Investor Partnerships – ACT and Semiconductors
UK Research and Innovation funds SMEs to advance and commercialize innovative ACT and semiconductor technologies, combining public grants with private investment for impactful science and market growth.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: October 14, 2026 (full application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to £15 million total; project costs: £250k–£1M (industrial research), £500k–£2M (experimental development); matched/aligned investment from investor partners required.
Summary: Supports UK-registered SMEs in advanced component technologies and semiconductors to accelerate innovation and commercialization, in partnership with selected private investors.
Key Information: Applicants must be invited by an approved investor partner and secure aligned investment to be eligible.
Description
This funding opportunity, delivered by Innovate UK (part of UK Research and Innovation), supports UK-registered small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developing innovations in Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT) and semiconductors—including AI hardware. The program aims to foster the growth and commercialization of cutting-edge solutions by pairing grant funding with private capital from selected investor partners. Projects may focus on ACT, semiconductors, or their convergence, and must demonstrate strong innovation, scalability, and market potential.
