📢 Best Funding Opportunities in Early 2026 | UK

Junn Matsuo

Apr 3 (edited) • General

⭐ 1. Innovate UK: Creative Catalyst 2026

🏛️ Programme Hub — The official Innovate UK Business Connect page where new 2026 round details will be posted:

🚀 https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/programme/creative-catalyst/

📋 UKRI Creative Catalyst Overview — Background on the £30M programme, eligibility and scope:

🚀 https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/browse-our-areas-of-investment-and-support/creative-catalyst/

⭐ 2. UKRI / AHRC: CoSTAR Labs Project Funding

🎬 CoSTAR Programme Overview — Full details on the £75.6M immersive and screen-tech R&D investment:

🚀 https://www.costarnetwork.co.uk/funding-and-support

🔍 UKRI Funding Finder — Live search tool where all new CoSTAR calls will appear; filter by CoSTAR or AHRC:

🚀 https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/

⭐ 3. AHRC: Creative Economy Innovation Grants

🎭 AHRC Funding Overview — Full scope of AHRC's creative economy investment areas and priorities:

🚀 https://www.ukri.org/publications/ahrc-research-funding-guide/ahrc-research-funding-guide-for-applicants/

⭐ 4. Innovate UK Innovation Loans – Round 25

💷 Innovation Loans Overview — Official UKRI page explaining loan structure, eligibility and how to apply:

🚀 https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/guidance-for-applicants/guidance-for-specific-funds/innovation-loans/

📄 Round 25 Details (Novigo Grants) — Third-party breakdown of Round 25 key dates, amounts (up to £5M) and criteria:

🚀 https://novigogrants.co.uk/innovate-uk-innovation-loan-round-25/

📄 Round 25 Details (TBAT) — Another verified summary of Round 25 with open date of January 8, 2026:

🚀 https://tbat.co.uk/funding-calls/innovate-uk-innovation-loans-round-25/

⭐ 5. UK Games Fund

🎮 Main Website — Home of the Prototype Fund (up to £30k) and Content Fund (£50k–£150k) for game creators:

🚀 https://www.ukgamesfund.com/

🏛️ GOV.UK Find a Grant Listing — Official government grant listing for the UK Games Fund with eligibility details:

🚀 https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants

⭐ 6. EIC Pathfinder & Transition (EU)

📘 EIC Pathfinder Overview — Full programme overview including deep-tech and creative AI focus areas:

🚀 https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-pathfinder_en

🔄 EIC Transition Overview — For projects moving from research to market-ready stage (up to €2.5M):

🚀 https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-transition_en

🌍 EIC All Funding Opportunities — Full listing of every open European Innovation Council call:

🚀 https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities_en

⭐ 7. Local & Regional Growth Funds

🏙️ Greater London Authority

📑 GLA Creative Economy Growth Programme — Decision doc for the £2.678M/year programme running 2025–2029:

🚀 https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/arts-and-culture/current-culture-projects/creative-economy-growth-programme

🐝 Greater Manchester

💡 GMCA Innovation Accelerator — Manchester's flagship innovation support programme for scaling businesses:

🚀 https://www.innovationgreatermanchester.com/innovation-accelerator/

🤝 GM Foundational Economy Innovation Fund — Community-focused innovation grants for Greater Manchester organisations:

🚀 https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/greater-manchester-foundational-economy-innovation-fund

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland

🏢 Scottish Enterprise – Business Funding — General funding support portal for Scottish businesses across sectors:

🚀 https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/how-we-can-help/funding-and-grants

🖥️ South of Scotland CreaTech Fund 3.0 — Regional creative tech micro-grants (£2k–£5k) for South of Scotland creatives:

🚀 https://www.southofscotlandenterprise.com/CreaTechFund3

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