5
Deadline: 4 February 2026
The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) 2025–2026 Round 5 supports collaborative innovation projects between a UK business and a registered UK knowledge base (university, FE college, RTO or Catapult). The programme funds projects lasting 12–36 months that embed academic expertise into a business to deliver a clearly defined strategic innovation such as developing new products, services, processes or business models. Projects must demonstrate commercial potential, sit within one of eight priority UK industrial sectors, and employ a dedicated associate who drives the innovation within the business.
Up to £10 million is available, with typical project costs around £8,500 per month. SMEs can receive up to 67% of project costs and large businesses up to 50%. The knowledge base leads the application, subcontracting is not allowed, and public-sector organisations cannot participate as business partners. Funding is awarded on a no-subsidy basis, meaning project outputs must be shareable and not provide selective commercial advantage.
To find out more, visit the Innovate UK website.
Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26
Deadline: 4 February 2026
The Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26, run by Innovate UK, offer up to 60 women founders or co-founders of UK-registered SMEs a 12-month support package that includes a grant of up to £75,000, tailored business coaching, and access to training, networking, and role-modelling opportunities. Applications close on 4 February 2026.
More information available on the Innovate UK website.
UKRI Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme
Closing date: 18 March 2026
The Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS) is the Medical Research Council’s primary mechanism for supporting translational research that moves early scientific discoveries toward real-world health impact.
There is no upper funding limit, and UKRI typically funds 80% of the full economic cost. Applications are submitted through the UKRI Funding Service and assessed in two stages, covering scientific rationale, feasibility, development plan, milestones, team capability, ethics and regulatory considerations, data sharing, and intellectual property strategy.
To find out more, or to apply, visit the UKRI website.
Longstanding opportunities:
Nesta Impact Investment
The British Heart Foundation (BHF)
EIC STEP Scale-Up
The EIC STEP Scale Up scheme, part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), provides equity-only investments of €10–30 million to startups, SMEs, and small mid-caps aiming to scale breakthrough innovations in strategic sectors like digital, deep tech, clean tech, and biotech. With a 2025 budget of €300 million, the scheme targets high-risk, high-potential companies that have already secured at least 20% of their funding round from a qualified investor. The programme supports innovations in areas such as AI and advanced biotechnologies, including critical medicines, DNA/RNA, proteins, cell engineering, gene vectors, bioinformatics, and nanobiotechnology. Successful applicants gain access to Business Acceleration Services and may receive a STEP Seal, enhancing visibility and access to further funding opportunities.
EIC Accelerator (UK based organisations are eligible)
The EIC Accelerator supports individual small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to develop and scale game-changing innovations providing substantial financial support with:
- Grant funding (non-dilutive) of up to €2.5 million for innovation development costs, including demonstration of the technology in the relevant environment, prototyping and system level demonstration, R&D and testing required to meet regulatory and standardisation requirements, intellectual property management, and marketing approval (e.g. at least TRL 5/6 to 8).
- Investments (direct equity investments or quasi-equity such as convertible loans- for EU based organisations only) of up to €15 million managed by the EIC Fund for scale up and other relevant costs.
Visit the European Innovation Council website for more information about their accelerator.
TheHill is always open to collaborations and keen to partner with other organisations as consortium member on collaborative projects, if you are interested please complete our triage form.