Up to £900,000 for UK Businesses – Innovate UK–Singapore Collaborative R&D 2026

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is offering up to £900,000 in grant funding per project to support UK businesses developing innovative technologies in collaboration with Singapore-based companies.

The UK–Singapore Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) 2026 competition has a total funding allocation of £3 million for UK participants.

The programme aims to strengthen international research partnerships, accelerate technological innovation and help businesses develop commercially viable products, processes and services.

Funding is available for projects in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, life sciences and selected frontier technologies.

Applications are OPEN and close on 16 December 2026 at 11:00am UK time.

Here's what you can expect:

• £100,000–£900,000 in grant funding per UK project

• A total UK funding budget of £3 million

• Up to 70% of eligible costs funded for micro and small businesses

• Up to 60% for medium-sized businesses

• Up to 50% for large businesses

• Support for international research and development partnerships

• Funding for industrial research projects lasting 24–36 months

• Opportunities to collaborate with Singapore-based companies

• Support for developing commercially viable technologies

• Funding for eligible research and development expenses

What projects can be funded?

Projects must focus on one of four priority sectors.

1. Advanced Manufacturing

Innovations developing new manufacturing technologies, processes or capabilities.

Examples include:

• Advanced production processes

• Manufacturing automation

• Innovative materials and production technologies

• Technologies improving industrial efficiency

2. Clean Energy

Projects developing technologies that support cleaner and more sustainable energy systems.

Examples include:

• Renewable energy technologies

• Advanced energy storage

• Energy efficiency innovations

• Technologies supporting industrial decarbonisation

3. Life Sciences

Research and development projects creating new technologies for life sciences applications.

Examples include:

• Biotechnology

• Healthcare-related technologies

• Innovative life sciences processes

• Advanced diagnostic technologies

4. Digital and Frontier Technologies

Projects developing innovative technologies in the following areas:

• Semiconductors

• Quantum technologies

• Artificial intelligence

• Cybersecurity

• Advanced connectivity technologies

• Engineering biology

Projects must demonstrate genuine industrial research and clear commercial potential.

Who can apply?

The competition welcomes UK-registered businesses of any size.

Eligible lead applicants include:

• Micro businesses

• Small businesses

• Medium-sized enterprises

• Large businesses

UK project partners may include:

• Other UK-registered businesses

• Universities

• Academic institutions

• Research and technology organisations

International partnership requirements

Every project must include at least one Singapore-registered business.

The Singapore partner must:

• Be a separate legal entity from the UK applicants.

• Be independent of the UK project partners.

• Apply through the equivalent Enterprise Singapore programme.

• Make a meaningful technological contribution to the project.

Important: Singapore partners do not receive funding from Innovate UK.

Instead, they apply separately to Enterprise Singapore for their share of project funding.

Both Innovate UK and Enterprise Singapore must independently approve the project before funding can be awarded.

Key eligibility requirements

Projects must:

• Request between £100,000 and £900,000 in UK grant funding.

• Last between 24 and 36 months.

• Start no earlier than 1 May 2027.

• Finish by 30 April 2030.

• Include at least one independent Singapore-registered business.

• Demonstrate balanced technological contributions from both countries.

• Focus on eligible industrial research.

• Show a clear intention to commercialise the results.

• Carry out most project work in the UK and Singapore.

• Ensure UK partners undertake most of their work in the UK.

• Ensure UK partners intend to exploit project results in or from the UK.

No individual partner or country may account for more than 70% of total project costs.

How much funding is available?

Total UK Competition Funding: £3 Million

Minimum UK Grant Request: £100,000

Maximum UK Grant Request: £900,000

The funding rate depends on the size and type of organisation.

Micro and Small Businesses

• Up to 70% of eligible project costs

Medium-Sized Businesses

• Up to 60% of eligible project costs

Large Businesses

• Up to 50% of eligible project costs

Research Organisations

For eligible non-economic research activity:

• Research and technology organisations may receive up to 100% of eligible costs.

• Academic institutions may receive up to 80% of full economic costs.

Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity can collectively account for up to 30% of total eligible project costs.

Can subcontractors be used?

Yes.

Subcontractors are permitted, but their costs must not exceed 20% of the total eligible costs of UK participation.

Subcontractors must be based in the UK and selected through an appropriate procurement process.

What projects cannot be funded?

The competition does not support projects that:

• Request less than £100,000 or more than £900,000 in UK grant funding.

• Do not have an eligible Singapore business partner.

• Fall outside the specified technology sectors.

• Do not meet industrial research requirements.

• Fail to submit mandatory documentation.

• Pose risks to UK national or economic security.

• Do not meet the programme's collaboration requirements.

How does the application process work?

Step 1 – Identify a Singapore Partner

UK applicants must establish a genuine research and development partnership with an independent Singapore-registered business.

Step 2 – Review the Competition Guidance

Applicants should confirm their project's eligibility, research category and funding requirements.

Step 3 – Register Online

The UK lead business must create an application through the Innovate UK Innovation Funding Service.

Step 4 – Invite UK Project Partners

Any additional UK organisations must be invited into the application to complete their assigned sections and project finances.

Step 5 – Prepare the Application

The application includes:

• Project details

• Innovation and technical approach

• Market opportunity

• Commercialisation strategy

• Project team and resources

• International collaboration

• Project management

• Risks and mitigation

• Financial information

• Expected economic and wider impacts

Step 6 – Coordinate the Singapore Application

The Singapore business partner must submit its corresponding application through Enterprise Singapore.

Step 7 – Submit Before the Deadline

All UK application sections must be completed and submitted through the Innovation Funding Service before the deadline.

How competitive is the funding?

Innovate UK estimates that applicants may have approximately a 15% chance of success, based on experience from similar competitions.

Funding decisions depend on application quality, eligibility, available funding and approval by both national funding bodies.

Key dates

Applications Opened: 24 August 2026

Application Deadline: 16 December 2026

Closing Time: 11:00am UK time