If you have an idea for an innovative product or service, you can get help from Innovate UK to develop it and make it successful.
Innovate UK can help you access expertise, specialist support and facilities. You can:
- find partners locally, nationally and internationally
- attend networking and collaboration events
- get advice on funding opportunities and applying
- get help to attract investors
- get help to understand the future market for your innovation
- get help to understand how to make your business innovate successfully
- get expert knowledge from universities and research organisations.
Innovate UK can also help you access funding and finance.
How to access Innovate UK support
This support is available for all UK-based companies, from pre-startup to large multi-nationals. You may also be able to get help if you are an individual or an organisation.
Innovate UK provides support through two innovation networks. These are Innovate UK Business Connect (previously Innovate UK KTN) and Innovate UK Business Growth (previously Innovate UK EDGE).
Innovate UK Business Connect
Innovate UK Business Connect can help you:
- connect with experts outside your usual networks and industry
- link with academics, government and funding opportunities
- access support and intelligence to develop your innovation strategy
- exploit your ideas and capabilities
- find the right support you need.
Find out more about Innovate UK Business Connect.
Innovate UK Business Growth
Innovate UK Business Growth is Innovate UK’s national business growth and scaling service.
It equips ambitious small to medium sized innovation-focused businesses to make the best strategic choices and harness the right resources to accelerate their growth, via one-to-one support from innovation and growth specialists and scale up directors in every UK region and nation.
It helps businesses in areas such as:
- funding and finance strategy, to identify business objectives and determine which of the grant funding options, capital options, or both, will get you there
- innovation and commercial strategy, to manage innovation and intellectual property effectively, commercialise, access the right local, national or international resources at the right time within the innovation ecosystem
- international markets and collaboration strategy, to explore and enter global markets, pursue international research and development and commercial collaborations and accelerate global growth and scaling
Find out more about Innovate UK Business Growth.
Catapult centres
Catapults are not-for-profit, independent technology and innovation centres that connect businesses with the UK’s research and academic communities. They were established and are overseen by Innovate UK to bring together the best people in their fields with world-class facilities and expertise to rapidly advance the UK’s research and development into global commercial success.
Catapults can bring new opportunities to businesses of any size who want to grow through innovation. Each specialises in a different area of technology to provide partners with a neutral space with the facilities and expertise to enable businesses and researchers to solve key problems together and develop new products and services on a commercial scale.
Find out more about Catapults.
Last updated: 30 January 2026