Semiconductors: smart electronic platforms
Innovate UK · United Kingdom
Innovate UK will invest up to £18.5 million to support projects that mature and accelerate the availability of components that include semiconductors or novel technologies. Projects must deliver reusable components ready for integration into smart electronic platforms used in industrial and tactical edge environments.
Summary
Deadline
1 Apr 2026
Complexity
Medium
Time to apply
20-60 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
Innovate UK will invest up to £18.5 million to support projects that mature and accelerate the availability of components that include semiconductors or novel technologies. Projects must deliver reusable components ready for integration into smart electronic platforms used in industrial and tactical edge environments.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Business
Business size
SME, Large
Industries
Industrial automation and autonomy sectors. Target environments include Industrial Edge and Tactical Edge.
Match funding
Required
Requirements
UK registered businesses. To lead a collaborative project, the lead must be a UK registered business. To apply alone, the applicant must be a UK registered SME. UK registered business must lead per Semiconductors smart electronic platforms competition. Development of reusable components for integration into smart electronic platforms. Components must support the Sense, Decide, Act pipeline or p...
Eligible applicants
UK registered businesses. To lead a collaborative project, the lead must be a UK registered business. To apply alone, the applicant must be a UK registered SME.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Total eligible grant funding request must be between £500,000 and £2,000,000
Total fund available
£18,500,000
Funding intensity
Industrial research funding up to 70% for micro or small organisations, up to 60% for medium organisations, up to 50% for large organisations. Research organisations may receive up to 100% of eligible costs or 80% FEC where applicable.
Payment type
Reimbursement (in arrears)
Eligible scope
Development of reusable components for integration into smart electronic platforms. Components must support the Sense, Decide, Act pipeline or platform enablement.
Eligible expenses
- Eligible project costs as defined under Innovate UK project cost guidance. Includes industrial research costs aligned to the competition rules.
Ineligible costs
- Costs not eligible under Innovate UK IFS competition guidance.
Application and risks
Application platform
Innovation Funding Service
Competitiveness
Closed / Not accepting applications
Decision timeline
Not specified
Assessment process
Assessed by three independent assessors. Portfolio approach applied. Projects over £1 million may be invited to interview.
Application sections
- Project details, application questions, finances, project impact. Technical diagram, project plan, risk register and optional letters may be required as appendices.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Portfolio balancing may limit awards. Failure to meet eligibility, scope or funding limits results in rejection. Outstanding financial issues with Innovate UK may affect funding decision.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
Not specified
Project duration
12 to 18 months
Project start
31 Jul 2026
Project end
30 Jan 2028
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Collaborative projects must include at least one UK registered SME claiming grant funding. No partner may account for more than 70% of total eligible costs.
Consortium requirements
- Collaborations permitted; UK registered business lead.
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Research Participation Limit","value":"Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity can share up to 30% of total eligible project costs."},{"label":"Eligible Research Category","value":"Category 2 Industrial Research."},{"label":"Subsidy Scheme","value":"Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Subsidy Scheme under the Subsidy Control Act 2022."},{"label":"Eligible Component Types","value":"Integrated sensors, secure processors, AI hardware accelerators, actuator drivers, power management components, hardware security modules, memory and storage components, data routing components."},{"label":"Integration Requirement","value":"Components must be delivered in a consumable format. Must be ready for integration as in-package components or packaged parts for PCB integration."},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"Define target use case supporting automation or autonomy. Define functional interfaces and reusability. Demonstrate adoption potential by third party integrators. Provide market estimation and USP."},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Interviews held between 19 May and 22 May 2026. Presentation required. Final score may supersede written assessment score."},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Allowed. Overseas subcontractors must be justified. Costs must be appropriate and justified."},{"label":"Sanctions Rule","value":"Funding will not be provided where it would breach UK sanctions."},{"label":"Previous Application Rule","value":"Previously assessed applications may be resubmitted once if not materially different."},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"Projects must start on the first of the month. Work must be carried out in the UK. Results must be exploited from or in the UK. Public funding classified as a subsidy under the Subsidy Control Act 2022."}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 1 Apr 2026
- Funding amount
- Total eligible grant funding request must be between £500,000 and £2,000,000
- Funding band
- Large (£5M+)
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Reimbursement (in arrears)
- Audience
- Business
- Industry
- Industrial automation and autonomy sectors. Target environments include Industrial Edge and Tactical Edge.
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- Not specified