A new Innovate UK competition is offering grants of up to £2 million to SMEs and partners working on semiconductors and other novel technologies required to deliver smart electronic platforms.
Smart electronic platforms are the integrated circuits that deliver automation and autonomy. This competition will fund industrial research required to deliver one or more reusable components comprising these circuit boards and that contribute to the ‘Sense-Decide-Act’ pipeline of a smart platform.
The competition opened on 20 February and closes on 1 April 2026. Below are the key things you need to know before you apply, including who is eligible and how much funding is available.
To find out if you and your project are suitable for this grant, book in a free Competitiveness and Eligibility Assessment. In just 25 minutes, I’ll tell you:
- Whether you’re a strong candidate for this competition
- Other grants you may be eligible for
- What other sources of funding we can help you secure
Who is Eligible for this Competition?
Your project
To qualify for the Semiconductors and components for smart electronic platforms competition, your project must:
- Look to mature and accelerate the availability of components required for smart electronic platforms
- Have a grant funding request of £500,000 to £2 million
- Last 12 to 18 months
- Start by 1 August 2026
- End on 31 January 2028
- Be led by a UK-registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
- Be an industrial research project*
*Industrial research projects test how a product, system or component operates in the laboratory or a simulated environment.
Projects can be:
- Undertaken individually by a UK-registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
- Delivered by a group of organisations led by a UK-registered SME
Your organisation
The following organisations can collaborate with an SME:
- A business of any size
- Academic institution
- Charity
- Not for profit
- Public sector organisation
- Research and technology organisation (RTO)
How Much Funding Can I Apply For?
The amount of funding you can apply for depends on whether your work is commercial or economic, i.e. you’re applying on behalf of a business, or not, e.g., you’re applying from an academic institution or research organisation.
Applying as a business
As a business, you can apply for £500,000 to £2 million in grant funding.
How much funding you can apply for depends on the size of your company.
| Micro and Small | Medium | Large | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of Costs Covered | 70% | 60% | 50% |
So, for example, a medium-sized company looking to undertake a project with £1,000,000 in eligible costs can apply for up to £600,000 in grant funding.
The rest will have to be match-funded, i.e. financed with other sources such as revenues, R&D Tax Relief or outside investment.
Non-economic organisations
Non-economic organisations like universities and research institutes can access grants covering a higher percentage of their project costs:
- Up to 100% if you are a charity, not-for-profit, public sector organisation or research organisation
- Up to 80% of your full economics costs if you’re a Je-S registered institution, such as a university
How Do I Apply?
The application for the Semiconductors and components for smart electronic platforms competition has four sections:
- Project details – This section isn’t scored but provides your assessors with valuable background on your project and scope.
- Application questions – The most time-intensive part of your application, consisting of 15 questions, the last nine of which are scored. It covers areas like your approach and deliverables, the team delivering your project and risks.
- Finances – This is where you submit detailed breakdowns of your project costs. It must be completed by each organisation in your consortium, not just the lead.
- Project impact – The final section is where you explain the broader implications of your project. It isn’t scored, but like the first section, offers your assessors important context.
Your application will be reviewed by three independent assessors. Their scores will be added together to give you your final score.
Your final score holds significant sway over whether you receive funding. However, Innovate UK also takes a portfolio approach, meaning it will choose winners that provide a good balance across variables such as types of technology, risk and maturity of innovation.
Applications are made via the Innovation Funding Service (IFS) portal.
Looking for Funding? We’ll Maximise Your Chances
The Semiconductors and components for smart electronic platforms competition is a fantastic opportunity for integrated circuit innovators to secure a game-changing grant.
GrantTree’s grant funding experts can dramatically increase your chances of winning funding, calling on 15 years of experience to ensure you put forward a compelling application that stands out from your competitors.
We offer a wide range of services to suit different budgets and needs, from getting an active Innovate UK assessor to review your application to writing your submission from scratch.
To learn more about how we can help, just get in touch.
