Innovate UK Smart Grants
Paused by the funder
Innovate UK states it paused Smart Grants from January 2025 to develop more tailored support, with a replacement pilot for startups. No confirmed date for a like-for-like Smart Grant round as at August 2026 - monitor the UKRI funding finder and Innovate UK Business Connect.
Historically GBP 25k-500k for single-company 6-18 month projects and GBP 25k-2m for collaborative 19-36 month projects; intervention rate 35-70% by company size and research category.
You must co-fund 30%.
Innovate UK (UKRI)
public · national
Deadline: closed — No new rounds since the January 2025 pause. Historically ran open, sector-agnostic rounds roughly 2-4 times a year with an ~11-13 week window.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
You fund 30% yourself.
Who can apply
- Stage: pre_seed, seed, series_a, growth
- R&D activity required
- Locally registered entity required
UK-registered business, must include at least one SME, project must be carried out in the UK.
How to apply
- Register on the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) portal
- Complete the application: business/financial details, project questions, finances and impact
- Three independent assessors score the application
- Funding decision and grant offer letter
What you will need
- Project finances / eligible costs breakdown
- Company accounts or financial viability information
- Letters of support from collaborators (if applicable)
Source. https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/guidance-for-applicants/guidance-for-specific-funds/smart-innovation-funding-guidance/ — checked 2026-08-14
"From January 2025, Innovate UK is pausing Smart Grants to develop tailored support, with a new pilot launching in spring 2025."