What Is Innovate UK?🔗

Innovation is the lifeblood of economic growth, helping to tackle the UK’s most pressing challenges covering all sectors from climate change to healthcare. Innovate UK plays a central role in driving this progress, supporting businesses at every stage of their innovation journey. Whether you're a start-up, spin-out, or an established company looking to scale, Innovate UK provides the resources, advice, and funding to help your ideas become real-world solutions. Through access to a broad network and funding opportunities, the UK innovation agency removes barriers and empowers businesses to take the next step in their innovation journey.

How Innovate UK Support Innovation?🔗

At the heart of Innovate UK’s mission is its ability to bring together expertise, infrastructure, and funding, enabling businesses to thrive. Through expertises such as the Innovate UK Catapult Network, Innovate UK provides access to world-class facilities and specialist knowledge, while its Investor Partnerships help businesses secure the capital needed for growth. This integrated support ensures that businesses not only survive but thrive in a competitive marketplace. To find your local Catapult, click here.

The right help at the right time can be transformative. Innovate UK’s approach is designed to ensure that businesses have the knowledge, connections, and resources they need to succeed.

Supporting the Transition from Academia to Entrepreneurship🔗

Many innovators face the challenge of transitioning from academic research to business leadership. To help with this, Innovate UK’s ICURe programme empowers individuals[AC7] [CB8] to refine and validate their ideas, turning academic research into commercially viable ventures. By supporting this crucial shift, Innovate UK ensures that ideas developed in universities can grow into businesses that make a real-world impact.

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Bridging Strategic Funding with Private Investment🔗

Innovate UK not only provides direct funding but also connects businesses with private capital to ensure they have the resources needed for growth. Through its Investor Partnerships programme, Innovate UK attracts £1.25 billion in private investment for every £100 million in public funding. This partnership expands the potential of each project, helping businesses secure the investment they need to scale.

For businesses moving from research to commercialisation, Innovate UK’s Innovation Loans offer up to £2 million in debt finance to help manage risk and accelerate growth. By combining public funding with private investment, Innovate UK increases the chances of success and ensures that innovative ideas can reach their full potential.

Supporting Innovation through Regional Clusters🔗

Innovate UK’s approach to ‘Place’ focuses on driving innovation by addressing the unique strengths and needs of specific regions. In Northern England, this means backing industries that are already thriving, such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, health and digital technologies. Innovate UK ensures that national support aligns with regional priorities, helping to boost local economies and create high-value jobs.

We have worked closely with Mayoral Strategic Authorities and innovation leaders to co-create Local Action Plans that draw on the knowledge of our partners and ensure that we are an effective part of the research and innovation system. In the North of England we have launched Local Action Plans for Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire and Tees Valley

Through programmes like the Launchpad and Innovate Local events , we connect local businesses with national resources, nurturing collaboration and turning ideas into commercial successes. By supporting innovation in the North, Innovate UK helps the region lead in the industries of tomorrow.

Innovate UK is present within all nation and regions of the UK and our Place activities are supported through Innovate UK Business Growth, Innovate UK Business Connect, and Catapult services supporting businesses to commercialise new ideas through 1-2-1 support for business growth, sector expertise, and access to innovation infrastructure.

Driving Global Ambition🔗

Innovate UK’s support extends beyond domestic borders, helping UK businesses expand into global markets. Through Horizon Europe , the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme, they provides access to valuable funding opportunities, enabling businesses to scale internationally.

Additionally, Innovate UK’s Global Expert Missions help businesses explore new markets, refine their business models, and build partnerships in strategically chosen countries. These missions ensure that UK innovators are well-equipped to succeed on the world stage, expanding their reach and growing their international presence.

Building a Skills Pipeline for the Future🔗

While investment is crucial, the UK’s future productivity also depends on a robust talent pipeline. Innovate UK addresses this need by partnering with organisations to offer resources tailored to individual career paths through the No Limits platform. This platform helps people make informed decisions about their next steps by connecting them with the right opportunities.

Equally important is preparing for future workforce needs. Innovate UK’s Workforce Foresighting Hub brings together businesses, technologists, and education leaders to anticipate innovation challenges and shape the skills systems required for future success.

What Products and Services Are Available to Specifically Support SMEs?🔗

Innovate UK offers a wide range of products and services to support SMEs, no matter their stage of development. For example, its Innovation Loans offer flexible funding for business growth and late-stage R&D, while Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) connect businesses with academic institutions, enabling graduates to work on innovation projects. Innovate UK’s Business Growth service provides one-to-one advisory support to help businesses scale, covering areas like funding, intellectual property, and international expansion.

The Catapult Network offers innovation centres that bridge the gap between research and business, helping turn ideas into commercial success. Innovate UK also offers services such as investment readiness programmes, cybersecurity accelerators, and innovation matchmaking to help SMEs identify new growth opportunities.

How can businesses get involved?🔗

For businesses looking to get involved with Innovate UK, a great starting point is Innovate UK Business Connect. This network partner helps connect innovators with new opportunities and partners, accelerating ideas into real-world solutions.

One of the key ways Innovate UK engages with businesses is through its events programme, which provides opportunities to network, make introductions, and discover new business prospects. Events are available both in-person and online, giving flexibility to participants.

The Impact of Innovate UK🔗

Since its launch in 2007, Innovate UK has invested in over 24,600 projects and supported more than 20,500 organisations. With an annual reach of around 300,000 people, businesses, and organisations, the UK innovation agency’s impact on the UK’s innovation landscape is significant. Innovate UK-backed businesses raise 30% more private investment than those without this support, highlighting its effectiveness in driving growth.

Innovate UK’s reach spans all technology sectors, offering expertise to innovators at every stage, from start-ups to established businesses scaling up. Innovate UK Business Connect helps businesses access the right support and services, driving long-term success.

Find out more today: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/how-we-help/