Grant Funding Available for UK-based Start Ups in 2023

What grants are available for UK-based start ups?

The UK is a great place to be for start-ups. There are lots of different funding sources available to new enterprises looking to carve out a niche – including grants. One of the major benefits of grants is that they don’t need to be repaid. Plus, there is no need to give away any of the equity in the company in order to get one. Whether your business is eligible for a UK grant will depend on factors such as location, size and industry. Below is a selection of grants that are open to UK-based start-ups that show what is available.

UK-Registered Businesses Collaborating with a German Entity

The UK-Germany bilateral: collaborative research and development grants provide up to £400,000 when there are innovative ideas that will result in new products or services being created.

Closing Date: 7th June 2023.

Developing commercially viable R&D innovations

Innovate UK Smart Grants are available for projects where there is at least one SME and for costs up to the value for £500,000.

Closing Date: 14^th June 2023.

For Female Entrepreneurs

Women in Innovation offers a cash injection of up to £50,000 for women entrepreneurs who are making a significant contribution to a pressing societal, environment or economic challenge through innovation.

Closing Date: Rolling entry.

For Scotland-based SME’s

SMART Scotland is designed for R&D focused on technical innovation. The funding is designed to support feasibility studies to demonstrate that an idea could work in the real world.

Closing Date: Rolling entry.

Health Service Focused

The NHS Future Hospitals Initiative is a unique grant that looks at the ways that space technologies can be used to benefit the NHS. That could be projects that look at issues such as improved patient reach or logistics, for example.

Closing Date: Rolling entry.

Defence and Security Projects

Defence and Security Accelerator provides grants for projects that are focused on innovative ways to improve a defence concept or service – up to £350,000.

Closing Date: Projects must be completed by March 2024.

Climate Tech

There are lots of grants available for those start-ups that are focused on green solutions and climate tech. Most of these have closed for 2023 but are likely to be available next year too in the same or similar format. This year’s grants include Novel Low-Emission Food Production Systems Investor Partnership and the Green Heat Innovation Support Challenge.

Closing Date: Mostly closed for 2023 but available next year.

Deep Tech / Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence

Innovate UK supports much of the grant funding related to new and innovative ideas, including for late-stage robotics and automation projects and grants for businesses that are developing quantum-enabled systems for positioning, navigation, and timing. Where these grants are now closed to applications it’s worth staying up to date with the latest projects Innovate UK is funding as these will change year to year.

Closing Date: Closed

Grant funding is plentiful in the UK for start-ups that have something new and innovative to bring to the table. If this sounds like your organisation then a grant could provide essential cash flow going forward.

You can view our Open Grant Opportunities for a list of available grants which you can apply to for funding. If successful, our grant advance funding service is a fantastic way to advance your innovation capital to you sooner.

Contact us for more information on our Grant Loans or R&D Tax Credit Loans.