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

UK maritime tenders

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

European funding – applicable to maritime

Fellowships and posts

  • Enterprise Fellowships flagship programme for spinouts and startups Stage 1 closes 25 Aug 2026
  • Green Future Fellowships Accelerated International Route by Royal Academy of Engineering Open until September 2027
  • Sector transition: UKRI policy fellowships 2026: spend 18 months as a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) core policy fellow, a Natural Hazards and Resilience policy fellow or a What Works Innovation fellow to inform policy to address pressing national and global challenges. Open until 10 Sep 2026
  • University Research Fellowship: To support the next generation of research leaders to undertake cutting-edge research. The objectives of the URF programme are to enable outstanding early career scientists with the potential to become leaders in their field. 2027 round open until 9 Sep 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