About this programme
Smart Grants is Innovate UK's (part of UKRI) flagship open-innovation grant: any sector, any technology area, no themed brief. It funds "game-changing and disruptive" R&D and innovation projects that are genuinely new, not incremental improvements on an existing product or process, and that have a clear route to commercial exploitation from the UK.
The programme is aimed at UK-registered businesses of any size, provided at least one grant-claiming micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) is part of the project, either applying alone or as the lead or partner in a collaboration. Research and technology organisations can also take part as non-lead collaborators.
From January 2025, Innovate UK paused new Smart Grants competitions to develop tailored support in its place, with a new pilot referenced as launching in spring 2025. As of this record's verification date, the official guidance page still shows the programme as paused, with no open Smart Grants competition on the Innovation Funding Service.
How it works
In past competition rounds, each round has carried a fixed total pot — both the April 2024 and September 2023 rounds were up to £25 million. The exact grant-size bands, project-length options and funding-rate percentages are set out in each round's individual competition brief on the Innovation Funding Service rather than on the general guidance page, so they vary by round and should always be checked against the live brief rather than assumed from a past one.
Applications are assessed against a scoring matrix published with each competition brief, by three independent assessors. All three scores count toward the funding decision, and Innovate UK runs an exceptions process when one assessor's score deviates significantly (by 30% or more, or 18 marks or more) from the others.
Because the programme is currently paused, there is no live competition brief to check figures against. Check the official guidance page for the terms of any future round before relying on figures from past rounds.
Who can apply
The lead organisation must be UK-registered and must carry out all project R&D activity in the UK, with results commercially exploited from the UK.
At least one grant-claiming micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) must be part of the project, either as the sole applicant or within a collaboration.
The innovation must be completely new and ahead of anything comparable already on the market, or a genuinely novel application of an existing product, service or process — not an incremental upgrade.
Applicants must show a clear, sizeable market need for the innovation and a credible plan to commercialise it quickly after the project ends.
How to apply
- Watch the Innovation Funding Service for a Smart Grants competition to open — Innovate UK publishes the opening and closing dates and the full competition brief there when a round is live.
- Register on the Innovation Funding Service and start an application against the open competition.
- Complete the application: project details, the scored application questions set out in that round's competition brief, financial information for each participating organisation, and a project-impact section covering economic benefit such as job creation and market growth.
- Submit before the published closing deadline; late applications are not accepted.
- Three independent assessors score the application against the published assessment matrix; all three scores feed into the funding decision, with an exceptions process for large deviations between assessor scores.
- Successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified after assessment, on the date given in the competition brief.
Frequently asked
Is Innovate UK Smart Grants currently open?
No. Innovate UK paused new Smart Grants competitions from January 2025 while it develops tailored support to replace the open programme, with a new pilot referenced as launching in spring 2025. Check the official guidance page before preparing an application, as the pause status can change.
What size of business can apply?
Businesses of any size can apply, but the project must include at least one grant-claiming micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), either applying alone or as part of a collaboration.
Does the innovation have to be brand new, or can it be an improvement to an existing product?
It has to be genuinely new — Innovate UK's guidance describes it as "completely new and ahead of anything similar on the market," or a novel application of an existing offering. Incremental improvements to an existing product or process do not fit the brief.
Can a single company apply, or does it need to be a collaboration?
Past rounds have allowed both single applicants and collaborations, with the exact options set out in each round's competition brief on the Innovation Funding Service rather than fixed across every round.
How much of the project costs does Smart Grants fund?
The funding rate depends on the activity type and organisation size and is set out in each round's competition brief; it is not a fixed figure across every round, so check the live brief rather than a past one.
Where must the project work take place?
All project R&D activity must be carried out in the UK, and any resulting products, services or processes must be commercially exploited from the UK.
How is an application assessed?
Three independent assessors score each application against a published assessment matrix specific to the competition brief. All three scores count toward the funding decision, and Innovate UK runs an exceptions process when assessor scores diverge significantly.
Reviewed 2026-08-16. Programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.