Investor Partnerships Future Economy

A three-year initiative to boost Future Economy-focused SMEs through aligning grant funding for R&D development with investment from partnerships with credible investor partners.

Driving investment into high-growth innovative UK companies

The Investor Partnership Programme is a unique opportunity for high-growth, innovative UK companies to access the funding they need to thrive and succeed. This programme is designed to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are working on cutting-edge technology in the Innovate UK Future Economy areas of:

  • Net Zero
  • Healthy Living and Agriculture
  • Digital and Technologies
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Innovate UK has and continues to partner with a diverse group of credible investor partners, including venture capital funds, corporate investors, business angel groups, and social impact investors from the UK, Europe, and the US. These investors are committed to supporting innovative companies and providing the financing they need to grow and scale.

Past programmes and impact

In 15 investor partnership programmes between 2017 and March 2022

Grant funding to SMEs

£42.8m

Grant funding to SMEs

Aligned equity investment

£123m

Aligned equity investment

Additional partner investment

£373m

Additional partner investment

The Investor Partnership Programme

Innovate UK has launched the Investor Partnerships Programme to provide funding for highly innovative micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the research and development field who require equity funding to develop their technology.

The programme will encourage businesses to seek equity investment and grow their businesses. Innovate UK has chosen investor partners such as venture capital funds, corporate investors, business angel groups, and social impact investors from the UK, Europe, and the US.

The programme will be focused on specific themes for future economy areas that include net zero, health and wellbeing, and critical circular materials, among others.

For more information and support with your application, click here.

The DCMS Create Growth programme also offers investor partnerships to SMEs, working in creative industries in most areas of England other than Greater London: the most recent round closed on 10 January 2024. Click here for archived details.

Investors can apply to become one of Innovate UK’s investor partners through an application process. The most recent round closed on 20 September 2023: click here for archived details.

Investors

This directory provides summary information on the investors selected by Innovate UK as our pool of investor partners. For each investor partners it provides information on their main area of interest and how you should make contact. Each investor partner has demonstrated that they have the credibility, capability, capacity and appetite to invest in innovative, technology-led businesses that align with our investor partnership programmes.

Bloc Ventures

Bloc Ventures is an early-stage venture capital investment company, focused on deep tech companies in the UK and Europe.

More Information

Boundary Capital Partners

Boundary Capital Partners LLP is an impact, for-profit, B2B technology investor.

More Information

LCR Ventures Limited

Our funding is for Liverpool City Region (LCR) based startups.

More Information

Chrysalix Venture Capital

Chrysalix is a global venture capital firm that specialises in transformational industrial innovation.

More Information

Our Experts

Related Opportunities

Unlocking nature-positive private investment

Opens: 12/02/2024 Closes: 10/04/2024

UK businesses can apply for a share of up to £2m to develop solutions that enable private investors to invest in nature positive projects.

More Information

Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2024 to 2025 Round 1

Opens: 13/02/2024 Closes: 10/04/2024

UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £9 million to fund innovation projects with businesses or not for profits.

More Information

Innovate UK innovation loans future economy: round 14

Opens: 07/03/2024 Closes: 01/05/2024

UK registered businesses can apply for loans for innovative projects with strong commercial potential to significantly improve the UK economy.

More Information

Join the community

The community will be a conduit for investors, high growth companies and government funding initiatives with missions to shape the future economy to better highlight, amplify and fund technologies and companies solving the pressing issues of our economies.

Related Sectors

Investment
SECTOR

Investment

Invested in growth, we connect investors to innovators, industry and government, by demystifying the UK Innovation landscape and shaping the future economy.

Read more
Net Zero
SECTOR

Net Zero

The UK has committed to an ambitious Net Zero target by 2050. To help realise these goals, we are delivering a range of solutions that will have an impact on the large-scale change the planet needs.

Read more
Health
SECTOR

Health

Health is critical to our wellbeing as individuals, plays a key role in societal and economic advances, and presents many opportunities for environmental impact.

Read more
Digital
SECTOR

Digital

The Innovate UK Business Connect Digital team helps organisations interested in Digital innovation to access funding, expert knowledge and to make powerful and diverse connections.

Read more

Close

Connect with Innovate UK Business Connect

Join Innovate UK Business Connect's mailing list to receive updates on funding opportunities, events and to access Innovate UK Business Connect's deep expertise. Please check your email to confirm your subscription and select your area(s) of interest.