Maritime Funding Opportunities

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

  • New Innovators in Marine and Maritime, Great South West by Innovate UK Launchpad Apply before 2 July 2025
  • Improving energy or resource efficiency in manufacturing by Innovate UK Apply by 2 July 2025
  • MSI Improving energy or resource efficiency in manufacturing FS by Innovate UK Apply before 2 July 2025
  • Clean Futures Accelerator: Trial Opportunity for SMEs by CPC Apply before 6 July 2025
  • ISPF International Collaboration Awards by The Royal Society Apply before 8 July 2025
  • DIANA’s Challenge for 2026 Cohort by NATO, which include Energy and Power, Operations in Extreme Environments, Maritime Operations, Autonomy & Unmanned Systems, Data Assisted Decision Making Apply before 11 July 2025
  • Scottish Inward Investment Catalyst Fund by Scottish Government for companies not yet located in Scotland but with an interest in developing a presence Apply before 11 July 2025
  • Horizon Europe Pump Priming collaboration opportunities 2025 by Innovate UK for UK SMEs Apply before 15 July 2025
  • Global Business Innovation Programme – Maritime Technologies South Korea 2025 by Innovate UK Apply before 16 July 2025
  • Marine Fund Scotland Marine and fisheries grants by Scottish Ministers to support eligible individuals, businesses, organisations and communities to deliver projects which contribute to an innovative and sustainable marine economy, reducing carbon emissions and supporting coastal communities Apply before 22 July 2025
  • Phase 2 (Cycle 5) of Themed Competition Innovation in Support of Operations by DASA Apply before 5 August 2025
  • The Captain’s Table launches 2025 startup competition for entrepreneurs seeking to connect with the shipping industry and scale their businesses across Asia and globally Apply before 31 August 2025
  • Flexible funding by Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) Hub Virtual sandpit sessions on 18 June 2025 and 8 July 2025
  • Global Safety Evidence Centre funding call 2025 by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, open to academic institutions, research organisations, non-profit organisations and industry worldwide. These grants are intended to create evidence to improve understanding and sharing of which safety interventions work; inform decision making; and highlight and fill knowledge and data gaps, ultimately influencing others to act and leading to better safety outcomes. Submit Expression of Interest by 17 Sep 2025
  • Statements of Need in Research Infrastructure 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 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
  • ICURe Discover programme cohorts Find out more
  • ICURe Engage programme cohorts Find out more

UK fellowships

UK tenders

UK finance/investment opportunities

  • Innovation loans future economy by Innovation UK for SMEs support loans between £100,000 and £2 million. Round 21 close on 2 July 2025. Round 22 close on 27 August 2025
  • Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) Defence Innovation Loan support loans between £100,000 and £1 million with a below market interest rate of 7.4% per annum.
  • 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

Partnership opportunities

Training opportunities

  • Discover Digital Transformation Training Programme by STFC Find out more
  • Training opportunities provided by Supplier Development Programme Find out more