Funding for UK manufacturers

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  Accelerated Growth Programme

  Business Wales

  Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme is a Welsh Government advisory service providing intensive, one-to-one support to high-growth-potential SMEs based in Wales. It is not a cash grant — it is a relationship-managed package of strategy, finance, leadership and connections support, typically over 12–24 months. AGP routes innovation-ready companies into SMART Cymru and equity-ready companies into Development Bank of Wales finance. Best suited to ambitious Welsh SMEs already trading with clear scale intent.

  • Wales
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  Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (aKT)

  Innovate UK

  Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (aKT) is a UK funding programme. UK businesses partnering with an academic to deliver a 4-month feasibility-style KTP. Funding: Up to £35k. SMEs accessing rapid academic feasibility support. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.

  • UK-wide
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  Advanced Propulsion Centre Collaborative R&D

  Advanced Propulsion Centre UK

  Advanced Propulsion Centre Collaborative R&D is a UK funding programme. UK automotive supply chain consortia developing low-carbon propulsion technologies. Funding: £5m–£25m typical. UK automotive R&D consortia. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.

  • UK-wide
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  Advanced Propulsion Centre Funding

  Advanced Propulsion Centre

  Funding for low-carbon automotive R&D. Funding competitions supporting R&D in low-carbon automotive propulsion and zero-emission vehicle technologies in the UK. It is aimed at Automotive R&D collaborations. Eligibility typically requires UK-based automotive supply chain R&D projects. Competition-specific criteria. Application: Competition rounds.

  • UK-wide
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  Aerospace Technology Institute Programme

  Aerospace Technology Institute

  The Aerospace Technology Institute programme is a long-running UK aerospace R&D fund jointly delivered by DBT, Innovate UK, and the ATI. It funds substantial, multi-year, industry-led collaborative R&D projects aligned with the ATI's published technology strategy — typically zero-carbon flight, advanced systems, structures, and propulsion. Project costs commonly run from low millions to tens of millions; intervention rates follow standard subsidy control rules. Not appropriate for early-stage start-ups working in isolation or projects with no clear path to a UK aerospace supply chain.

  • UK-wide
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  Aerospace Technology Institute Programme — Strategic R&T Portfolio

  Aerospace Technology Institute

  The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme co-invests with industry in UK civil aerospace R&D, with delivery in partnership with DBT and Innovate UK. Funding supports collaborative research projects from technology development through to demonstrator stages. A long-term UK government–industry co-investment in civil aerospace R&D. Eligibility typically requires UK aerospace businesses and academic partners with qualifying collaborative R&D projects. Funding is typically Match-funded aerospace R&D grants.

  • UK-wide
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• Equity

  British Design Fund

  British Design Fund

  Equity and mentoring for UK product design startups. Private investor-led fund providing equity investment and mentoring for UK product design and manufacturing startups. It is aimed at UK product design/manufacturing startups. Eligibility typically requires UK product/design-led startups seeking equity investment. Selection criteria apply. Application: Cohort intakes.

  • UK-wide
  • Innovation & R&D

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• Grant

  Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult Open Calls

  Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult

  Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult Open Calls is a UK funding programme. UK companies developing applications of compound semiconductor technology. Funding: Varies. CS-application SMEs prototyping next-generation electronics. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.

  • UK-wide
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  Energy Entrepreneurs Fund

  Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

  A competitive DESNZ grant fund for UK SMEs developing prototype low-carbon technologies — typically efficiency, heat, storage, or generation — where the business case is plausible but the technology is not yet bankable. Projects normally combine grant for prototype build or pilot deployment with structured incubation support. Run as discrete competition rounds rather than continuously, and orientated around tangible energy-system impact rather than pure research.

  • UK-wide
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  EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships

  Innovate UK

  EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships is a UK funding programme. Co-created business-led research partnerships between UK universities and established companies. Industry must commit significant cash and in-kind support. Funding: Typically £1m–£3m. Established businesses partnering with universities on strategic research challenges. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.

  • UK-wide
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  Eureka Eurostars (UK)

  Innovate UK

  UK funding into Eurostars international SME R&D projects. International R&D funding for innovative SMEs collaborating across Eurostars member countries, with UK funding from Innovate UK. It is aimed at R&D-performing SMEs with international partners. Eligibility typically requires UK R&D-performing SMEs partnered with eligible international partners. Application: Eurostars call deadlines.

  • UK-wide
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  Faraday Battery Challenge

  Innovate UK

  A UKRI / Innovate UK challenge funding battery research and commercialisation across the UK battery value chain — cells, materials, manufacturing, recycling, and integration. Funded as a portfolio: industrial R&D competitions (run via Innovate UK), the Faraday Institution (academic research), and UKBIC (manufacturing scale-up facility access). Best understood as a route into the UK battery ecosystem, not a single grant. Most genuine industrial opportunities now come through Innovate UK competitions branded "Faraday Battery Challenge" or via UKBIC access, rather than a standalone application portal.

  • UK-wide
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  GC Business Growth Hub - Green Technologies and Services

  GM Business Growth Hub

  Advisory plus grant support for GM SMEs developing low-carbon products or services. Fully funded advisory and grant support helping Greater Manchester SMEs develop low-carbon products, services and processes. It is aimed at Greater Manchester SMEs in low-carbon, clean-tech or environmental services. Eligibility typically requires SMEs based in Greater Manchester operating in or moving into the low-carbon and environmental goods and services sector. Check current eligibility on the programme page. Application: Initial diagnostic typically within a

  • North West England
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• Grant

  Horizon Europe (UK participation)

  Innovate UK

  Horizon Europe is the EU's flagship research and innovation programme; UK organisations are now associated and can lead or join projects, with UKRI guarantee funding in place where applicable. Best suited to organisations that can build or join international research consortia — typically universities, research-intensive SMEs and large industrials. Successful applicants almost always have prior Innovate UK or KTP delivery track record and existing European partners before bidding into a Horizon call.

  • UK-wide
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  ICURe Innovate Programme

  Innovate UK

  Market validation programme for university spinout teams. Market discovery programme funding university researchers to test commercial potential of their research and form spinouts. It is aimed at University researchers exploring spinouts. Eligibility typically requires Eligible researchers from UK universities/research organisations. Application: Cohort rounds.

  • UK-wide
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• Grant

  Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Calls (Open)

  Innovate UK

  Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Calls (Open) is a UK funding programme. UK industrial R&D consortia responding to open Challenge Fund competitions. Funding: £500k–£25m. UK industrial R&D consortia in active challenges. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.

  • UK-wide
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• Grant

  Innovate UK Analysis for Innovators (A4I)

  Innovate UK

  Innovate UK Analysis for Innovators (A4I) is a UK funding programme. UK businesses with measurement/analysis problems matched with national laboratory expertise. Funding: Up to £100k. UK SMEs needing analytical or measurement R&D. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.

  • UK-wide
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• Grant

  Innovate UK Collaborative R&D

  Innovate UK

  Innovate UK Collaborative R&D is a UK funding programme. UK consortia (at least two organisations including an SME) delivering industrial R&D projects. Funding: £500k–£10m+. UK industrial R&D consortia. It is published as a standard listing — verify current rounds and full criteria on the official source before applying.

  • UK-wide
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