Growth Catalyst Pilot Programme for Early-Stage Startups (UK)

It offers services and funding to successful applicants in high-potential start-up businesses to accelerate their progress to becoming scaleups and beyond.

The pilot round of Growth Catalyst is for early-stage micro and small (pre-seed) startups on their initial journey to develop and validate technical and commercial elements of their innovation.

Scope

• This Growth Catalyst pilot is for early-stage micro and small (pre-seed) startups working in any of the following five areas from the government’s frontier technologies:
  • Advanced connectivity technologies (formerly called future telecoms)
    • Projects that accelerate development of advanced connectivity technologies. Projects must focus on one or more of the following key technology domains as they apply specifically to the telecoms sector:
      • Compound Semiconductors & Photonic Integrated Circuits – design and fabrication for advanced connectivity applications
      • Advanced RF & Optical Wireless – wireless technologies across the electromagnetic spectrum, from RF to visible light
      • AI, Network Management & Design – AI-driven approaches to optimise, automate, and secure network infrastructure
      • Secure, Resilient & Quantum-Safe Communications – innovations to protect critical infrastructure and ensure future-proof security
  • Artificial intelligence
    • Novel AI tools, technologies or services across the AI stack
    • Clear, game-changing interventions that will contribute towards the development of trusted and responsible AI and ML solutions
  • Engineering biology
    • Engineering biology encompasses the wider capabilities and ecosystem that supports the exploitation of synthetic biology for economic and public benefit. Synthetic Biology is the design, engineering and re-engineering of biologically based parts, devices and systems. They will support projects that:
      • Develop new engineering biology tools, technologies or services
      • Use innovation in engineering biology to develop new products or processes, including more sustainable manufacturing processes
  • Quantum technologies
    • Industrial products, processes or services to advance scalable solutions such as chip scale quantum, photonic and optoelectronic systems for applied quantum technologies
    • Technologies (such as qubit processor, networking, switching or control systems) for scaling quantum computers
    • Commercial hybrid quantum – classical software applications and services
  • Semiconductors
    • They seek to support semiconductor design, materials and manufacture within the UK which:
      • identify or deliver a clear, game-changing intervention and address an identified industrial requirement or improvement
      • realistically and significantly meet and provide a long-term commitment to supporting the UK semiconductor industry

Award Information

• Innovate UK’s Growth Catalyst for Early-Stage Startups offers successful applicants:
  • Grant funding of between £25,000 and £50,000 from Innovate UK through the New Innovator scheme. Your total project costs will be 100% funded.
  • Innovation and business growth support from Innovate UK Business Growth, depending on business needs.
  • Facilitation of sector and industry connections and networks via Innovate UK Business Connect, depending on business needs.
  • Introductions to Catapults and access to specialised technical expertise and infrastructure, depending on business needs.
  • Learning tools and workshops to enhance innovation capabilities.

Duration

• This pilot funds projects which run for 3-6 months, to be completed by 30 April 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Growth Catalyst for early-stage startups is only open to companies who have not previously received a Grant directly from Innovate UK.
• However, you are still eligible to apply if you have received funding:
  • through Innovate UK’s Young Innovators scheme
  • directly from Innovate UK Business Growth (previously Innovate UK EDGE)
  • directly from a Catapult scheme
• Your company must have fewer than 50 employees.
• You must have an active business registered with Companies House by the time the project begins, with accounts filed on time if applicable.

For more information, visit Innovate UK.