Industry Opportunities

Developing Semiconductor Hardware For Critical Technologies

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £5 million from the UKRI Technology Missions Fund in feasibility projects.

The aim of this competition is to encourage exploration of feasibility for innovative ideas with the potential to advance semiconductor hardware that can contribute to the global competitiveness of the UK in the critical technologies.

Competition closes: Thursday 29 May 2025 11:00am

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Calls to action and opportunities list

Find here the latest opportunities and calls to action for the semiconductor sector.

Innovate UK BridgeAI Regional Roadshow Series

As part of the BridgeAI programme, Innovate UK is pleased to introduce a new series of five regional events taking place across UK, aiming to dive into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and its role in impactful innovation. These in-person events are taking place on 29 April, 1, 6, 12 and 19 May 2025 in: Bristol, Newcastle, Swansea, Edinburgh and Belfast.

PBIAA Third for Early-Stage Commercialisation Projects

SWCS PBIAA funding is available for up to 8 early-stage commercialisation projects that require support from expertise and facilities available at Cardiff University Institute for Compound Semiconductors (ICS) or Swansea University Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Manufacture (CISM), or any other Cluster entity, to set up a company and innovate in South Wales. All projects must fall within the early-stage commercialisation category. Closing date: Friday 30 May 2025

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 Mechanismdesigned to enable the funding of industry-led international projects.

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.

National Space Innovation Programme – Call 2

Aim: To fund proposals on any space technology, application or service, UKSA intends to strategically target up to 30% of the Call 2 budget on the theme of “Space Data for Earth Applications”. In support of this theme, projects that seek to deliver capabilities and applications that utilise satellite data to the benefit of UK citizens and grow the economy are welcomed. Close: 08/05/25

Japan-UK Joint call for Quantum Technologies for Innovation

Apply for funding to form world-leading partnerships with collaborators in Japan. This international joint funding opportunity will support research projects in the field of Quantum Technologies. Closing date: 8 May 2025 16:00 UK time.

Royce Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP) Funding Call Round 5

The Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials is offering grant funding for research, development, and innovation sprint projects. Universities, research and technology organisations and companies can apply for funding of total project costs between £50,000 and £130,000 for exploring innovative ideas with a focus on technology translation. A maximum of 3 organisations may collaborate on each project. These awards are not offered to support fundamental research projects.  

DASA - Innovation in Support of Operations | Phase 2

Aim: To identify and accelerate innovative solutions and techniques, ensuring they can be scaled and deployed faster than adversaries. Close: 20/05/25 | 05/08/25 | 14/10/25

Proof of Concept – UKRI

Apply for proof of concept to support the commercialisation of research to enable spinouts or social ventures, licencing or other commercialisation pathways. Applications from any disciplines are welcomed. No pre-existing UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding is required. The programme will not support discovery-driven research. You must be based at a UK research organisation. Closing date: 29 May 2025

Artificial intelligence, engineering biology and quantum technologies: highlight notice – UKRI
Apply for funding for the application of artificial intelligence (AI), engineering biology, and quantum technologies in biomedical research and development. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for MRC funding. Closing date: 29 May 2025

Developing Semiconductor Hardware For Critical Technologies

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £5 million. These feasibility studies will investigate ways to improve semiconductor design and manufacture within the UK to support critical technologies. Closes: 29 May 2025 11am 

Innovation Exchange challenge: Counter Multi-Domain Unmanned Vehicles & Vessels

BAE Systems invites innovative solutions that can support the timely and successful conduct of Counter Multi-Domain Unmanned Vehicles and Vessels (C-UxV) in response to increasingly complex and diverse threats. This opportunity is open to both academic and industrial practitioners. Industrial participants can be established businesses, start-ups or SMEs of any size. Research Technology Organisations (RTOs) such as Catapults are eligible to apply. Registration closes: 30 May 2025

Wales Tech Awards

The Wales Technology Awards 2025 are back for a landmark 10th anniversary. This year the Awards act as the grand finale of Wales Tech Week​, running from the 24th to 26th November all at the same venue. Entries for the Wales Technology Awards 2025 are now open! Award entries close: 16 June 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)

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

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.

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.

Share your news and opportunities with us at comms@csconnected.com.

Events

Find here upcoming events for the semiconductor sector.

Semiconductors and Quantum: How can the UK drive forward these technologies together?

Join techUK, as part of World Quantum Day, as we convene key voices in quantum and semiconductor sectors, exploring how to maximise the continued innovation, growth and commericalisation of these technologies in tandem. 14 April 2025 Online

Defence Spring Dinner 2025

TechUK next Defence Spring Dinner will be held on 22 May 2025 in London.

Share your news and opportunities with us at comms@csconnected.com.