UK-Germany Collaborative Innova

Animal Research Rule: Projects involving animals must comply with UKRI animal welfare guidance.

Appendices Required: Appendix for innovation approach. Project plan or Gantt chart. Risk register. Team summary appendix.

Application Limit: A UK business can lead one application and collaborate in one further application. If not leading, a UK business can collaborate in up to two applications. Academic institutions and RTOs can collaborate in any number of applications.

Application Platform: Innovation Funding Service

Application Sections: Project details. Application questions. Finances. Project Impact.

Assessment Process: Reviewed by five independent assessors. Portfolio approach applied. Project must be independently selected by both Innovate UK and BMFTR.

Collaboration Rules: Collaboration only. UK lead must be a business. Consortium must include at least one separate German business entity. No single partner may account for more than 70% of total eligible costs.

Competitiveness: Approximately 30% chance of success based on similar competitions.

Decision Risks: Portfolio approach may limit awards. Outstanding payments to Innovate UK may affect decision. Failure to comply with previous grant terms may affect eligibility.

Decision Timeline: Applicants notified 27 July 2026.

Eligible Expenses: Eligible project costs under Innovate UK rules.

Eligible Scope: Development, prototyping and testing of commercial quantum technologies. Must demonstrate co-innovation and commercial potential. Must include global market exploitation plan.

Funding Intensity: Up to 70% for micro or small organisations. Up to 60% for medium organisations. Up to 50% for large organisations. Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity can share up to 30% of total eligible costs. RTOs can receive up to 100% of eligible costs. Academic institutions can receive 80% FEC.

Important Notes: UK and German partners are funded separately by respective national bodies. German partners do not receive UK funding. Project title must match German submission. Project must not start before Grant Offer Letter approval. Funding subject to sufficient high quality applications.

Ineligible Projects: Market research or landscape studies. Projects outside specified themes. Projects not advancing second generation quantum technologies. Projects dependent on export performance or domestic input usage.

Key Requirements: Balanced technological contribution from both countries. Clear commercial exploitation plan. Equal significance to participants. Majority of work undertaken in UK and Germany.

Match Funding Requirement: Required where grant does not cover full eligible costs. Balance must be funded by organisation.

Project Duration: 18 to 24 months

Project End Date: 2028-10-31 00:00:00

Project Start Date: 2026-11-01 00:00:00

Publication Date: 2026-02-13 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: A previously assessed application can be resubmitted once if not materially different.

Research Categories: Feasibility studies. Industrial research.

Sanctions Rule: Funding will not be provided where it breaches UK sanctions.

Specific Themes: Technologies to scale practical quantum computing. Commercial quantum computing software solutions and services. Industrial products and scalable quantum systems. Quantum sensing applications.

State Aid Consideration: EU State aid rules may apply in limited circumstances under Windsor Framework.

Subcontractors: Allowed up to 20% of total eligible UK participation costs. Overseas subcontractors must be justified. Lower cost alone is not sufficient reason.

Subsidy Scheme: Award classified as a Subsidy under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Not part of Minimal Financial Assistance.

Total Fund Available: Up to £3,000,000