Looking for funding for your business innovations?
We’ve rounded up the relevant public funding and competitions that have been announced and are open for applications in May. You can also find out more about public and private funding sources in our online directory
Investor Accelerator – Stage 2
UK creative and tech businesses can benefit from a share of up to £2m to undertake R&D projects that enable immersive content to be created faster, more efficiently or in new ways. This is funded uniquely through simultaneous grant funding and venture capital investment. Opens 20 May
5G Infotainment Services for Transport Environments
The UK and Korean Governments are offering £1.2m grant funding to support organisations to develop new and novel applications and services that can be ready for 5G. Briefing event and webcast on 7 May. Closes 1 June
Future Leaders Fellowship Programme
The UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Programme aims to help the next generation of researchers, tech entrepreneurs, business leaders and innovators get the support they need to develop their careers. A webinar will also be taking place on Thursday 9 May to give further information for those interested in applying. Find out more
Epic MegaGrants
Epic Games has committed $100m to support games developers, entrepreneurs, media & entertainment creators, students, educators and tool developers doing amazing things with Unreal Engine or enhancing open-source capabilities for the 3D graphics communities. Find out more
Demonstrators addressing cyber security challenges in the Internet of Things
UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £6m for collaborative R&D projects addressing major cyber security challenges in the Internet of Things. Closes 1 May
SBRI Developing digital roads and improving air quality
Working with Innovate UK, Highways England has up to £20m, running across 2 competitions, for UK organisations with projects to change the way UK roads are designed, managed and used. This competition is for proven feasibility projects at development stage. Registration closes 1 May
UK and Canada: enhancing industrial productivity
UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £5m to develop innovative technologies targeting global markets with Canadian partners. Closes 2 May
SBRI Improving housing management to enhance health outcomes
Organisations can apply for a share of £1.25m to develop a solution to improve the management of housing stock, which leads to improved health outcomes. Registration closes 8 May
Electronics, sensors and photonics for robotics in extreme environments
UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £2m to develop extreme environment grade electronics, sensors and photonics for robotics and AI systems. Funded from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). Closes 8 May
Wessex Technology Support Programme
The Wessex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) and the NIHR Clinical Research Network, Wessex has launched a new call to identify technologies developed by industry, that met specific NHS demands in the field of cardiology. Closes 24 May
CELTIC – NEXT spring 2019: innovative 5G infrastructure
UK organisations can apply for a share of up to £1m for 5G collaborative R&D projects in the EUREKA CELTIC programme. Closes 29 May
May expression of interest: UK Aerospace Research and Technology
The UK Aerospace Research and Technology Programme provides grant funding to industrial research and capital projects to encourage innovation in UK civil aerospace. Competition opens 3 May
UK and South Korea: joint research and development
Innovate UK and the Korea Institute for the Advancement of Technology (KIAT) have announced a £2m joint funding call for R&D projects under the EUREKA programme. UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £1m. Registration closes 5 June
SME support to evaluate innovative medical technologies: round 4
SMEs can apply for a share of £1.5m to support the evaluation of innovative medical devices, diagnostics and regulated digital health products. Closes 3 July
Innovate UK Smart Grants: April 2019
apply for a share of up to £25 million to deliver ambitious or disruptive R&D innovations with significant potential for impact on the UK economy. Closes 24 July
New Ideas Fund
Through BFI Lottery funding, Creative England is wanting to find untapped talent and fund new ideas in storytelling. The New Ideas Fund offers small seed funding to sole traders, start-ups and SMEs for their creative business ideas. It is designed to help with business costs, improving your offering and diversifying revenue streams. Read more
Image courtesy of Artem Bali via Unsplash