National Materials Innovation Programme: CR&D Rd1
Funding
£500,000 – £1,000,000
Deadline
28 October 2026
Location
England
Applications
Deadline: 28 October 2026
Overview
Innovate UK will invest up to £12 million in collaborative industrial research projects that move advanced materials innovations towards real-world use. This is the first round of the National Materials Innovation Programme. The full amount depends on enough high quality applications being received. Your project must focus on a significant materials innovation and fit a sub-theme within one of three prioritised high growth themes, or the strategic theme of metamaterials and metasurfaces. Future healthcare solutions and structural materials are among the themes. You must show how your innovation improves performance, functionality, productivity or sustainability. You must also give a credible route to commercialisation and show how it supports UK net zero targets. Each project needs a grant request of between £500,000 and £1 million. Projects must last 18 to 30 months, start by 1 February 2027 and end by 31 July 2029. For industrial research, grant covers up to 70% of eligible costs for micro and small organisations, 60% for medium sized organisations and 50% for large ones. The lead must be a UK registered business of any size. The consortium needs at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise claiming grant funding. You also need at least one named end user working in one of the eight growth driving sectors of the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy. Letters of support or emails alone will not show this involvement. Applications close at 11am UK time on 28 October 2026. Competition is tough. Innovate UK's experience of similar competitions suggests you could have a 20% chance of success, and a high scoring project may still go unfunded. Official source: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/national-materials-innovation-programme-crd-rd1-1. Last checked by GrantMatch on 15 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- Grant request must be between £500,000 and £1 million
- Project must last 18 to 30 months, start by 1 February 2027 and end by 31 July 2029
- Lead must be a UK registered business; at least one UK registered SME must claim grant funding
- At least one named end user in one of the eight growth driving sectors is required
- Subcontractors are limited to 30% of total eligible project costs
- No single organisation can claim more than 70% of total project costs
The lead must be a UK registered business of any size. The consortium must include at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise claiming grant funding. Partners can be UK registered businesses, academic institutions, charities, not-for-profit or public sector organisations, or research and technology organisations. The lead and at least one other organisation must request funding, and no single organisation can claim more than 70% of total project costs. You need a named end user in one of the eight growth driving sectors. Academics, research and technology organisations and consultancies cannot act as the end user. A business can lead only one application.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
UK registered businesses leading collaborative materials innovation projects with partners and an end user in a priority growth sector.
Regions
No published award history for Innovate UK. Some funders do not publish their grants data.
Full details from Innovate UK
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £12 million for collaborative industrial research to speed the translation of advanced materials innovations in three prioritised high growth themes and one strategic opportunity theme.
Apply through the Innovation Funding Service using the Start new application button on the funder's page. If you are the lead, you must invite each partner organisation into the service. Partners accept the invitation, log in or create an account, and enter their own project costs and Project Impact answers. Applications close at 11am UK time on 28 October 2026.
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Create free accountLast updated: 15 October 2026