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Unclaimed
Discovery tool, not advice. Every figure is the published rule, not a decision on your case.
Grants

Innovate UK Smart Grants

Status

Usually opens in January and April and July and October

Projected from the months this call usually opens — not a date the funder has confirmed.

Closed

Projected from the pattern of past calls — confirm on the funder's page before planning around it.

Amount
£2,000,000

Historically GBP 25k-500k for single-company 6-18 month projects and GBP 25k-2m for collaborative 19-36 month projects; intervention rate 35-70% by company size and research category.

You must co-fund 30%. Work out the cash you need

Funder

Innovate UK (UKRI)

public · national

Deadline: Closed — Closed to new applications: funding is being aligned to Innovate UK's new strategic direction (UKRI guidance).

Your odds
Not published

This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.

Effort
major

Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.

You fund 30% yourself.

Who can apply

UK-registered business, must include at least one SME, project must be carried out in the UK.

How to apply

  1. Register on the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) portal
  2. Complete the application: business/financial details, project questions, finances and impact
  3. Three independent assessors score the application
  4. Funding decision and grant offer letter

What you will need

Related reading: How grant deadlines actually work · The Companies House number, explained

Apply on the funder's site

Source. https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/guidance-for-applicants/guidance-for-specific-funds/smart-innovation-funding-guidance/

"Smart grants are now closed for new applications as funding is being aligned to Innovate UK’s new strategic direction."

Last checked against the official page on 5 October 2026

Source: www.ukri.org

Report an error Something wrong or out of date? Tell us.

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