Life Sciences funding
Biotech, medtech, pharmaceutical and healthcare innovation funding.
118
Funding opportunities
Live & published
68
Active providers
Life Sciences
Industry focus
UK-wide
Coverage
Available funding
Innovate UK Smart Grants
Funding for game-changing, commercially viable R&D innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy.
Innovate UK Innovation Loans
Loans for late-stage R&D projects with a clear route to commercialisation.
R&D Tax Relief
R&D Tax Relief is HMRC's statutory corporation-tax relief for UK companies that take a financial risk in resolving scientific or technological uncertainty. The merged RDEC scheme (accounting periods starting on or after 1 April 2024) gives most companies a 20% above-the-line credit; loss-making R&D-intensive SMEs may instead claim under the ERIS regime at a higher effective rate.
Patent Box
Patent Box lets UK companies elect into a reduced 10% effective corporation-tax rate on profits attributable to qualifying patented inventions and certain other IP rights granted by the UKIPO, EPO or specified EEA equivalents.
Start Up Loan
The Start Up Loan is an unsecured government-backed personal loan of £500–£25,000 (average ~£12k) for UK individuals starting or growing a business that has been trading for under 36 months. It is delivered by Start Up Loans Company, part of the British Business Bank, via accredited Delivery Partners, with a fixed 6% APR and free mentoring for 12 months.
Scottish Enterprise R&D Grant
Grants supporting business-led R&D projects in Scotland.
Accelerated Growth Programme
Tailored support and grant funding for high-growth Welsh businesses.
Invest NI Grant for R&D
Co-funded grant supporting R&D projects by Northern Ireland businesses.
Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)
SEIS is a UK government tax-incentive scheme that lets very early-stage companies raise up to £250,000 of equity from individual investors, who in turn receive substantial income tax, capital gains and loss-relief benefits. It is the single most generous personal-tax incentive in the UK and is the default first equity instrument for pre-revenue or just-trading startups.
Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)
EIS is the UK's flagship growth-equity tax incentive: companies under 7 years of trading (or knowledge-intensive companies under 10) can raise up to £5m a year and £12m lifetime from individual investors, who receive 30% income tax relief plus CGT and loss-relief benefits.
Innovate UK EDGE (Legacy Advisory Service)
Specialist innovation and scale-up advice for ambitious UK businesses.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)
Part-funded partnership between a business, an academic team and a graduate to deliver a strategic project.
Investors' Relief
Reduced 14% CGT rate on qualifying share disposals to incentivise long-term investment in unlisted companies.
British Patient Capital
UK government-backed investor in venture and growth capital funds that back high-growth UK businesses. Businesses receive equity via portfolio funds, not directly.
R&D Tax Relief for SMEs
Corporation tax relief for UK SMEs carrying out qualifying R&D. Rules and rates changed for accounting periods on or after 1 April 2024 — check current guidance before relying on historical rates.
R&D Expenditure Credit (RDEC)
Above-the-line R&D tax credit historically used by larger companies and now part of the merged R&D scheme. Check current guidance for applicable accounting periods.
SMART: SCOTLAND
Grant for Scotland-based SMEs to undertake technical feasibility studies or R&D projects with strong commercial potential.
SMART Cymru R&D Funding
Welsh Government R&D funding helping Wales-based businesses develop new or improved products, processes and services.
York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub
Business support service for York and North Yorkshire including grants, advice and net-zero support.
Workplace Charging Scheme
Voucher-based UK scheme that covers part of the upfront cost of installing electric vehicle charge points at workplaces.
WMCA Business Energy Advice Service
Free energy assessments and grant funding to help West Midlands SMEs cut energy costs and emissions.
West Yorkshire Business Support Programme
Coordinated business support across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield including advisory and grant signposting.
West Yorkshire AD:VENTURE Programme
Free business advice, mentoring and grants for early-stage businesses across the Leeds City Region.
Wales Flexible Investment Fund
Larger, longer-tenor debt and equity for established Welsh businesses, providing patient capital for growth.
Wales Business Fund
Loans and equity investments for Wales-based SMEs from the Development Bank of Wales. Replaces previous Welsh business funds.
Venture Capital Trusts (VCT)
Investor-side scheme: VCTs are listed funds that invest in qualifying UK smaller companies; investors get income tax relief and tax-free dividends.
UK Tradeshow Programme support
DBT support helping UK businesses access international tradeshows through guidance, training and signposting.
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
UK-wide fund channelled through local authorities to support local communities, people and businesses. Specific business support varies by area.
UK Export Academy
Free training programme from the Department for Business and Trade to help UK SMEs build the knowledge and skills to sell internationally.
Start Up Loans
UK government-backed personal loan for people starting or growing a new business (trading less than 36 months). Includes free mentoring.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Business Support
Business support and grant programmes across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme
Fully funded support to help South Yorkshire SMEs improve productivity through leadership, operations and digital advice.
South of Scotland Enterprise — Business Support Pot
Tailored business support, grants and community wealth-building programmes for Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
Sheffield City Council Business Support
Business advice, rates information and links to South Yorkshire grant programmes for Sheffield businesses.
Sheffield Business Support
Business advice, premises support and access to regional grant programmes for businesses based in Sheffield.
Scottish Enterprise Account Management
Tailored support for ambitious Scottish companies including advice, grants and international growth support.
Scottish EDGE
Scotland-based competition awarding grant and loan funding plus business support to high-growth early-stage Scottish businesses.
Scottish Development International
International trade and investment support for Scottish businesses delivered by Scottish Enterprise's international arm.
Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
Grant funding for public sector bodies in England to install heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures, administered by Salix on behalf of DESNZ.
Plug-in Van and Truck Grant
Discount applied at point of sale on eligible zero-emission vans, trucks, taxis, motorcycles and wheelchair-accessible vehicles for businesses and individuals. Categories and caps change — check current guidance.
Nottingham City Council Business Support
Information and signposting for Nottingham businesses including rates relief and current grant programmes.
North East Growth Hub Support
Free business advice, toolkits and grant signposting for businesses across the North East of England.
Newcastle City Council Business Support
Council business advice, rates information and current grant programmes for Newcastle upon Tyne.
Manchester City Council Business Support
Council business support including advice on premises, rates relief and current grant programmes.
Manchester Business Growth Hub Support
Free and subsidised business support, grants and specialist advice for SMEs across Greater Manchester, delivered by the Growth Company.
Local Net Zero Hubs
Regional hubs supporting local authorities and partners to develop and deliver local net zero and clean energy projects across England.
Liverpool City Region Flexible Growth Fund
Loan and grant finance to support investment by LCR SMEs in growth projects.
Liverpool City Region Business Support
Grant, loan and advisory programmes for SMEs across the Liverpool City Region delivered via the Combined Authority's Growth Platform.
Liverpool City Council Business Support
Information, business rates advice and current grant programmes for Liverpool businesses.
Leicester City Council Business Support
Business advice, rates information and links to current grant schemes for Leicester businesses.
LeedsBID & Leeds City Council Business Support
Business support, premises and growth programmes available to Leeds-based companies through Leeds City Council and partners.
Leeds City Council Business Support
Business advice, employment support and grant signposting from Leeds City Council.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships — Management KTP
A variant of KTP focused on embedding strategic management practice from a UK business school into an SME.
Kent and Medway Growth Hub
Single point of contact for business support and grants in Kent and Medway.
Invest NI Skills Growth Programme
Co-investment programme supporting NI businesses to grow capability through training and skills development linked to growth plans.
Invest NI Selective Financial Assistance
Discretionary capital grant from Invest NI to support investment projects in Northern Ireland that create new jobs or improve productivity.
Invest NI Business Support
Range of support, grants and programmes for NI businesses including innovation, skills and export.
Invest Bristol and Bath
Inward investment and business support service for Bristol and Bath, signposting current grants and incentives.
Internationalisation Fund (England)
Match-funded grants for England-based SMEs to invest in international growth activity such as market research, translation, trade fairs and international marketing. Availability and rules may change — check current DBT guidance.
ICURe Innovate Programme
Market discovery programme funding university researchers to test commercial potential of their research and form spinouts.
Horizon Europe (UK participation)
UK participation in Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, with UKRI guarantee where applicable.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise — Business Support Pot
Account-managed support, grants and property assistance for businesses across the Highlands and Islands.
Help to Grow: Management
12-week subsidised management training programme for senior leaders of UK SMEs, delivered by accredited business schools. Government covers 90% of the course fee.
Heat Network Efficiency Scheme
Capital and revenue grants to improve the performance of existing district heating and communal heat networks in England and Wales.
Green Heat Network Fund
Capital grant scheme supporting the commercialisation and construction of new low-carbon heat networks in England.
Export Working Capital Scheme
UKEF partial guarantee to a UK exporter's bank to support working capital facilities tied to specific export contracts.
Export Insurance Policy
UKEF insurance that covers UK exporters against the risk of not being paid under an export contract due to political or commercial events.
Eureka Eurostars (UK)
International R&D funding for innovative SMEs collaborating across Eurostars member countries, with UK funding from Innovate UK.
Enterprising Barnsley Business Support
Council-led business support team offering account management, grants and property advice for Barnsley-based businesses.
ENABLE Funding (wholesale)
Wholesale programme that supports smaller lenders, asset finance providers and challenger banks to lend more to UK smaller businesses. Businesses receive funding indirectly via accredited partners.
DSL Business Finance (Microfinance Scotland)
Scotland-focused responsible finance lender providing microloans to small businesses unable to access mainstream bank finance.
DBT International Trade Advisers
Free one-to-one export advice for UK SMEs from DBT International Trade Advisers across English regions.
D2N2 Growth Hub Business Support
Free, impartial business support across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Cumbria Business Growth Hub
Free, impartial business support service for Cumbria including signposting to grants and specialist programmes.
Coventry City Council Business Support
Council business support and signposting to West Midlands grant programmes for Coventry businesses.
Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support
Single front door for business support, grants and specialist advice across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Cambridge Enterprise Spinout Support
University of Cambridge commercialisation arm providing IP licensing, consultancy and seed funding for spinouts.
Business Wales Core Advisory Service
Free business advice, start-up support and access to current grant schemes for businesses in Wales.
Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme
Welsh Government programme providing intensive 1:1 support to high-growth-potential Welsh businesses. Not direct cash funding.
Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub
Free business support service for Greater Lincolnshire including adviser support and current grant programmes.
Business Growth West Midlands
Single front door connecting West Midlands businesses to growth hubs, sector specialists and current grant schemes.
Business Gateway Local Growth Advice
Free local business support across Scotland — startup workshops, advisers and access to grants delivered by local authorities through Business Gateway.
Bristol City Council Business Support
Business support, premises and growth signposting for Bristol businesses via the City Council and West of England partners.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme (Non-domestic — small businesses)
UK government grant for replacing fossil-fuel heating systems with heat pumps or biomass boilers in eligible English and Welsh properties, including small non-domestic premises within scheme rules.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Grants towards installing low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps and biomass boilers in eligible properties in England and Wales.
Birmingham City Council Business Support
Council-led information, advice and signposting for businesses in Birmingham, including current grant schemes.
Birmingham Business Support
Business advice, grants and growth support delivered by Birmingham City Council and partners for SMEs based in Birmingham.
Apprenticeship Funding (England)
Government funding to help English employers take on apprentices. Levy-paying employers fund apprenticeships through their levy account; non-levy employers receive co-investment from the government.
BBSRC Responsive Mode Grants
BBSRC Responsive Mode Grants. Open to researchers at UKRI-eligible UK research organisations. Investigator-led applications within BBSRC remit (biosciences). Two rounds per year.
BBSRC Industrial Partnership Awards
BBSRC Industrial Partnership Awards. Academic-led projects with at least 10% cash contribution from an industrial partner. Applies via BBSRC responsive mode.
BBSRC Follow-on Funding
BBSRC Follow-on Funding. Translates BBSRC-funded research towards commercial or societal impact. Open to UK research organisations.
MRC Research Grants
MRC Research Grants. Investigator-led medical research projects. Open to UK research organisations eligible for UKRI funding. Three deadlines per year.
MRC Experimental Medicine
MRC Experimental Medicine. For clinical or human-tissue studies that increase understanding of disease mechanisms. UK research organisations and NHS partners.
MRC Confidence in Concept
MRC Confidence in Concept. Block awards to institutions to fund early translational projects (proof-of-concept). Awarded via institutional internal calls.
Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Skills & Training Grants
Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Skills & Training Grants. UK companies in advanced therapy manufacturing and skills. Open call programmes.
Medicines Discovery Catapult Open Calls
Medicines Discovery Catapult Open Calls. UK SMEs in drug discovery seeking access to capabilities, data, and collaboration.
NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Product Development Awards
NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Product Development Awards. UK SMEs, NHS organisations or universities developing medical devices, IVDs, or technology-dependent interventions for the NHS.
NIHR i4i Connect
NIHR i4i Connect. SME-led med-tech projects at TRL 3–4 needing de-risking before later-stage funding.
LifeArc Translational Challenges
LifeArc Translational Challenges. UK academics and SMEs translating life-science research towards patient impact across rare disease, respiratory, infection.
LifeArc Seed Fund Co-Investment
LifeArc Seed Fund Co-Investment. UK life-science startups raising seed rounds. LifeArc co-invests alongside lead investors.
Cancer Research Horizons Translation Funding
Cancer Research Horizons Translation Funding. Researchers and CRUK-supported teams translating discoveries into oncology products and companies.
Wellcome Discovery Awards
Wellcome Discovery Awards. Researchers at any career stage pursuing bold, transformative discovery research within Wellcome remit.
Wellcome Translation Awards
Wellcome Translation Awards. Researchers and SMEs translating biomedical research into early proof-of-principle products.
ARIA Programmable Plants Opportunity Space
ARIA Programmable Plants Opportunity Space. Research teams and companies exploring programmable plant biology for resilient food systems. Funded via Creators and Solicitations.
ARIA Precision Neurotechnologies
ARIA Precision Neurotechnologies. Teams advancing precision neurotechnology beyond current TRL ceilings.
Mercia EIS Fund
Mercia EIS Fund. UK early-stage businesses eligible for EIS. Mercia invests typically £250k–£2m at seed and Series A.
Calculus VCT
Calculus VCT. UK companies raising VCT-qualifying capital, typically £1m–£5m, across selected sectors.
IP Group Deep Tech Investments
IP Group Deep Tech Investments. UK university spinouts in deep tech, life sciences, cleantech raising founding and growth equity.
Parkwalk Advisors University Spinout Funds
Parkwalk Advisors University Spinout Funds. UK university spinouts (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, Bristol and partners) raising EIS-qualifying equity.
Northern Gritstone Investment Fund
Northern Gritstone Investment Fund. Spinouts from Universities of Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield in IP-rich science and technology.
Oxford Science Enterprises Investment
Oxford Science Enterprises Investment. Spinouts from the University of Oxford in deep tech, life sciences, and health.
Cambridge Innovation Capital Investment
Cambridge Innovation Capital Investment. Cambridge-cluster deep-tech and life-science companies. Builds long-term positions in founding and growth rounds.
Glasgow City Region Investment Zone
Glasgow City Region Investment Zone. Businesses investing in Glasgow City Region Investment Zone sites in advanced manufacturing and life sciences.
Innovation Accelerator Programme
Innovation Accelerator Programme. Businesses and research organisations in Glasgow, Greater Manchester, and West Midlands clusters.
Horizon Europe — EIC Pathfinder
Horizon Europe — EIC Pathfinder. UK research organisations and deep-tech startups participating as associated country partners in EIC Pathfinder.
British Patient Capital Co-Investment
British Patient Capital Co-Investment. UK high-growth companies raising late-stage rounds via BPC fund and direct co-investments.
Future Fund: Breakthrough
A government-backed co-investment programme designed to support high-growth, R&D-intensive UK companies through large private funding rounds.
Centre for Process Innovation — Open Calls
Centre for Process Innovation — Open Calls. UK process manufacturers accessing CPI capability via Innovate UK competition and CPI-led projects.