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 – Maritime

UK funding calls – applicable to maritime

  • Local Innovation Partnerships Fund for triple helix partnerships by UKRI. Max award £20k. Apply by 12 Feb 2026.
  • Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) through UKRI: Cycle 5 Apply by 23 Feb 2026; Cycle 6 Apply by 26 Jun 2026; Cycle 7 Apply by 22 Oct 2026. More information here
  • Advanced manufacturing supply chain innovation: feasibility studies. Up to £100k per project funded by Innovate UK for feasibility studies to make supply chains more resource efficient and resilient through addressing cross cutting challenges. Apply by 11 Mar 2026
  • Early Career Development Fund (Only open to Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance members) Apply before 16 March 2026
  • Energy Catalyst round 11 Apply before 25 March 2026
  • Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 – 2027 Round UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £10 million to fund innovation projects with businesses 18-36 months, project cost £100k-300k 1 Apply by 1 Apr 2026
  • What Works Centre (WWC) for local employment support, up to £15M funding available to establish an independent, co-created What Works Centre (WWC) to identify, develop, test, and evaluate evidence-based locally delivered employment support to help people access, remain in, and thrive in good quality work. Apply by 19 May 2026
  • EDI Hub+ Flexible Fund Round 2, Pilot projects (£50k), Scale-up projects (£80k), Evaluation projects (£30k) Apply between 4 Mar – 24 Jun 2026.
  • Pre-announcement: EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships 2027 co-delivered by business and academic partners, aim to create long-term prosperity for the UK Total fund £40M Find out more
  • Statements of Need in Research Infrastructure by EPSRC 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

UK tenders

  • Call for tenders on “Provision of Cromarty-Nigg Ferry Service” Submit before 23 February 2026
  • Call for tenders on “Marine Engineering Support Framework” Submit before 9 March 2026
  • 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

UK finance/investment opportunities

  • 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

European funding – applicable to maritime

Fellowships and posts

  • UK IC Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Apply before 28 April 2026
  • Green Future Fellowships Accelerated International Route by Royal Academy of Engineering Open until September 2027
  • Enterprise Fellowships by Royal Academy of Engineering Apply before 16 February 2026
  • ADR UK Research Fellowships 2025 (RF2025) by ESRC Apply by 26 Feb 2026
  • The Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships scheme by Royal Academy of Engineering supports UK-based academics to deliver impactful engineering research in partnership with industry. Awardees receive £450,000 in Academy funding over five years. Apply by 26 Mar 2026
  • UK Intelligence Community (IC) Postdoctoral Research Fellowships by Royal Academy of Engineering promote unclassified basic research in areas of interest to the intelligence, security and defence communities. Apply before 28 April 2026
  • Pre-announcement: Future Leaders Fellowships: round 11 Open on 2 Feb 2026; Apply before 16 June 2026

Partnership opportunities

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 MacRobert Award for UK engineering innovation Apply by 31 January 2026
  • Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26 by Innovate UK for women founders or co-founders of UK registered SMEs to apply for a package of support that includes a grant of up to £75,000 and bespoke business support, to further their ambitious growth plans. Apply by 4 Feb 2026