Investor Partnerships – ACT and Semiconductors

Your project

The eligibility criteria will depend on your research category.

For industrial research projects:

• your total project costs must be between £250,000 and £1 million

• the project duration must be between 6 and 18 months

For experimental development projects:

• your total project costs must be between £500,000 and £2 million

• the project duration must be between 6 and 18 months

Projects must always start on the first of the month, even if this is a non-working day. You must not start your project until your Grant Offer Letter has been approved by Innovate UK. Any delays within Project Setup may mean we need to delay your project start date.

You must only include eligible project costs in your application. See our overview of eligible project costs.

If your project does not meet our criteria your application will be made ineligible and it will not be sent for assessment.

Your organisation

This competition is open to single applicants only. To apply your organisation must:

• be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized business (SME)

• carry out its project work in the UK

• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

• be invited to apply by your investor partner

• have discussed and agreed your proposal with your investor partner before submitting your application

More information on the different types of organisation can be found in our Funding rules.

Subcontractors

Subcontractors are allowed in this competition.

Subcontractors can be from anywhere in the UK and you must select them through your usual procurement process.

You can use subcontractors from overseas but must make the case in your application as to why you cannot use subcontractors from the UK.

You must provide a detailed rationale, evidence of the potential UK contractors you approached and the reasons why they were unable to work with you. We will not accept a cheaper cost as a sufficient reason to use an overseas subcontractor.

All subcontractor costs must be justified and appropriate to the total eligible project costs

Number of applications

An SME can only submit one application into this round of the competition.

Sanctions

This competition will not fund you, or provide any financial benefit to any individual or entities directly or indirectly involved with you, which would expose Innovate UK or any direct or indirect beneficiary of funding from Innovate UK to UK Sanctions. For example, through any procurement, commercial, business development or supply chain activity with any entity as lead, partner or subcontractor related to these countries, administrations and terrorist groups.

Use of animals in research and innovation

Innovate UK expects and supports the provision and safeguarding of welfare standards for animals used in research and innovation, according to best practice and up to date guidance.

Applicants must ensure that all of the proposed work within projects, both in the UK and internationally, will comply with the UKRI guidance on the use of animals in research and innovation.

Any projects selected for funding which involve animals will be asked to provide additional information on welfare and ethical considerations, as well as compliance with any relevant legislation as part of the project start-up process. This information will be reviewed before an award is made.

Previous applications

You can use a previously submitted application to apply for this competition.

If you have previously submitted an application that reached our assessment stage, you can re-apply once more with the same proposal.

If there are minor differences to the proposal, but it is judged by us to be ‘not materially different’, the same rule applies.

We will not award you funding if you have:

• failed to exploit a previously funded project

• an overdue independent accountant’s report

• failed to comply with grant terms and conditions

Innovate UK may withhold a grant payment at any time if you have any outstanding sums due to us in relation to other projects.

Subsidy control (and State aid where applicable)

This competition provides funding in line with the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Further information about the Subsidy requirements can be found within the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

Innovate UK is unable to award organisations that are considered to be in financial difficulty. We will conduct financial viability and eligibility tests to confirm this is not the case following the application stage.

EU State aid rules now only apply in limited circumstances. See the Windsor Framework to check if these rules apply to your organisation.

In the ‘Project details’ section of your application you will be asked questions to indicate if State Aid or Subsidy applies to your organisation.

Further Information

If you are unsure about your obligations under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 or the State aid rules, you should take independent legal advice. We are unable to advise on individual eligibility or legal obligations.

You must not do anything which could cause a breach of Subsidy Control legislation applicable in the United Kingdom.

This aims to regulate any advantage granted by a public sector body which threatens to, or distorts competition in the United Kingdom or any other country or countries.

Funding

You will only receive Innovate UK grant funding if you also secure aligned investment at or above the minimum required for the relevant research level.

Your investor partner must also submit a “Declared Minimum Aligned Investment”, which you must confirm with your investor partner.

Before any funding decision, we will ask the investor partner to confirm the “Declared Minimum Aligned Investment”. If the “Declared Minimum Aligned Investment” is higher than the minimum required for the relevant research level, it will be treated as greater leverage and will strengthen our assessment of additionality unless there is a strong justification not to.

However, at the same time, the confirmed "Declared Minimum Aligned Investment" becomes the new "Minimum Aligned Investment". Your project cannot start until this amount has been secured.

Innovate UK will decide which projects are eligible and in scope to receive grant funding.

The decision will be based on three factors:

1. Innovation: Assessed by independent assessors based on your application.

2. Additionality: Based on the impact of the grant in accelerating your innovation and leveraging the aligned investment. Assessed by the Investor Partnerships Team based on information provided by your named Investor Partner.

3. Traction: Based on the likelihood of the investment completing within a reasonable timeframe. Assessed by the Investor Partnerships Team based on information provided by your named Investor Partner.

To be successful in this competition, you must score strong across all three factors.

We will ask your confirmed Investor Partner to provide an update on the progress of your investment prior to making our funding decision. Our assessment of the additionality and traction will be based on this update. It is therefore important that you liaise with your Investor Partner and that their response represents your understanding of the investment position at that time.

If you are successful, you will receive grant funding to cover a proportion of the costs of your project. The project will only be allowed to commence once the agreed aligned investment has been confirmed.

Your business must have sufficient capital resources, including through investment from the investor partner and the grant funding, to enable you to meet all your project’s eligible costs.

All recipients must act commercially, and your funding request must not exceed the limits specified.

Industrial research projects

For industrial research projects, Innovate UK will fund:

• up to 70% of eligible project costs for micro or small organisations

• up to 60% for medium sized organisations

The absolute minimum aligned investment led by the Investor Partner must always be at least equal to the grant funding.

Experimental development projects

For experimental development projects Innovate UK will fund:

• up to 45% of eligible project costs for micro or small organisations

• up to 35% for medium sized organisations

The absolute minimum aligned investment led by the Investor Partner must be at least twice as much as the grant funding.

Innovate UK may revoke our decision to provide funding without notice if government commitment for this initiative is withdrawn.

The aim of this competition is to provide you with support for research and development and access to the capital investment you need to develop and commercialise your innovations.

Your proposal must have a clear route to market, a clear link to innovation and evidence that you can create a team to deliver your proposal.

You must be:

• registered in the UK as an SME by the time the award is contracted

• able to complete the aligned investment led by the investor partner needed to qualify for the award, through the issue of new shares or convertible debt

You must also demonstrate that if your project is funded, it will:

• have significant market impact

• be scalable

• be attractive to equity investors

Sectors and Technologies

The scope for this competition reflects two of the frontier technologies in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, Digital & Technologies Sector Plan - Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT) and Semiconductors. For Semiconductor solutions, this competition also contributes to the new UK AI Hardware Plan, supporting the development of Semiconductor technologies that underpin AI.

Proposals must support the research and development of ACT, Semiconductor technologies or proposals that must combine both.

Advanced Connectivity Technologies

ACT includes the systems, components and innovations that underpin next-generation digital infrastructure. These technologies enable high-performance, secure, resilient and energy-efficient communications across networks, devices, software and services.

Semiconductors and AI Hardware

Semiconductors are highly specialised components that provide the essential functionality for electronic devices to process, store and transmit data, while photonic technologies use light to enable high speed, energy efficient data movement and sensing. Together, they are typically realised as integrated circuits, photonic integrated circuits and related technologies, forming the foundation of modern digital systems. AI Hardware are the semiconductor technologies that underpin AI, required to enable capability across data centre, edge and embodied AI systems.

Integration of ACT and Semis

Convergent solutions that integrate connectivity systems with specialised hardware. This category reflects the increasing interdependence of these technology domains.

Projects must demonstrate strong innovation, a clear route to market, and the potential to attract private investment. Through this competition, Innovate UK aims to support a balanced portfolio of projects across ACT, Semiconductors, and their convergence, reflecting their combined importance to the UK’s future digital economy.

Innovation and ideas can come from anyone and anywhere. We want to see investments unlocked for the diverse and extraordinary talent in the UK.

We encourage innovation involving communities that are typically under-represented, including:

• from regions that have historically accessed lower levels of investment (outside London, Oxford and Cambridge)

• ethnic minority groups

• women and other marginalised genders

• disabled people

• people with non-traditional education backgrounds

Portfolio approach

We want to fund a variety of projects across the three themes. Within these themes, we want to fund a variety of projects across different technologies, markets, technological maturities, themes, locations, investment readiness, traction, and research categories. In developing a balanced portfolio, where funding is limited, we may take into account the extent to which projects contribute to the strategic priorities set out under each theme, alongside other portfolio considerations. We call this a portfolio approach.

Specific themes

Your project must focus on one of the following themes:

1. Theme 1 – Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT)

2. Theme 2 – Semiconductors (including AI Hardware)

3. Theme 3 – Convergence of ACT and Semiconductor technologies for use in connectivity networks

Details of Themes

Theme 1 – Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT)

This theme supports the development and commercialisation of secure, resilient and sustainable ACT solutions.

DCMS have developed two Grand Challenges for ACT, solutions that reflect these grand challenges will be prioritised for funding. The Grand Challenges are:

1. Secure and resilient networks – developing trustworthy connectivity technologies that protect networks from cyber threats and disruption, while improving reliability, coverage and continuity of service.

2. Sustainable networks – developing technologies that reduce networks energy use and environmental impact, improve spectrum efficiency and enable smarter use of network resources.

Projects in this theme can include, but are not limited, to technology development in the following areas:

• integration of Terrestrial and Non‑Terrestrial Networks (NTN)

• components or architectures that reduce energy use in connectivity systems

• improved use of spectrum

• assured Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) systems and integration

• advanced Radio Frequency (RF) architectures and components

• network enabled sensing, positioning, and timing (PNT)

• RF interference, spoofing, and jamming resilience

• metamaterials and adaptive antenna systems

• advanced Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) and physical layer innovation

• AI‑native and autonomous network architectures

• AI‑enabled RF design automation

If projects that address this theme primarily includes semiconductor innovations, applicants should apply under theme 3 below.

Theme 2 – Semiconductors (including AI Hardware)

This theme supports the development and commercialisation of semiconductor technologies, materials, equipment, components and processes. Projects in this theme can include, but are not limited to:

• novel compute hardware and AI accelerators

• advanced semiconductor materials and device innovation

• integrated circuit (IC) design and architecture

• fabrication processes, equipment and manufacturing technologies

• power electronics and energy efficient devices

• sensors, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and embedded systems

• photonics and optoelectronics

His Majesty’s Government (HMG) have developed the UK’s AI Hardware Plan which seeks to secure Britian’s future capability and strategic advantage in the chips and semiconductor technologies that underpin AI. Projects that align with the goals and scope of the UK’s AI Hardware Plan will be prioritised for funding.

AI hardware should be understood as the chips and semiconductor technologies that underpin AI, required to enable capability across data centre, edge and embodied AI systems. This includes all the electronic and photonic components of AI systems and the related capability across chip design, manufacturing and system integration, spanning:

• compute - AI chips and accelerators for training, inference and edge use, including architectures and chip design for example, spanning CPUs, GPUs,TPUs, AI ASICs. Key technology trends in this area include chiplets,heterogeneous integration,3D packaging, novel computer architectures such as quantum computing and neuromorphic computing, and photonic approaches to improve bandwidth, latency and energy efficiency

• photonic interconnects and data movement – chip to chip, board and system level connectivity, including integrated photonics and co‑packaged optics, as well as memory and data storage technologies which are increasingly critical to scaling AI systems

• sensing - sensors and front end devices that generate and pre-process data for AI systems, including vision, radar, lidar, RF based sensing and photonic sensing where they deliver advantages in speed, precision or energy efficiency, and which are particularly important for edge and embodied AI applications such as robotics and autonomous systems

• power and energy systems - power electronics that make use of advanced materials such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride for efficiency and thermal management, and which are fundamental to scalable, cost effective and sustainable AI compute

For projects where the primary application of the semiconductor innovation is for use in connectivity networks, then applicants should apply under theme 3 below.

Theme 3 – Convergence of ACT and Semiconductor technologies for use in communication networks.

This theme supports the development and commercialisation of innovations that integrate semiconductors, specialist hardware and software into advanced connectivity solutions, including for AI applications and systems.

Projects within this theme must include technology, solution development that represents substantial convergence of themes 1 and 2 above, such as:

• specialised semiconductors and hardware for communications and network infrastructure

• photonic and optoelectronic systems for high speed data transmission

• hardware and software co-design for connectivity applications

• system level optimisation across semiconductor and network layers

• integrated platforms combining sensing, compute and connectivity

Research categories

We will fund industrial research projects and experimental development projects, as defined in the guidance on categories of research.

Projects we will not fund

We are not funding projects that are:

• not carried out by SMEs

• collaborative R&D projects

• not part of a company’s growth plan

• unable to prove there is potential for return on investment and growth

• large capital infrastructure

• not invited by a specified investor partner

We cannot fund projects that are:

• dependent on export performance, for example, giving a subsidy to a baker on the condition that it exports a certain quantity of bread to another country

• dependent on domestic inputs usage, for example, giving a subsidy to a baker on the condition that it uses 50% UK flour in their product

7 September 2026

Online briefing event at 11.30am: register to attend

Briefing slides will be available to download from Supporting Information after the event

16 November 2026

Applicants notified

1 February 2027

Project start by

Before you start

You must read the guidance on applying for a competition on the Innovation Funding Service before you start.

Before submitting, it is the lead applicant’s responsibility to make sure:

• that all the information provided in the application is correct

• your proposal meets the eligibility and scope criteria

• all sections of the application are marked as complete

You can reopen your application once submitted, up until the competition deadline. You must resubmit the application before the competition deadline.

What we ask you

The application is split into 4 sections:

1. Project details.

2. Application questions.

3. Finances.

4. Project Impact.

Accessibility and Inclusion

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.

You can contact us at any time to ask for guidance.

We recommend you contact us at least 15 working days before this competition’s closing date to allow us to put the most suitable support in place. The support we can provide may be limited if you contact us close to the competition deadline.

You can contact Innovate UK by email or call 0300 321 4357. Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

1. Project details

This section provides background for your application and is not scored.

Do not include any website addresses (URLs) in your answers.

Application team

Decide which people from your organisation will work with you on the project and invite those people to help complete the application.

Application details

Give your project’s title, start date and duration.

Research category

Select the type of research you will undertake.

Project summary

Describe your project briefly and be clear about what makes it innovative. We use this section to assign the right experts to assess your application.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Public description

Describe your project in detail and in a way that you are happy to see published. Do not include any commercially sensitive information. If we award your project funding, we will publish this description. This could happen before you start your project.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Scope

Describe how your project fits the scope of the competition. If your project is not in scope, it will not be sent for assessment. We will tell you the reason why.

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

2. Application questions

The assessors will score all your answers apart from question 1 to 8. You will receive feedback for each scored question. Find out more about how our assessors assess and how we select applications for funding.

You must answer all questions. Your answer to each question can be up to 400 words long.

You must not include any website addresses or links (URLs) in your answers. Any website addresses or URLs included, will not be viewed or opened.

Question 1. Themes (not scored)

Select one main theme from the specific themes list in the Specific themes section of this competition.

• Theme 1 – Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT)

• Theme 2 – Semiconductors (including AI Hardware)

• Theme 3 – Convergence of ACT and Semiconductors technologies for use in connectivity networks

Question 2. Applicant location (not scored)

You must state the name and full registered address of your organisation, any partners and subcontractors working on your project. We are collecting this information to understand more about the geographical location of all applicants.

Question 3. Animal testing (not scored)

Will your project involve any trials with animals or animal testing?

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

We will only support innovation projects conducted to the highest standards of animal welfare.

Further information for proposals involving animal testing is available at the UKRI Good Research Hub and NC3R’s animal welfare guidance.

Question 4. Permits and licences (not scored)

Will you have the correct permits and licences in place to carry out your project?

We are unable to fund projects which do not have the correct permits or licences in place by your project start date.

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

• In the process of being applied for

• Not applicable

Question 5. International collaboration (not scored)

Does your proposed work involve any international collaboration or engagement?

You must provide details of any expected international collaboration or engagement. You must include a list of the names and the countries, any international project co-leads, project partners, visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in. You must also include details of any subcontractors or service providers.

If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration or engagement, your answer must confirm this.

Question 6. Export licence (not scored)

You must indicate whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance.

You must select one option:

• Yes

• No

Question 7. Trusted Research and Innovation (not scored)

You must explain if your proposed project work relates to UKRI’s Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) Principles, including:

• a list of any dual use (both military and non-military) applications to your research

• a list of the areas where your project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act

• whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance and the status of any applications

• a list of any items or substances on the UK Strategic Export Control List

If your proposed work does not relate to UKRI’s TR&I Principles, your answer must confirm this.

We may ask you to provide additional TR&I information at a later date, in line with UKRI TR&I Principles and funding terms and conditions.

Question 8. Investor partner (not scored)

Provide the name of the investor partner who you are working with.

We will contact the investor partner to confirm how the grant funding will impact the proposed investment, and the current stage of completion. This forms part of the decision of whether your application is successful.

Question 9. Need or challenge

What is the business need, technological challenge or market opportunity behind your innovation?

Explain:

• the main motivation for the project

• the business need, technological challenge or market opportunity

• whether you have identified any similar innovation and its current limitations, including those close to market or in development

• any work you have already done to respond to this need, for example if the project focuses on developing an existing capability or building a new one

• the wider economic, social, environmental, cultural or political challenges which are influential in creating the opportunity, such as incoming regulations

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 10. Approach and innovation

What approach will you take and where will the focus of the innovation be?

Explain:

• how you will respond to the need, challenge or opportunity identified

• how will you improve on the similar innovation that you have identified

• whether the innovation will focus on existing technologies in new areas, the development of new technologies for existing areas or a totally disruptive approach

• the freedom you have to operate

• how this project fits with your current product, service lines or offerings

• how it will make you more competitive

• the nature of the outputs you expect from the project (for example report, demonstrator, know how, new process, product or service design) and how these will help you to target the need, challenge or opportunity identified

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You can submit one appendix to support your answer. It can include diagrams and charts. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 11. Team and resources

Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Explain:

• the roles, skills and experience of all members of the project team that are relevant to the approach you will be taking

• the resources, equipment and facilities needed for the project and how you will access them

• the details of any subcontractors, who you will need to work with to successfully carry out the project

• any roles you will need to recruit for

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You can submit one appendix. This can include a short summary of the main people working on the project to support your answer. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 12. Market awareness

What does the market you are targeting look like?

Explain:

• the target markets for the project outcomes, any other potential markets (domestic, international or both)

• the size of the target markets for the project outcomes, backed up by references where available

• the structure and dynamics of the target markets, including customer segmentation, together with predicted growth rates within clear timeframes

• the target markets’ main supply or value chains and business models, and any barriers to entry that exist

• the current UK position in targeting these markets

• the size and main features of any other markets not already listed

If your project is highly innovative, where the market may be unexplored, describe or explain:

• what the market’s size might be

• how your project will try to explore the market’s potential

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 13. Outcomes and route to market

How are you going to grow your business and increase your productivity into the long term as a result of the project?

Explain:

• your current position in the markets and supply or value chains outlined, and whether you will be extending or establishing your market position

• your target customers or end users, and the value to them, for example why they would use or buy your product

• your route to market

• how you are going to profit from the innovation, including increased revenues or cost reduction

• how the innovation will affect your productivity and growth, in both the short and the long term

• how you will protect and exploit the outputs of the project, for example through know how, patenting, designs or changes to your business model

• your strategy for targeting the other markets you have identified during or after the project

If there is any research organisation activity in the project, describe:

• your plans to spread the project’s research outputs over a reasonable timescale

• how you expect to use the results generated from the project in further research activities

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 14. Wider impacts

What impact might this project have outside your organisation?

Describe and, where possible, measure the economic benefits from the project such as productivity increases and import substitution, to:

• external parties

• customers

• others in the supply chain

• broader industry

• the UK economy

Describe and, where possible, measure:

• any expected impact on government priorities

• any expected environmental impacts, either positive or negative

• any expected regional impacts of the project

Describe any expected social impacts, either positive or negative on, for example:

• quality of life

• social inclusion or exclusion

• jobs, such as safeguarding, creating, changing or displacing them

• education

• public empowerment

• health and safety

• regulations

• diversity

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 15. Project management

How will you manage your project effectively?

Explain:

• the main work packages of your project, indicating the lead partner assigned to each and the total cost of each one

• your approach to project management, identifying any major tools and mechanisms you will use to get a successful and innovative project outcome

• the management reporting lines

• your project plan in enough detail to identify any links or dependencies between work packages or milestones

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You must submit a project plan or Gantt chart as an appendix to support your answer. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 16. Risks

What are the main risks for this project?

Explain:

• the main risks and uncertainties of the project, including the technical, commercial, managerial and environmental risks, providing a risk register if appropriate

• how you will mitigate these risks

• any project inputs that are critical to completion, such as resources, expertise and data sets

• any output likely to be subject to regulatory requirements, certification, ethical issues and so on, and how you will manage this

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

You must submit a risk register as an appendix to support your answer. It must be a PDF no larger than 10MB. It can be up to two A4 pages and must be legible at 100% zoom.

Question 17. Added value

How will this public funding help you to accelerate or enhance your approach to developing your project towards commercialisation? What impact would this award have on the organisations involved?

Explain:

• what advantages would public funding offer your project, for example, appeal to investors, more partners, reduced risk or a faster route to market, (this list is not exhaustive)

• the likely impact of the project outcomes on the organisations involved

• what other routes of investment have you already approached

• what your project would look like without public funding

• how this project would change the R&D activities of all the organisations involved

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

Question 18. Costs and value for money

How much will the project cost and how does it represent value for money for the team and the taxpayer?

In terms of your project goals, explain:

• your total eligible project costs

• the grant you are requesting

• how this project represents value for money for you and the taxpayer

• how it compares to what you would spend your money on otherwise

• any subcontractor costs and why they are critical to your project

Your answer can be up to 400 words long.

3. Finances

Your organisation in your project must complete their own project costs, organisation details and funding details in the application.

For an overview on what costs you can claim, see our project costs guidance. Note this is general guidance, for specific guidance see the eligibility section in this competition. You can also view our application finances video.

4. Project Impact

This section is not scored but will provide background to your project.

Each partner must complete the Project Impact questions before being able to submit the application.

More information can be found in our Project Impact guidance and by viewing our Impact Management Framework video.

Innovate UK complies with the requirements of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and is committed to upholding data protection legislation, and protecting your information in accordance with data protection principles.

Assessment

Your application will be reviewed by three independent assessors based on the content of your application and their skills or expertise relevant to your project. All of the scores awarded will count towards the total score used to make the funding decision unless you are notified otherwise.

You can find out more about our assessment process in the General Guidance.

Your submitted application will be assessed against these criteria:

Investor Partnerships ACT and Semiconductors Assessors Guidance.pdf (opens in a new window)

Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, has selected a pool of investor partners. These investor partners have demonstrated that they have the credibility, capability, capacity and appetite to invest in innovative, technology-led businesses that align with the programmes.

The Investor Partnerships programme brings together:

• Innovate UK’s expertise in identifying innovation and using grant funding to change the risk profile of businesses

• investor partners’ aligned funding and expertise in identifying opportunities and teams that can best use extra investment finance

This approach aims to provide you with support for research and development and access to the capital investment you need to develop and commercialise your innovations.

This programme is using Innovate UK Business Connect’s B2Match platform to support innovators and investors by facilitating introductions and enabling the matchmaking required for this call.

For further information on B2Match, please watch the Applicant Briefing or get in touch with Innovate UK Business Connect. When registering for the Applicant Briefing, you will be given the option to join the B2Match platform, where you can set up a profile to showcase your organisation to interested investors.

In the first instance, please contact Richard.Foggie@iukbc.org.uk for ACT-related enquiries and Jessica.Dobson@iukbc.org.uk for Semiconductors-related enquiries.

Support and connections to sector specific investors may also be provided by the relevant catapult centre.

You will need to establish a relationship and a level of investment traction with one of our approved investor partners before you apply for funding. A full list of selected investor partners is provided at Innovate UK Investor Partners – UKRI and Innovate UK Business Connect investor partnerships websites.

The investor partner must have confirmed with you that you are in a position to apply for grant funding as you will be asked to identify them in the application.

To be successful, your project must be independently assessed by Innovate UK as fundable and receive investment directly, led or catalysed by the investor partner.

Briefing recording and slides

Briefing recording and slides will be available to download here after the briefing event.

What happens if you receive a grant offer

If you have passed your initial assessment and have received an email with a grant offer, you will be asked to complete the project setup process on the Innovation Funding Service (IFS). Watch our video on what steps are there before a project starts.

We will ask for information that will allow us to undertake mandatory checks on your organisation and the eligibility of your costs, as well as review the documentation for your project.

You must follow the unique link embedded in your email notification. This takes you to your project's dedicated IFS Set Up portal, where we gather the information required to set up your project, for example, your bank details. Watch our video on how successful applicants receive their funding.

Your Grant offer letter (GOL)

Once you have successfully completed project setup, we will issue your GOL.

The GOL will be made available on your IFS portal.

You will not be able to start your project until:

• you have signed the GOL

• your investor partner has confirmed the investment by completing and signing an additional annex to the GOL

• any other investors involved in your investment have completed any required additional annexes

• the GOL and additional signed annexes have been uploaded to IFS

• we have confirmed that the investment meets the requirements of the aligned investment

Once approved we will send you an email with permission to start your project on your confirmed start date.

You must not start your project before the date stated on your email and GOL. Any costs incurred before your agreed start date cannot be claimed as part of your grant.

If your application is unsuccessful

If you are unsuccessful with your application this time, you can view feedback from the assessors. This will be available to you on your IFS portal following notification.

Sometimes your application will have scored well, and you will receive positive comments from the assessors. You may be unsuccessful for any of the following reasons:

• your average score was not above the funding threshold

• your project has not been selected under the portfolio approach

• we were not convinced that the grant was making a significant difference in the investment and in all likelihood the investment would have happened anyway

• you do not have sufficient traction with the investor and we doubt that the investment will complete in a reasonable period of time

• the investment has already been secured

• the selected investor partner is not taking a significant role in leading or facilitating the investment

We would like to remind you that eligible non-funded business can still benefit from fully funded and bespoke support from the Innovate UK Business Growth service.

Find an investor partner

You will need to establish a relationship and a level of investment traction with one of our approved investor partners before you apply for funding. A full list of selected investor partners is provided at Innovate UK Investor Partners – UKRI and Innovate UK Business Connect investor partnerships websites.

Protecting your innovation

A Secure Innovation campaign has been developed to help founders and leaders of innovative startups protect their technology, competitive advantage, and reputation.

This was developed by UK’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

Data sharing

This competition is operated by Innovate UK.

Innovate UK is directly accountable to you for its holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. Data is held in accordance with our own policies.

Innovate UK may also share any relevant information submitted and produced during the application process concerning your application with Innovate UK’s relevant parties including funders. For more information see how we handle grant applicant and grant holder data.

Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect will be data controllers for personal data submitted during the application.

Innovate UK’s Privacy Policy

Innovate UK Business Connect Privacy Policy

Innovate UK complies with the requirements of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and is committed to upholding data protection legislation, and protecting your information in accordance with data protection principles.

The Information Commissioner’s Office also has a useful guide for organisations, which outlines the data protection principles

Contact us

If you need more information about how to apply or you want to submit your application in Welsh, email support@iuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357.

Our phone lines are open from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm UK time, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Innovate UK or any of our partners will not tolerate abusive language in any written or verbal correspondence, applications, social media or any other form that might affect staff.