Calls to action and opportunities list
Find here the latest opportunities and calls to action for the semiconductor sector.
New Calls and Events
QuantERA Call 2025 Pre-Announcement
We are pleased to inform that the QuantERA network pre-announces a new Call for international research projects in Quantum Technologies. The Call Announcement: expected to be published on 4 September 2025.
Help Shape a New Advanced Packaging Conference at CS/PIC/PE International 2026
With growing industry focus on chiplets, heterogeneous integration, and packaging innovation, we want to explore the need for a technical, application-focused event dedicated to this space.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Innovate UK (IUK) and the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) invite you to attend an online event to hear the latest update on how the Government is supporting the UK’s automotive sector to innovate, scale and invest. Date: 30 June, 01 July, 04 July 2025
Existing Calls and Events
The Open Call for Innovation allows innovative ideas to be proposed to Defence and Security stakeholders, even where a specific requirement has not been stipulated. It is a broad mechanism which allows innovators to present disruptive ideas which may otherwise be overlooked. Closing: 01 July 2025
Organisations can apply for a share of £14 million, inclusive of VAT, to accelerate the development and adoption of quantum sensors and quantum position, navigation, and timing products and services. Competition closes: Wednesday 2 July 2025 11:00am
Investor Partnerships: Clean Energy and Climate Technologies
UK registered SMEs can apply for grant funding alongside private investment from selected investor partners. Innovate UK Growth Catalyst is an integrated package of funding and support, designed to help accelerate high-potential start-ups on their journey to becoming scale-ups and beyond. Closing: 2 July 2025 11:00am
MSI Improving energy or resource efficiency in manufacturing FS
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £2m for feasibility projects to develop new industrial digital technologies leading to a more productive, resilient and sustainable sector. Competition closes: Wednesday 2 July 2025 11:00am
Join us alongside leaders from across the semiconductor sector—from policymakers to industry innovators—to shape what a future National Semiconductor Centre could entail, and connect directly with key stakeholders driving its development. Event date: 07 July 2025, 12.30pm – 4.30pm
UK Space Agency: International Bilateral Fund – Call 2 - Innovate UK Business Connect
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) invites proposals for projects through the second iteration of the International Bilateral Fund (IBF) that will help strengthen the UK space sector’s international partnerships. Registration Closes: 07 July 2025
Wales: A destination for a sustainable collaboration across sectors
The aim of the event is to accelerate the transition to net zero by showcasing successful local authority initiatives, fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors and drive place-based and connected decarbonisation in Wales. Date: 10 July 2025, 10:00-15:30
DASA - Innovation in Support of Operations | Phase 2
Funded by the Ministry of Defence, DASA launches Phase Two of Innovation in Support of Operations - a Themed Competition seeking fast paced scalable proposals across five new challenge areas. Aim: To identify and accelerate innovative solutions and techniques, ensuring they can be scaled and deployed faster than adversaries. Closing: 05 August 2025 12:00 Midday; 14 October 2025 12:00 Midday (BST)
A German SME leads an R&D project to advance ultrafast 2 µm laser bonding of Si, sapphire, and Ge for high-precision, defect-free joining. The consortia seeks an established partner in PIC integration or advanced packaging for validation and use-case input for a German national call. Deadline for EoI: 31 Aug 2025
Global Incubator Programme: Canada - Made Smarter Manufacturing
This Global Incubator Programme (GIP) provides an opportunity for UK-based companies to expand into the Canadian market and collaborate with North America’s largest urban innovation hub. Registration closes: 31 August 2025
Canada-UK NetworkPlus in semiconductor research
Apply for funding to build a Canada-UK academic NetworkPlus in semiconductor research, share expertise in areas of joint interest and seed future projects. Focus on joint research and development strengths in compound semiconductors, photonics, NEMS/MEMS, advanced packaging and chip design. Closing date: 10 September 2025
Horizon Europe 2025 work programme Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space
The European Commission has pre-published all of the 2025 Horizon Europe Work Programmes, which list the funding opportunities under the 2025 call topics. Topics available under Horizon Europe’s Cluster 4 programme for 2025/26, with up to €75m available for the largest single projects. Closing date: 02 October 2025
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch Phase Two of our fast paced Themed Competition Innovation in Support of Operations. Run on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, this competition is looking for innovative proposals that are cost competitive, designed for manufacture, and can be scaled in an approximate twelve-month timeframe. Three competition cycles closing on 20 May 2025 12:00 Midday (BST); 05 August 2025 12:00 Midday (BST); 14 October 2025 12:00 Midday (BST)
The VInnovate Call 2025 will open on 2 May (17:00 CET)
Following the successful implementation of the VInnovate Call 2024, the Vanguard Initiative is launching a second Call in the framework of its own Interregional Funding Mechanism, designed to enable the funding of industry-led international projects. Closing of the submission of “full” proposals: 15 October 2025
Competition overview - Canada-UK Semiconductors - Innovation Funding Service
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to invest at least £1 million in innovation projects. The aim of this competition is to stimulate the development of innovative semiconductor technologies. Competition closes: Wednesday 15 October 2025 11:00am.
Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 10, business and non-academic
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £110 million for ambitious research and innovation projects in any sector, and tailored support to develop careers for future leaders. This funding is from UKRI. Competition opens: Monday 23 June 2025. Competition closes: Wednesday 5 November 2025 11:00am
Open ended calls
The Flexible Skills Programme (FSP) is a Welsh Government funded initiative that helps businesses across Wales build a stronger, more skilled workforce. Employers can apply for funding to cover up to 50% of the accredited training costs, with a maximum value of £50,000 per application.
UK Quantum Skills Taskforce report
The Quantum Skills Taskforce is a sector-wide coalition, including representatives from industry, academia, professional societies, national labs, and government departments and agencies. The Taskforce has considered the current and future skills needs of the sector, and how these needs could be met.
Agile Cymru
Agile Cymru is a scaleable programme of coordinated action, an agile tool to deliver greater economic co-operation at speed, guided by the International Strategy and our economic policies. This includes a flexible grant mechanism to support cross-border and international activity that maximises shared opportunities across themes, sectors, and geographies. Agile Cymru funding can support a wide range of activity; the focus is on the outcome and benefit for Wales.
Made Smarter Innovation Network: Digital & AI in Manufacturing
Made Smarter Innovation has identified AI as a keystone industrial digital technology, strategic to all sectors, and other digital technologies are critical to making AI useful. By filling out this short survey, you will directly contribute to shaping the future of AI and digital technologies within industry.
SMART Flexible Innovation Support (FIS) | Business Wales (gov.wales)
The Welsh Government is building a stronger, fairer, greener country, with an economy based on fair work, sustainability and the sectors of the future. SMART Flexible Innovation Support (FIS) is open to any organisation wishing to engage in Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I), including the third sector, local authorities and health boards. Open ended
Academic-Industry Partnerships In Cardiff Capital Region
Jointly funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) the Academic-Industry Partnerships programme, part of the Cluster Development and Growth Programme, aims to bring together industry and academia to identify innovative solutions to enterprise challenges, particularly amongst micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Open ended
Strategic Innovation Fund: Round 5 Challenges
Innovation Challenge 1: Advanced Energy Transmission and Networks: How can we leverage breakthroughs in semiconductor, superconductor,
and wireless power transmission technologies to enhance grid performance? Projects applying to this challenge should align with and build upon existing UK and international initiatives in advanced energy transmission. Applicants should consider how their innovations complement prior research and industry developments.
The Innovate UK Scaleup Programme: for high potential scaleup businesses
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