Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has announced a new funding call to support the development of new deep-tech spin-outs. The Innovate UK Venture Builder Programme pilot will provide funding of up to £150,000 per project to help accelerate the commercialisation of cutting-edge research, aiming to bridge the gap between research excellence and commercial impact.
Through this initiative, Innovate UK will deploy up to £3.75 million in total programme funding. The Venture Builder Programme is specifically designed to address a well-recognised gap in the innovation pipeline: the transition from customer discovery and technical validation to securing first investment. By supporting this critical phase, Innovate UK aims to enable spin-outs to develop into investable, high-growth companies.
About the UK Venture Builder Programme
The Expression of Interest competition represents the first step in a two-stage application process. At this stage, applicants are required to outline their proposed venture. Through this approach, Innovate UK seeks to identify high-potential ventures capable of progressing from early validation through to investment readiness. Only those selected through the EoI will be invited to submit a full application, where grant funding will be awarded alongside 9 months of programme support.
This call focuses on three priority technology areas aligned with the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy: Frontier AI, Engineering Biology and Advanced Materials and Manufacturing. These sectors are increasingly and widely recognised as key drivers of future economic growth. In this way, the Venture Builder reflects a continued commitment to strengthening the UK’s position in high-value, research-led innovation.
The competition opened on 22 April 2026 and will close on 22 May 2026. Applicants will be notified of the EoI stage outcome on 3 June 2026. Projects will start from 1 October 2026.
Eligibility
To be considered at the EoI stage, your spin-out must:
- be a UK-registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) created in the last 24 months (if you are not an SME, you must be formally incorporated by 20 August 2026)
- be led by an applicant who has completed the ICURe Exploit programme (or an equivalent market and customer validation programme) in the last 24 months
- have a signed supporting statement either from your Technology Transfer Office (TTO) or ICURe Delivery Partner or an equivalent programme provider
- have already undergone rigorous market and customer validation
- be defined as having the Intellectual Property created and exploited from UK Universities, Public Sector Research Establishments or Research Institutes
- focus on at least one of the three specified UK Government Industrial Strategy technology sectors
- not have received more than £100,000 in investor funding, including any Convertible Loan Notes, University or TTO investment
- be able to fulfil the eligibility criteria for stage two if successful
For stage two of the Venture Builder Programme, your spin-out must:
- have a grant funding request of up to £150,000
- start by 1 October 2026
- end by 30 June 2027
For the Henry Royce Institute and its partners, the Venture Builder Programme represents a significant opportunity to translate world-leading research into commercially viable ventures, which aligns perfectly with Royce’s mission to accelerate the development and deployment of materials innovation in the UK.
More information about eligibility criteria and further programme details can be found here.
