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.

Support for UK Business’s

UK funding calls – Maritime

  • 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
  • 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
  • ESA – Enhancing Port Safety and Efficiency through Space Apply before 18 September 2025
  • Open Call for Innovation CY2025 – Cycle 3 by DASA Apply before 23 September 2025
  • Innovation in Support of Operations Phase 2 – Cycle 6 by DASA Apply before 14 October 2025
  • ESA – Coastal resilience to climate change Apply before 31 October 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 will also be informational webinar  for applicants held on 3 September 2025.

UK funding calls – applicable to maritime

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 22 close on 27 August 2025
  • Defence Innovation Loans by DASA. Cycle 3 close on 2 Sep 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

Partnership opportunities

Training opportunities

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