Note:
The majority of the funding opportunities listed are specifically targeted at maritime-related projects. However, some are general funding opportunities that, while not exclusively maritime, are still applicable to maritime research and innovation.
UK funding calls – Maritime
- Great British Energy (GBE) Supply Chain Fund: Offshore Wind and Networks. Round 4 by 10 dec 2026
- Maritime and Last Mile Net Zero (MaLaMi) Round 3 Apply before 9 October 2026
- Former LRF funded student, scholar or apprentice can apply Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF) Network to Engineer a Safer Tomorrow (NEST) funding. Apply here
- Future Contract Opportunity: Maintenance of Engines, Propulsion Systems and Associated Equipment for Marine Vessels Find out more
UK funding calls – applicable to maritime
- Advanced Manufacturing: Measurement and Sensing Pilot UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £1 million to support high potential businesses developing a technology, product or service in measurement, instrumentation or sensing for UK manufacturing. Apply by 7 Oct 2026
- Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 – 2027 Round 3: UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £12.5 million to fund innovation projects with businesses. Apply by 14 Oct 2026
- Next generation artificial intelligence (AI): explainable AI: Apply for funding for projects focused on speculative and high-risk fundamental research with the potential to deliver high reward and a step change in the explainability of future AI systems. Apply by 20 Oct 2026
- High performance compute resources for EPSRC communities: Apply for funding to provide high-performance compute resource for engineering and physical sciences communities. Apply by 27 Oct 2026
- Integration of AI/HPC with quantum computing: Apply for funding to deliver collaborative research projects to develop and test integration of quantum computing into high-performance computational workflows, enabling user access and widespread adoption. Apply by 3 Nov 2026
- Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 11, business and non-academic: UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £110 million to deliver ambitious research and innovation and develop future leaders. Apply by 4 Nov 2026
- Transformative sustainable AI technologies: Apply for funding for projects focused on speculative and high-risk research with the potential to deliver a step change in the sustainability of future AI systems. Apply by 10 Nov 2026
- NERC-Innovate UK ICURe Discover programme, nine-week online programme for participants looking to explore the potential of early-stage projects and provides up to £2,500 for market discovery activities Apply by 12 Nov 2026
- MDI Programme Innovation and Scale-up Hub apply for a share of up to £4 million for a Manufacturing Digitalisation Innovation and Scale-up Hub to improve the targeting, quality and commercial impact of grant funded activity. Apply by 18 Nov 2026
- UK-Germany Bilateral Collaborative R&D: Round 5 UK registered SME’s can apply for a share of up to £2.4 million for the purpose of developing innovative proposals with Germany on clean energy, life sciences or engineering biology. Apply by 1 Dec 2026
- UKRI opens £5M funding Enabling AI adoption across science and engineering for exploratory projects that combine AI expertise with scientific or engineering domain expertise Apply by 1 Dec 2026
- Commercialising Knowledge Assets Fund (CKAF) Winter UK registered government research organisations can apply for grants from £50,000 up to £250,000 to move viable public sector knowledge assets towards commercial readiness. Apply by 1 Dec 2026
- UK-Singapore CRD 2026: UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £3 million for the purpose of developing innovative proposals with Singapore. Apply by 16 Dec 2026
- Collaboration for a Sustainable Future: coordinating groups £10k – £100k for coordinating groups to convene communities to produce an output identifying barriers, challenges and potential solutions to institutional collaboration in England’s R&I system. Apply by 7 Jan 2027
- Collaboration for a Sustainable Future: pilots & UK seed funding Funding for higher education providers (£100k – £5M) to pilot new institutional collaborations (England-only) and to seed innovation partnerships (UK-wide) Apply by 4 Feb 2027
- The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has opened its Urgency Funding scheme for researchers needing to respond rapidly to unexpected environmental research opportunities created by transient or sporadic events. Awards can be up to £100,000 Open – no closing date
- Fast Grants for British Progress – Call for Proposals. Applications are considered weekly Find out more and apply
- Statements of Need in Research Infrastructure by EPSRC Open – no closing date
- EPSRC new investigator award: applicant-led mode: Apply for funding to support your transition to research independence. This funding will enable you to develop your own research vision and lead a team. Open – no closing date.
- Strategic infrastructure outlines Minimum £400k award to purchase infrastructure including equipment, resources to improve UK scientific capability and enable cutting-edge research of high priority by EPSRC Open – no closing date
- Rapid Projects Fund by EDRC (Energy Demand Research Centre) Find out more and apply
- SMART: SCOTLAND grants for feasibility studies for SMEs conducting feasibility studies for high-risk, highly ambitious research and development (R&D) projects by Scottish Enterprise Find out more
- Measurement for Business (M4B) Funding by NPL for UK SME to access NPL experts and facilities Find out more and apply
- ICURe Explore programme cohorts Find out more
- Highlands & Islands Enterprise Innovation Grants Find out more
- Made Smarter Adoption and Innovation: Companies in manufacturing could receive support for digital transformation, such as advice and guidance, Training, Digital intern, Match funding up to £20k for purchase of hardware and software. Find out more
- ESA Open Call for Proposals: Proof-of-concept Studies and Pilot Projects Find out more and apply
- ESA Open Call for Proposals: Kick-starts Remaining deadlines: 28 Aug 2026; 30 Oct 2026 Find out more and apply
UK maritime tenders
- Call for tenders on “Provision of Marine Electrical and Mechanical Services” Submit before 22 October 2026
- Call for tenders on “Ardrossan Redevelopment Civils Design” Find out more
- Call for tenders on “Appointment of RSL or Development Partner for Development of Clune Park Site in Port Glasgow” Find out more
- Call for tenders on “Oban 1 Linkspan, Berth and adjacent Slipway Modifications & Repairs. Find out more
- Call for tenders on “Northern Isles Ferry Services 4 (NIFS4)” Find out more
- Call for tenders on “Operators Panel Manager for the Scottish Wave & Tidal Operators Agreement” Find out more
- Call for tenders on “Net Zero Renewable Energy Skills Workshop” Find out more
UK finance/investment opportunities
- Innovation Loans Expression of Interest: UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprises can submit an Expression of Interest for loans for close to market innovative projects with strong commercial potential. They must significantly improve the UK economy and drive societal benefit. No submission deadline. Find out more
- Defence Innovation Loans FY25/26 Cycle 7: Loans of up to £1 million with a below market interest rate of 7.4% per annum to help convert your mature defence innovation into a strong business proposition for defence procurement. Find out more
- British Business Bank Growth Guarantee Scheme support loan sizes of up to £2m and provides the lender with a 70% government-backed guarantee. Find out more
- British Business Bank Investment Funds Find out more
- British Business Bank Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II offers a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans and debt finance from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million. Find out more
- British Business Bank Investment Fund for Wales offers a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans from £25,000 to £100,000, debt finance from £100,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million. Find out more
European funding calls – Maritime
- The Arctic Region: Safety, Navigation and Operations by ESA Apply before 5 November 2026
- Onboard renewable energy solutions and energy saving measures to reduce the fuel consumption of ships by at least 55% (ZEWT Partnership) (HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-14) Apply by 14 Apr 2027
- Prospective evaluation of nuclear power potential for shipping (ZEWT Partnership) (HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-15) Apply by 14 Apr 2027
- Autonomous vessels in short sea shipping and inland waterways (HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-16) Apply by 14 Apr 2027
- Innovative Solutions for mitigating the environmental impact of waterborne transport in marine and aquatic Ecosystems (ZEWT Partnership) (HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-17) Apply by 14 Apr 2027
- Enhanced electric operation and battery durability (ZEWT Partnership) (HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-18) Apply by 14 Apr 2027
European funding – applicable to maritime
Fellowships and posts
Partnership opportunities
- Spanish shipyard looking for a real-world validation partner in research or innovation projects in manufacturing processes using composites, including recycled or innovative materials such as biocomposites and circular solutions. In addition, it also looking for industrial partners or shipbuilders to outsource the manufacturing of components or vessels using composite and sustainable materials, under a manufacturing agreement.
Training opportunities
- Discover Digital Transformation Training Programme by STFC Find out more
- Training opportunities provided by Supplier Development Programme Find out more
Award opportunities
Academic opportunities
- Applications are now open for MAChallenge 2027 Apply before 2 November 2026