Innovation Loans Expression of Interest
- Funding
- £100,000 – £5,000,000
- Deadline
- Check with the funder
- Location
- England
- Applications
- Rolling applications
Overview
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is offering innovation loans to UK registered micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The first step is to submit an Expression of Interest.
The loans are for close to market innovative projects with strong commercial potential. Your project must significantly improve the UK economy and drive societal benefit. If your business has an innovation that is nearly ready for market and you need finance to take it there, this opportunity could suit you.
You can ask for a loan of between £100,000 and £5,000,000. The total fund available across the programme is £20,000,000.
The opportunity opened on 6 June 2026 at 9:30am UK time. It has no closing date, so you can submit your Expression of Interest whenever you are ready while it stays open. You do not need to work towards a fixed deadline.
Only single applications are accepted. You must apply on your own as one SME, not as part of a group or partnership. Larger companies cannot apply.
Keep in mind that this is a loan, not a grant. Think carefully about whether loan finance is the right fit for your business and your project before you apply. The full opportunity details are on the Innovation Funding Service, so read them before you submit.
Official source: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/innovation-loans-expression-of-interest/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 28 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- Only UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprises can apply
- Single applications only
- Projects must be close to market and innovative with strong commercial potential
- Projects must significantly improve the UK economy and drive societal benefit
- Funding is a loan, not a grant
- Expression of Interest is the first stage
This opportunity is only open to UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs). You must apply as a single business; joint or collaborative applications are not accepted. Your project must be close to market, innovative and have strong commercial potential. It must also significantly improve the UK economy and drive societal benefit. Large companies cannot apply.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
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Start freeWho is this for?
UK registered SMEs with a close to market innovation that has strong commercial potential and needs loan finance of £100,000 to £5,000,000.
Regions
No published award history for UKRI. Some funders do not publish their grants data.
Full details from UKRI
UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprises can submit an Expression of Interest for loans for close to market innovative projects with strong commercial potential. They must significantly improve the UK economy and drive societal benefit.
How to apply
Read the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service, then submit your Expression of Interest. Apply as a single UK registered SME. There is no closing date, so you can submit at any time while the opportunity remains open.
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Create free accountLast updated: 28 October 2026