Looking for grant funding or loans to drive your innovation?

Innovate UK, the country’s innovation agency, provides funding to help stimulate innovation in the UK economy. It encourages businesses to work with other commercial and research organisations.

Innovation is never easy, especially in the early stages of developing an idea before taking it to market. Sometimes businesses might need to work together, supported by a research and technology organisation which can lead the project.

The level of funding available from Innovate UK to develop innovation will depend on the size and type of the organisations applying (either businesses, research organisations, public sector organisations or charities undertaking research) and their role in a project. Organisations fall into three categories: businesses, research organisations and public sector organisations or charities undertaking research. Businesses applying must be registered in the UK.

There are dozens of open competitions on its website, which are being added to regularly. Here are some of its latest. More details on all of them, along with all other criteria around funding applications (and there are many) can be found on www.ukri.org. A word of warning – beware of the tight opening and closing dates.