SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) Contracts
UK Government departments (via Innovate UK)
What it funds
100%-funded development contracts (not grants requiring match) where public bodies pay businesses to solve specific challenges — typically £50k-£100k Phase 1, up to £1m Phase 2.
Who can apply
Open to businesses of any size; assessed on ability to deliver the specified public-sector challenge.
Key criteria
- Capability to develop the required solution
How to apply
Respond to live SBRI competitions; phased contracts with milestone payments.
Evidence you'll need
- Technical proposal against the challenge brief
- Delivery plan
- Costs
Last checked against the official source within the last 7 days. Scheme parameters are set by the funder and can change — verify before applying, or let us do it for you.
Related schemes
Innovate UK Grant Competitions
Innovate UK
Rolling portfolio of themed R&D grant competitions for UK businesses, typically funding 25-70% of project costs across feasibility, industrial research and experimental development.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
Innovate UK / UKRI
Funds a high-calibre graduate (Associate) plus academic team embedded in your business for 12-36 months to deliver a strategic innovation project. SMEs typically pay ~33% of project costs.
R&D Tax Relief (Merged Scheme & ERIS)
HMRC
Corporation tax relief on qualifying R&D expenditure. Merged scheme gives a 20% above-the-line credit (~15-16% net); loss-making R&D-intensive SMEs can claim enhanced support (ERIS) worth up to ~27p per £1 of qualifying spend.