Deadline Date: July 15, 2026
The Innovate UK is requesting grant applications to support the design, development and testing of innovative clean maritime technologies before their deployment in operational maritime environments.
The initiative focuses on pre-deployment testing of innovative clean maritime technologies, the design, development and testing of technologies for on-vessel or maritime infrastructure use, supporting projects across deployment trials, pre-deployment trials and innovative feasibility studies, transforming the United Kingdom into a global leader in the design and manufacturing of clean maritime technology, and accelerating fuels and technologies required to decarbonise the maritime sector and achieve net zero.
The Pre-deployment Trials strand aims to fund projects that design, develop and test innovative clean maritime technologies prior to their deployment. Proposals must focus on technologies intended for on-vessel use, maritime infrastructure applications, or both, with an emphasis on testing and validating solutions before they are implemented in operational settings.
The competition is delivered by Innovate UK, which is part of UK Research and Innovation, and will invest up to £121 million provided by the Department for Transport, subject to the receipt of a sufficient number of high-quality applications. Funding will support projects under three strands of the competition, including deployment trials, pre-deployment trials and innovative feasibility studies.
The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 7 forms part of a broader set of interventions launched through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions programme. This programme aims to strengthen the United Kingdom’s leadership in the design and manufacturing of clean maritime technologies while accelerating the development of fuels and technologies required to decarbonise the maritime sector and support the transition toward net zero.
Eligible projects must have total eligible costs between £750,000 and £6 million. Any funded organisation must carry out its project work in the United Kingdom and must intend to exploit the results of the project from or within the United Kingdom.
Projects must start on the first day of a month, even if it is a non-working day, and must not begin until the Grant Offer Letter has been approved by Innovate UK. Delays during the project setup stage may result in a revised project start date.
For more information, visit GOV.UK.
