Connect with Experts, Specialist Support and Facilities

This UKRI page explains how businesses with an idea for an innovative product or service can get help from Innovate UK to develop it, via access to expertise, specialist support and facilities. Support can include finding partners locally, nationally and internationally, attending networking and collaboration events, getting advice on funding opportunities and applications, help attracting investors, understanding the future market for an innovation, understanding how to innovate successfully as a business, and gaining expert knowledge from universities and research organisations. This support is delivered through two innovation networks: Innovate UK Business Connect (previously Innovate UK KTN), which helps businesses connect with experts, academics, funding opportunities and innovation strategy support; and Innovate UK Business Growth (previously Innovate UK EDGE), which helps ambitious SMEs with funding and finance strategy, innovation and commercial strategy, and international markets and collaboration strategy. The page also describes Catapult centres as not-for-profit, independent technology and innovation centres connecting businesses with the UK's research and academic communities, each specialising in a different technology area, open to businesses of any size.

Available to all UK-based companies, from pre-startup to large multi-nationals, and also to individuals or organisations in some cases; specific networks (e.g. Innovate UK Business Growth) target ambitious small to medium sized innovation-focused businesses.