ESA Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) gives zero-equity funding, technical and business support to businesses developing services that use satellite communications, earth observation, satellite navigation or other space technologies. Its open calls take ideas at any time, and themed calls with closing dates open through the year.
Amount
Zero-equity funding from €60,000 to over €3 million per activity, depending on the type of call.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
United KingdomRating 9/10Local Landscape rating 9 out of 10
A 12-week leadership development programme for senior leaders, business owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses, covering leadership, innovation, digital adoption, marketing, employee engagement, operations and financial management.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Horizon Europe is the EU's key funding programme for research and innovation, with an indicative amount of EUR 93.5 billion for 2021-2027. Legal entities from the EU and associated countries can participate.
Amount
Indicative funding amount for 2021-2027 is EUR 93.5 billion (programme total, not per applicant)
Deadline
Open all year
Area
United KingdomRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
A national seed investment fund that invests in, funds and supports early-stage businesses and spinouts in defence and security, engineering biology, fusion, knowledge assets, partner innovation and space. It also offers ongoing support such as leadership coaching, further funding strategy and executive recruitment.
Amount
From £100,000
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
ORE Catapult offers research, engineering, testing and validation, and supply chain growth services for offshore renewable energy technologies, working with UK companies. It is run by ORE Catapult for businesses in the offshore wind, wave and tidal sector.
Area
United KingdomRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
Subsidised access to the Royce portfolio of materials science and engineering equipment for UK-based SMEs, spin-outs and start-ups, to overcome cost barriers and complete proof of concept studies.
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Defra grant scheme for projects in England that support the seafood sector, such as fishing vessels, shore-based facilities, aquaculture, processing, marketing and environmental work. Open to businesses and other eligible bodies directly engaged in the sector.
Amount
Up to £750,000
Area
EnglandRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Links businesses with universities and research organisations to deliver innovation projects led by graduates. A Management KTP works in the same way but focuses on human-centred and/or technology-enabled strategic change.
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Business support from the Satellite Applications Catapult to help scalable businesses grow in the UK space industry, including expert advice, innovation services and growth opportunities.
Area
United KingdomRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
A one-to-two year incubation programme for startups using space technology in any way, across sectors including agriculture, digital technology, energy and healthcare. The Incubation Centre accepts startups each year; the nearest location is Daresbury.
Area
Nearest location is Daresbury; the page does not say where applicants must be based.Rating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
The EU's flagship research and innovation programme, with an extra €500 million allocated for 2026 and 2027, bringing the total budget to around €14.8 billion for the two years. Open to prospective applicants in EU research and innovation.
Amount
Additional €500 million for 2026 and 2027; total budget around €14.8 billion for the two years (euro amounts, not converted)
Deadline
No single programme deadline: Horizon Europe funds through individual calls set out in work programmes, each with its own deadline, listed on the EU Funding & Tenders portal. The programme runs until 2027.
Area
United KingdomRating 6/10Local Landscape rating 6 out of 10
Britain's £500 million Sovereign AI Fund makes direct equity investments, typically between £1 million and £10 million, in UK AI start-ups from pre-seed to growth stage, and helps them reach public compute, R&D funding, talent and procurement.
Amount
£1,000,000 to £10,000,000
Area
United KingdomRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
An accelerator programme supporting innovative businesses in maritime, logistics, clean energy and related sectors with mentoring, investor access and business development support.
Deadline
Dates for future cohorts will be announced in due course
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
ARIA is inviting proposals for ocean observing, forecasting, and climate-evidence translation to build an early warning system for North Atlantic changes. Teams can include businesses, universities, research institutions, charities and public sector organisations.
Amount
Indicative budgets: ocean observing network £18.5m; interannual to decadal forecasting £5-7m; impacts and response £3-5m; independent systems integration and assurance £5.8m
Deadline
Concept paper window opening: 18 September 2026 (Open) ... Concept paper submission deadline: 09 October 2026 (14:00 BST)
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
DDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot offers capital grants to support large-scale R&D projects in the UK life sciences sector (eligible projects must exceed £100 million in total costs).
Amount
Up to £25,000,000
Deadline
Listed on Find a grant until 2028-03-31
Area
United KingdomRating 9/10Local Landscape rating 9 out of 10
Supports innovative UK businesses to realise the potential of new technologies, develop ideas and make them a commercial success.
Amount
£25,000 to £10,000,000
Deadline
No single deadline. Innovate UK runs separate funding competitions through the Innovation Funding Service, each with its own opening and closing dates (e.g. Frontier AI: SME Champions, Phase 1 opened 1 October 2026 and closes 11 November 2026; Efficient, Structured and Controllable AI Systems opens 12 October 2026 and closes 18 November 2026).
Area
United KingdomRating 9/10Local Landscape rating 9 out of 10
DDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
An award recognising outstanding achievement by UK businesses in young founder, innovation, international trade, sustainability and promoting opportunity through social mobility. Award-winners are valid for 5 years.
Area
United KingdomRating 6/10Local Landscape rating 6 out of 10
A BASS open call for proof-of-concept studies that validate market opportunity and pilot projects that test services with customers in the primary target market.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
Europe, per the BASS Funding description; no UK-specific area stated.Rating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
BASS Growth Projects help space-enabled solutions that have already achieved demonstrable commercial success in a primary market to unlock secondary market opportunities.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
United KingdomRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
Hire of pilot scale laboratory facilities, or installation of a business's own equipment in the flexi hall, offered by the Biorenewables Development Centre.
Deadline
Open all yearRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10