National Materials Innovation Programme: CR&D Rd1
UK Research and Innovation’s National Materials Innovation Programme: CR&D Rd1 funds collaborative research to accelerate advanced materials innovation in key UK sectors.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: October 28, 2026: Competition closes
Funding Amounts: Up to £12 million total; individual project requests must be £500,000–£1 million; project duration 18–30 months.
Summary: Supports collaborative industrial research projects accelerating advanced materials innovation in priority and strategic themes within the UK.
Key Information: Lead must be a UK registered business; collaboration with at least one UK SME required.
Description
This funding opportunity, delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through Innovate UK, supports collaborative industrial research projects aimed at accelerating the translation and adoption of advanced materials innovations. The focus is on key high-growth opportunity themes and a strategic opportunity theme (metamaterials and metasurfaces), targeting a broad range of applications across the UK's priority sectors. The programme is designed to foster partnerships between UK businesses, academic institutions, and other eligible organisations to drive advancements in materials science, enhance the UK’s global leadership in advanced materials, and contribute to national net zero and industrial strategy goals.
