Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26 by Innovate UK Grant Opportunity for Women Founders in the United Kingdom

 

Introduction and Background

The Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26, delivered by Innovate UK under UK Research and Innovation, is a major national funding opportunity designed to support women founders and co-founders in the United Kingdom who are building innovative, ambitious businesses. This competitive grant scheme provides up to 75,000 pounds in funding and twelve months of personalised business support to help women entrepreneurs scale their late stage start-ups.

Innovate UK plans to award up to sixty Women in Innovation Awards, subject to receiving a sufficient number of high quality applications. A portion of highly commended applicants who are not awarded grant funding will still receive tailored business support for a full year. The program aims to address the long standing underrepresentation of women in innovation by providing direct funding, skills development, visibility, and role modelling opportunities.

Applicants must have a UK registered micro, small or medium enterprise, be resident in the UK, and be leading a late stage start-up aligned with one of three high growth sectors in the UK Government Industrial Strategy: Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Technologies, and Life Sciences. The award is designed to uplift women innovators who are preparing their ventures for major investment within the next 12 to 24 months.

The competition opens on Wednesday 26 November 2025 and closes on Wednesday 4 February 2026 at 11:00am UK time.

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Eligibility Criteria

Who Can Apply

To be eligible for the Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26, applicants must:

• Be a woman founder or co-founder of a UK registered micro, small, or medium sized enterprise listed on Companies House.
• Be a resident in the UK.
• Have a late stage start-up that has developed at least a basic version of a product, service, or solution such as a prototype or minimal viable product.
• Demonstrate early user or customer interest, or early revenue.
• Show understanding of the market opportunity and business model.
• Have begun building a team beyond the original founders.
• Request no more than 75,000 pounds in grant funding.
• Commit to 10 hours of training and development support.
• Commit to at least four hours of role modelling activities during the award year.

Previous Funding Restrictions

Applicants are not eligible if they or anyone in their business has previously received any of the following from Innovate UK:

• Women in Innovation Awards
• Young Innovators Next Steps
• Innovate UK Award Build

Subcontracting Rules

• Subcontractor costs must not exceed 50 percent of the grant amount.
• Subcontractors may be based anywhere in the UK.
• Overseas subcontractors may be used only with proper justification and evidence that a UK subcontractor cannot fulfil the role.

Project Requirements

Projects must:

• Last for 12 months.
• Start on 1 July 2026 and end on 30 June 2027.
• Be delivered within the UK.
• Exploit results from or in the UK.

Minimal Financial Assistance Requirement

Applicants must not exceed the Minimal Financial Assistance cap of 315,000 pounds within the applicable financial period. A declaration form must be completed and submitted as part of the application.

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Program Details

Funding Amount and Structure

A total of 4.5 million pounds has been allocated for the 2025/26 competition. Each successful project will be funded up to 75,000 pounds, with the possibility of receiving 100 percent of eligible project costs under MFA rules.

Grant payments will be made in three instalments:

1. 50 percent within one month of the project start date
2. 40 percent in arrears after approval of the 50 percent claim
3. 10 percent after final approval of the closing claim

Supported Growth Sectors

Innovations must align with one of the following:

Advanced Manufacturing
Includes technologies in aerospace, batteries, space, automotive, advanced materials, and agri-tech.

Digital and Technologies
Includes artificial intelligence, cyber security, quantum, engineering biology, semiconductors, and advanced connectivity.

Life Sciences
Includes biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medtech, and health data innovation.

What Will Not Be Funded

Projects will not be funded if they:

• Are not led by a woman founder or co-founder.
• Are not late stage start-ups with scalable growth ambitions.
• Are not aligned with the three designated high growth sectors.
• Request more than 75,000 pounds.
• Assign more than 50 percent of costs to subcontractors.
• Do not engage with the training and role modelling requirements.
• Have previously received the listed Innovate UK awards.
• Present negative environmental or social impact.

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How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through the Innovate UK Innovation Funding Service portal.

Before applying, applicants must:

1. Complete the Suitability Checker (mandatory).
2. Read all guidelines on applying for a competition.
3. Ensure all sections of the application are complete and meet eligibility and scope requirements.

The application contains four main sections:

1. Project details
2. Application questions
3. Finances
4. Project impact

Applicants must not include website URLs in their answers, except where required in attachments. Required declarations, such as the Minimal Financial Assistance form, must be uploaded in PDF format.

Application Portal

Start New Application or Sign In:
Here

Competition Information Page

Full guidance and competition brief:

Here

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Important Dates

• Competition Opens: Wednesday 26 November 2025
• Competition Closes: Wednesday 4 February 2026 at 11:00am UK time
• Project Start Date: 1 July 2026
• Project End Date: 30 June 2027

Applicants are encouraged to contact Innovate UK for accessibility or reasonable adjustments at least 15 working days before the deadline.

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The Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26 by Innovate UK is a significant national opportunity designed to advance women led businesses in Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Technologies, and Life Sciences. With up to 75,000 pounds in grant funding, tailored support, and high visibility, this program empowers women innovators to scale impactful solutions, attract major investment, and contribute to the UK innovation landscape. Women founders who meet the eligibility criteria and are ready to grow a late stage start-up are highly encouraged to apply before the February 2026 deadline.

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