Search the open competitions below to find funding for your next telecoms R&D project.
For guidance on applications, forming a consortium and reviewing funding opportunities, book an appointment with one of our specialist advisers today at specialistguidance@uktin.net.
Horizon Europe is an EU research and innovation programme. It has a budget of €95.5 billion and runs until 2027.
The UK agreed a deal to associate to Horizon Europe on 7 September 2023.
UK researchers can now apply for Horizon Europe funding, certain that all successful UK applicants will be covered through the UK’s association (or through the guarantee) for the remainder of the programme.
The Thematic Call for proposals aims at supporting new space-based services for the digital transformation and sustainability of the sport sector, specifically in the organisation, management, and further exploitation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Drive innovation and economic growth by developing groundbreaking space-based technology.
Supporting early-stage companies is vital to ensuring the continued growth of the space industry. Whether that’s through downstream applications, in-orbit servicing and manufacturing or spacecraft technologies…
We invest in innovations emerging from the UK’s publicly funded science and knowledge base. We specialise in engineering biology, defence & security, fusion energy, and space to facilitate sustainable growth, enhance the health and security of society, improve productivity, and deliver economic gains emerging from UK’s public funding portfolio.
Our investment decisions are based on both the potential societal impact of technologies and the potential for financial return.
Innovate UK’s Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIP) helps innovative SMEs to collaborate and explore global markets, accelerating business growth.
Each GBIP, focused on a specific market and technology or sector area, involves a cohort of up to 15 ambitious innovative UK businesses looking to grow and scale globally. The programme aims to help businesses explore future opportunities and to better understand what is needed to be successful on the global stage.
The GBIP provides detailed market knowledge, cultural insight, and introductions and connections, opening doors that SMEs might find difficult to do themselves. Each business is supported by an Innovate UK Business Growth innovation and growth specialist to help maximise the potential of being part of the programme and beyond.
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £110 million for ambitious research and innovation projects in any sector, and tailored support to develop careers for future leaders. This funding is from UKRI.
- Competition opens: Monday 23 June 2025
- Competition closes: Wednesday 5 November 2025 11:00am
Loans of up to £1m to help convert your mature defence innovation into a strong business proposition, with a below market interest rate of 7.4% per annum.
Cycle closing date: 01/07/2026
The programme funds researchers from Taiwan visiting the UK or from the UK visiting Taiwan for R&D projects (2 weeks to 3 months) and supports up to 50% of the application (up to NTD$1 million/ £25,000).
Round 1 Application deadline: 15th September (12 PM, Local time); Announcement in early Oct
ESA’s OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR KICK-STARTS (BASS ARTES 4.0) is always open. This means that businesses from any sector can apply for Kick-Starts throughout the year.
Please note that for 2025 the following deadlines for submissions apply:
- Friday 29 August 2025
- Friday 31 October 2025
- Opening date 22-09-2025
Closing date 14-11-2025
- Registered businesses in UK and Netherlands, can apply to collaborate on joint projects with application relevant partners and testbed facilities, to advance the development of quantum technologies and enable their commercial use cases.
- Opening date: 15 September 2025, 10:00am
- Closing date: 28 October 2025, 11:00am
The EIC Accelerator is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to start-ups and SMEs
UK registered organisations can apply for the Pioneers Prize to develop Agentic AI solutions tackling sector challenges. Compete for a share of a £1 million prize pot and receive expert mentorship from the Catapult Network.
Competition opens: Monday 20 October 2025
Competition closes: Wednesday 19 November 2025 11:00am
UK organisations can apply for funding to collaborate on industrial research projects with partners in Eureka member countries and Japan.
Competition opens: Monday 13 October 2025
Competition closes: Wednesday 21 January 2026 11:00am
The aim of this call is to systematically support the building and strengthening of capacities in the field of cyber resilience in accordance with CRA requirements. The call focuses on supporting the development of professional infrastructure, tools and knowledge capacities that will enable organisations operating in the field of ICT products and services to effectively fulfil their obligations under the CRA, both from the perspective of manufacturers and importers, as well as from the perspective of certification and assessment bodies.
Opening date 15 September 2025
Deadline date 18 November 2025 02:00 (Brussels time)
To facilitate the smooth deployment of innovations and architectures, EU-RAIL has set-up a High-Level Deployment Group. This Group established in 2024 a dedicated FRMCS Deployment Subgroup to focus specifically on FRMCS future deployment activities, drawing upon insights and results from the sector plans, activities as well as EU-Rail test and demonstration initiatives.
Planned opening date 30 October 2025
Deadline date 11 February 2026 17:00:00 Brussels time
Opening date 14 October 2025
Deadline date 08 January 2026 17:00:00 Brussels time