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
- Coast-R Network Small Grants Fund Apply before 31 October 2025
- IUK The Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder programme: Feasibility studies 2 funds projects with requests between £100k and £250k to accelerate technological capability with focus on high value market segments in the early commercialisation of these technologies, whilst also ensuring these are safe and secure for all. Apply by 26 November 2025
- IUK The Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder programme: Demonstrate funds projects with requests between £500k and £2M to support the development of products and CAM enabling services that prove enhanced capability and unlock clear commercial opportunities in CAM within the UK. Apply by 17 December 2025
- IUK The Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder programme: Enable funds projects with requests between £2M and £4M to conduct trials led by service operators or entities who benefit directly from the end use of CAM in live or analogous settings. Apply by 17 December 2025
- Lloyd’s Register Foundation is inviting organisations and communities to apply to its new Maritime Connected funding offer, as it looks to fund projects and initiatives aimed at connecting parts of the maritime system in relation to current or future safety challenges. The closing date for applications is 6th February 2026, there was an informational webinar for applicants held on 3 September 2025.
- Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF) Small Grants scheme offer grants up to £10k for building partnerships or conduct pilot studies. Second round application by 13th April 2026
- Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF) Heritage Grants Call offer grants for projects on Safety, Equity & Transparency, and Transitions (ships, ports, technical transitions) with value from £200k to £500k. Deadline for Expression of Interest is 24 November 2025.
UK funding calls – applicable to maritime
- IUK Made Smarter Innovation: SME Resource and Energy Efficiency Competitions, for UK-based industrial digital technologists and manufacturing organisations to secure grants to address resource and energy efficiency through digital innovation (Feasibility studies £25k – £150k; Industrial research £200k – £1M). Apply by 10 Dec 2025
- IUK is offering Travel Support of up to £750 for companies to attend Horizon Europe consortia building events in Europe. Apply by various dates
- Sustainability: European Business & Nature Summit 23-24 Oct 2025, Helsinki;
- Transport: Tomorrow Mobility World Congress 4-6 Nov 2025 Barcelona;
- Transport: Rostock Ocean Convention 4-5 Nov 2025 Rostock;
- Addressing nuclear fission challenges for a prosperous future by EPSRC. Apply before 15 Jan 2026
- Local Innovation Partnerships Fund pre-announcement by UKRI. Apply by 12 Feb 2026.
- 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 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
UK fellowships
- Engineering Leaders Scholarship Applications re-open on 28 October 2025
- RAE Green Future Fellowships by Royal Academy of Engineering Apply before 18 November 2025
- Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 10, business and non-academic by UKRI Apply before 5 November 2025
- RAEng / Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowships Apply before 13 November 2025
- Green Future Fellowships Accelerated International Route by Royal Academy of Engineering Open until September 2027
UK tenders
- Call for tenders on “Marine Vessel Replacement Project” 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 “Supply and Delivery of Marine Grade Gas Oil to Shetland Islands Council” Submit before 3 November 2025
- Call for tenders on “Scottish Cluster Scheme: Artificial Intelligence” Submit before 27 October 2025
UK finance/investment opportunities
- Scottish Inward Investment Catalyst Fund Apply before 7 November 2025
- 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
- ESA – Coastal resilience to climate change Apply before 31 October 2025
- ESA – Green hydrogen as a sustainable energy source Apply before 6 November 2025
- Real time monitoring of regulated and non-regulated emissions from all types of vessels and other port activities in order to enforce emission limits in waterfront cities (HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D5-17) by EC Apply before 20 Jan 2026
- Accelerating freight transport and logistics digital innovation (HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D6-08) by EC Apply before 20 Jan 2026
- Reliable data and practices to measure and calculate transport emissions in multimodal transport chains (HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D6-09) by EC Apply before 20 Jan 2026
- Integrating inland waterway transport in smart shipping and multimodal logistics chains (HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D6-10) by EC Apply before 20 Jan 2026
- Large-scale production of liquid advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin (HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-01) by EC Apply before 17 February 2026
- Competitiveness, energy security and integration aspects of advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin value chains (HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-02) by EC Apply before 17 Feb 2026
- Improved reliability and optimised operations and maintenance for wind energy systems (HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-07) by EC Apply before 17 February 2026
- Understand and minimise the environmental impacts of offshore wind energy (HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-08) by EC Apply before 17 February 2026
- De-risking wave energy technology development through transnational pre-commercial procurement of wave energy research and development (HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-13) by EC Apply before 17 Feb 2026
- Development of innovative solutions strengthening the security of renewable energy value chains (HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-14) by EC Apply before 17 February 2026
- Innovative solutions for a generative AI-powered digital spine of the EU energy system (HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-19) by EC Apply before 17 February 2026
- Innovative tools and services to manage and empower energy communities (HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-20) by EC Apply before 17 February 2026
- New CO2 capture technologies (HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-24) by EC Apply before 17 Feb 2026
European funding – applicable to maritime
- SMEs are invited to submit proposal to receive up to €150,000 to co-develop AI-powered services and technologies aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and resource optimisation. Selected participants will join a 10-month support programme offering mentoring, solution development, pilot site integration, and business scaling support. Funded by COSMIC, EC. Apply before 27 Oct 2025
- Researchers are invited to apply for Exchange Scheme open call, which promotes interactions and strengthens research collaboration among researchers across Europe by granting researchers with a mobility allowance of 2.400€/month (up to 14.400€ in total) for them to carry out research activities in ENFIELD partner organizations for 3-6 months. Apply before 31 Oct 2025
- Development of sustainable and design-to-cost batteries with (energy-)efficient manufacturing processes and based on advanced and safer materials (Batt4EU Partnership) (HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D2-01) by EC Apply before 20 Jan 2026
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
- The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards (11 categories) Apply before 11 December 2025
- The MacRobert Award for UK engineering innovation Apply before 31 January 2026