[Updated 29th July 2026]
Access to the right funding at the right time can help businesses unlock new opportunities, accelerate growth and strengthen long-term resilience.
From start-up finance to government funded loans, here is a selection of upcoming funding opportunities that Greater Manchester businesses may wish to explore.
And don’t forget that if you’re unsure which route is right for you, our team is on hand to help you navigate your options with confidence!
Government-Backed Loans
Start Up Loans
For aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses, Start Up Loans provide access to government-backed finance of between £500 and £25,000, helping founders turn ideas into viable businesses.
In addition to funding, successful applicants receive 12 months of free mentoring and ongoing business support, making it a valuable option for those looking to build a strong foundation for future growth.
Who should apply: Businesses trading for up to five years that are seeking start-up or early-stage funding, alongside practical support and mentoring.
NPIF II Smaller Loans
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) Smaller Loans programme offers funding from £25,000 to £100,000 to support businesses across the North of England.
Whether investing in new equipment, expanding operations, recruiting staff or improving cash flow, the fund is designed to help businesses move forward with confidence. Delivered locally by GC Business Finance, the programme provides a tailored approach to supporting business growth.
Who should apply: SMEs with clear growth ambitions that require finance to invest in development, expansion or operational improvements.
Equity Investment
Early Stage Equity
Early Stage Equity provides investment for ambitious businesses with the potential to scale rapidly and attract future investment.
Typically investing between £25,000 and £2 million, the fund supports businesses that are developing innovative products, services, or technologies and seeking capital to accelerate growth, enter new markets, or strengthen their commercial position.
Who should apply: Innovative, high-growth businesses with scalable business models and plans for significant future expansion.
The Advanced Connectivity Technologies – New Innovators Competition
The Advanced Connectivity Technologies – New Innovators Competition, delivered by Innovate UK in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), is offering grants of £25,000 to £50,000 to micro and small businesses developing the next generation of connectivity technologies.
What's available: Grants of £25,000–£50,000
Who should apply: UK micro and small businesses, SMEs developing advanced connectivity technologies and businesses with innovative, commercially focused ideas
Deadline: 5th August 2026
BFI National Lottery Discovery Fund
Focussed on supporting emerging filmmakers, the fund aims to champion bold new voices and broaden the range of stories represented in UK cinema.
To be eligible, teams applying with a live-action or animated fiction directorial debut must submit a fully developed script, alongside a comprehensive production and financing plan.
Who can apply: Producers and Directors
Applications close: 13th August 2026, 5pm
Looking for the right funding option?
With a wide range of finance options available, identifying the most suitable route can often be the biggest challenge. If you're interested in any of the funding opportunities above, we can help you on your journey.
The Access to Finance team works with businesses across Greater Manchester to explore funding opportunities, improve investment readiness and connect with relevant finance providers. Whether you're seeking start-up funding, growth finance or investment, tailored support is available to help you take the next step.
Innovation funding opportunities (Closing September)
3rd UK-Switzerland Bilateral Call for Joint Innovation Projects
Bilateral call to strengthen Swiss-UK innovation collaboration in Semiconductors, Life Sciences, or Engineering Biology.
Deadline: 3 September 2026, 11am
Who should apply: UK and Swiss collaborations and capabilities in the emerging technology fields, resulting in the development and delivery of new innovations and applications across a broad range of sectors. Your proposal must address innovation in the fields of Semiconductors, Life Sciences or Engineering Biology.
Digital Catapult: Digital Twin Adoption Accelerator 2026
Delivered by Digital Catapult, the Digital Twin Adoption Accelerator Programme 2026 is a nine-month programme that supports partnerships between UK technology SMEs and industry adopters to accelerate the adoption of digital twin technologies. Working together, participants will develop innovative proof-of-concept solutions that address real-world adoption challenges across the automotive, agri-tech, maritime, aerospace (including space), defence, clean energy, creative industries and life sciences sectors. Successful projects will receive up to £100,000 in Innovate UK grant funding, alongside technical expertise, mentoring and access to specialist facilities to help accelerate the development and deployment of their solutions.
Deadline: 6 September 2026, 11:59pm
Who should apply: Pre-formed partnerships between a UK technology SME and an industry organisation looking to adopt digital twin technologies.
Deep Tech Co-Creation Accelerator 2026-2027
The Co-Creation Accelerator pairs early-stage ventures with industry partners to validate technology, with grants of up to €250,000.
Deadline: 8 September 2026, 4pm
Who should apply: Micro or small (2 – 50 FTE) early-stage digital startups with technology at TRL 4–5 and above, are incorporated within the last 5 years, and possess or control key IP or technology assets.
Farming Innovation Programme: Feasibility Round 5
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £15 million for feasibility projects. This funding is from the industry led R&D Partnerships Fund, part of the Farming Innovation Programme.
Deadline: 9 September 2026, 11am
Who should apply: Innovators working on feasibility studies investigating new solutions that will address major on-farm or immediate post farmgate challenges or opportunities.
EIT: Transformative Healthcare Instrument 2026
EIT Health is offering €300,000 and €500,000 in funding per project to support high-potential European startups developing innovative solutions in biotech, medtech, digital health, AI, and biomarkers or diagnostics.
Deadline: 16 September 2026, 3pm
Who should apply: High-potential European startups developing innovative solutions in biotech, medtech, digital health, AI, and biomarkers or diagnostics. The programme is designed to help companies advance product development, strengthen commercialisation strategies, and prepare for their next stage of fundraising while addressing unmet clinical needs across Europe. The THI is intended to support private companies, specifically Micro, Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with at least 4 full-time equivalent employees. Eligible companies must have closed a minimum total equity investment of €2million within the previous 36 months, with at least one new investor contributing.
EIT Health Innovation Uptake Call 2026
EIT Health is calling for mature digital, data-driven and AI-powered healthcare solutions ready to scale across European markets: up to €650k per project.
Deadline: 16 September 2026, 3pm
Who should apply: Mature digital, data-driven and AI-powered healthcare solutions ready to scale across European markets. Applications must come from consortia of at least two independent legal entities from different Horizon Europe members or associated countries (this includes the UK), including partners from at least two sides of the Knowledge Triangle (Industry, Research, Education). The consortium must be led by a Commercialising Entity (SME or industry player) responsible for bringing the solution to market.
Women TechEU 2026-27
Women TechEU 2 EIC is an EU-funded project designed to support women-led early-stage deep tech startups from Europe. Each startup can receive €75,000 in funding.
Deadline: Rolling, however the next submission deadline is 16 September 2026, 5pm
Who should apply: Early-stage women-led deep tech startups.
DRIVE35 Innovation Fund: Collaborate 3
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £20 million for late stage collaborative research and development projects. Projects will support the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles and a pathway to a net zero automotive industry.
Deadline: 16 September 2026, 11am
Who should apply: Innovators with R&D projects that design, develop and manufacture strategically important technologies in the automotive sector. Projects will support the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles and a pathway to a net zero automotive industry.
Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Energy Efficiency
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £150 million. The funding will be to develop, deploy and operate innovative clean maritime solutions for three years in a real world environment. This funding is from the Department for Transport.
The Energy Efficiency strand will fund the development and build of innovative vessel energy efficiency technology and any accompanying innovative infrastructure upgrades.
Deadline: 16 September 2026, 11am
Who should apply: UK businesses developing and building innovative clean maritime technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Electric Power
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £150 million. The funding will be to develop, deploy and operate innovative clean maritime solutions for three years in a real world environment. This funding is from the Department for Transport.
The Electric Power strand will fund the development and build of:
- innovative 100% battery electric vessels and accompanying charging infrastructure, and
- novel, innovative and commercially viable shore power systems including related energy infrastructure at ports and any accompanying vessel upgrades
Shore power projects must focus on novel and innovative shore power infrastructure and vessels that will have shore power capability. The infrastructure must be for providing power to vessels whilst moored, allowing vessels to turn off their conventional power supply.
Competition closes: 16 September 2026, 11am
Who should apply: UK businesses developing and building innovative clean maritime technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Alternative Fuels
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £150 million. The funding will be to develop, deploy and operate innovative clean maritime solutions for three years in a real world environment. This funding is from the Department for Transport.
The Alternative Fuels strand will fund the development and build of innovative alternative fuel vessels and accompanying port refuelling infrastructure.
Competition closes: 16 September 2026, 11am
Who should apply: UK businesses developing and building innovative clean maritime technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Scaling performance of quantum computing hardware: CR&D
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £33 million to develop device level hardware and associated software to meet the scale, programmability, and runtime performance needs of universal fault tolerant quantum computers.
Competition closes: 18 September 2026, 11am
Who should apply: Businesses developing innovations to solve critical system development challenges in hardware and associated software technologies required for universal fault tolerant quantum computing platforms
Circular Bio-Based Europe: 2026 call for project proposals
CBE-JU is funding projects developing innovative and sustainable bio-based solutions, with up to €20m for the largest projects.
The CBE JU funds projects focused on the production of bio-based chemicals, materials, food and feed ingredients and soil nutrients. Biofuels, bioenergy, food and feed, pharmaceuticals and medical devices are not within the remit of the partnership.
Deadline: 22 September 2026
Who should apply: Consortia of at least three legal entities independent from each other and each established in a different country.
Innovation Funding Opportunities (Opening September)
NHS Cancer Programme - Innovation Open Call 4
Applications are invited for innovations that focus on productivity and supporting the NHS to meet Cancer Waiting Times, as well as innovations that support the earlier detection and diagnosis of cancer.
Who should apply: Any innovator organisation in the UK or EU (business, academic, RTO or public sector) with a demonstrable partnership with at least one adopting NHS organisation and an independent evaluation partner. Innovations must have a CE mark or equivalent regulatory approval obtained (if required for the innovation) for the cancer-related use intended, and evidence of safety and clinical utility from prospective use in at least one healthcare site.
Applying for grant funding can be daunting; from finding the right fund to preparing an application, support is available to you.
If you’re an Innovation business, reach out to your Specialist today, to find out more about how we can help you reach your innovation and business goals in 2025.
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Please contact us at 0161 3593050 or query below.
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