Innovate UK has announced a diverse set of funding opportunities aimed at accelerating innovation across strategically important industries. These competitions are designed to help UK-registered organisations advance research, development, and commercialisation activities in areas ranging from advanced materials and aviation technologies to clean heat solutions, cyber security, and freight innovation.
The National Materials Innovation Programme is offering up to £2 million for feasibility studies to speed the translation of advanced materials innovations into industrial adoption. Priority themes include future healthcare solutions, sustainable structural systems, power electronics and connectivity, and metamaterials.
In aviation, up to £10 million is available to support dual-use technologies such as uncrewed aircraft systems, hybrid electric eVTOLs and eCTOLs, and autonomous aviation systems. Applications are encouraged in areas like search and rescue, aerial delivery, disaster support, and medical evacuation.
The Heat Pump Ready Programme is providing up to £2 million per project to overcome barriers to heat pump adoption, including high capital costs, property modifications, space requirements, and installation times. Similarly, £5 million is available for developing technologies to counter illegal use of uncrewed aerial systems around sensitive sites such as airports, prisons, and public events.
Defence innovation is also a focus, with £2 million allocated to proposals that can remotely assess terrain stability and measure rivers to support safe land force operations. In freight, the Department for Transport’s Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator 2026 is fast-tracking solutions to challenges such as renewable energy supply, autonomy in logistics, supply chain resilience, and environmental impact.
Finally, Innovate UK is offering contracts of up to £300,000 each for organisations to develop and commercialise cyber security solutions in critical sectors including energy, health, transport, and communications.
