Global innovation funding guide

Innovation Orbit 2026 is FI Group by EPSA’s international guide to grants, R&D tax credits and public incentives for businesses planning R&D, CAPEX, digital transformation or decarbonisation projects. It gives senior finance, tax and innovation teams a clear view of how support differs by country, which project types tend to attract funding, and what evidence companies need before making a claim or application.

The guide covers EU funding programmes and country-by-country incentives across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania. It is designed for companies that need to compare markets, prioritise investment plans and reduce compliance risk before committing internal resource.

What is Innovation Orbit 2026?

Innovation Orbit 2026 brings together FI Group by EPSA’s international tax and grants guidance in one resource.

It explains how governments are using public funding to support innovation, industrial investment, clean technologies, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and strategic growth. It also shows why companies need to assess incentives with care, as rules on eligibility, documentation, IP ownership, State aid, grant cumulation and local substance vary by jurisdiction.

The guide is not a substitute for project-specific advice. Its value is in helping companies identify where funding opportunities may exist, how different countries structure support, and what questions should be answered before a funding strategy is built.

Key facts about the guide

Area	Detail
Resource	Innovation Orbit 2026
Publisher	FI Group by EPSA
Topic	Global grants, R&D tax credits and innovation funding
Coverage	Europe, Americas, Asia and Oceania
Main users	CFOs, tax teams, innovation leaders, R&D teams and strategy teams
Project focus	R&D, CAPEX, digital transformation, decarbonisation, industrial investment and strategic technologies
Funding types	Grants, tax credits, loans, subsidies, social security reductions and IP-related regimes
Use case	Compare markets, identify potential opportunities and plan next steps

Which countries and regions are covered?

Innovation Orbit 2026 includes guidance on funding opportunities across:

Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and European Union grants.

The European Union section also covers major funding programmes and policy frameworks, including Horizon Europe, the European Defence Fund, the Innovation Fund, LIFE, Digital Europe, Interreg, Eureka, Eurostars, IPCEIs, REPowerEU and EU4Health.

What is inside the guide?

The guide is structured to help businesses move from high-level market comparison to more practical funding assessment.

Section	What it helps you understand
Global funding insights	How innovation funding is changing across mature and emerging economies
Specialist point of view	Why companies should treat funding as a strategic capability rather than a one-off claim
EU grants	How European programmes, State aid rules and funding mechanisms fit together
Country sections	Main grant and R&D tax routes, eligible expenditure, claim processes and practical considerations
Success stories	Examples of how FI Group by EPSA teams have supported funding, tax and compliance work
Continent tables	Which sectors and project types are most likely to attract public funding by market

Why does this matter for companies planning innovation investment?

Public funding can affect cash flow, project viability and investment timing. It can also create risk if companies apply without the right evidence, use the wrong incentive route or overlook compatibility rules.

For international groups, the challenge is greater. A project may be eligible in one country and out of scope in another. Some regimes focus on local R&D costs, while others allow certain overseas activity. Some incentives require pre-approval, while others are claimed after expenditure has been incurred. Grants may also affect the tax relief available on the same cost base.

Innovation Orbit 2026 helps companies ask better questions earlier:

• Which markets offer relevant incentives for our project pipeline?
• Are our projects more likely to qualify for grants, R&D tax credits or both?
• What documentation will we need before we apply or claim?
• How do IP, subcontracting, group structures and local substance affect eligibility?
• Where could public funding support investment, risk reduction or faster deployment?

Who should download Innovation Orbit 2026?

The guide is relevant for organisations that are planning, funding or managing innovation-led investment, especially across more than one market.

It is particularly useful for:

• CFOs and finance directors assessing the funding impact of investment plans
• Tax directors managing R&D tax credits, IP regimes and audit exposure
• Innovation and R&D leaders building project pipelines
• Strategy teams comparing international growth or investment locations
• Sustainability and operations teams planning decarbonisation or energy-efficiency projects
• Manufacturing, technology, engineering, life sciences and clean tech businesses
• Scale-ups looking for non-dilutive funding routes
• International groups seeking a more coordinated approach to incentives

Download Innovation Orbit 2026

Use the guide to compare international innovation funding opportunities and identify where your organisation may need a more detailed assessment.

Download FI Group by EPSA’s European Grants Calendar for the second half of 2026 and plan ahead for key Horizon Europe, EIC, LIFE, Eurostars and EU innovation funding deadlines.

Plan Your 2026 European Grant Applications with Confidence

European grant funding can support ambitious innovation, research and development, clean energy, digital transformation, advanced manufacturing, health, mobility and sustainability projects. The challenge for many companies is not only finding the right funding opportunity, but preparing early enough to build a strong, compliant and competitive application.

The European Grants Calendar 2026: Second Semester from FI Group by EPSA gives businesses a clear overview of upcoming EU grant deadlines from July to December 2026. It is designed as a practical planning tool for companies, innovation teams and finance leaders who need to identify relevant funding windows before they close.

The calendar includes key deadlines across major European funding areas, including SMEs and entrepreneurship, digital, industry and space, climate, energy, mobility, health, food and bioeconomy, security, regions and cities, and education and institutions.

Future Offshore Wind Technologies Grant 2026 Guide

– Download the guide below –

The UK offshore wind sector is entering a new phase of industrial expansion, driven by supply chain pressure, floating wind deployment, grid infrastructure investment, and the government’s Clean Power 2030 ambitions.

FI Group by EPSA’s latest guide explores the £10 million Innovate UK Future Offshore Wind Technologies competition, focusing specifically on Strand 2: Industrial Research (Competition 2433).

This guide has been developed for CFOs, innovation leaders, engineering directors, and offshore wind businesses evaluating collaborative R&D funding opportunities in 2026.

What Is Covered in the Guide?

The guide provides a detailed commercial and technical overview of the competition, including:

• Offshore wind market context and AR7 implications
• Innovate UK competition structure and timelines
• Eligible project types and technology priorities
• Funding rates and consortium models
• Cash flow and reimbursement mechanics
• Subsidy control and compliance considerations
• R&D tax interaction
• Risk analysis for offshore wind projects
• Adjacent UK and international funding opportunities

The document is designed as a practical decision-making resource for companies assessing whether to participate in the competition and how to structure applications effectively.

A practical guide to a highly competitive AI funding competition

If you are planning to apply for Innovate UK’s AI Champions: Frontier AI Phase 1 competition, this guide will help you understand what the fund is looking for and how to build a stronger application.

Created by FI Group by EPSA, this downloadable guide explains the scheme’s core requirements, the assessment focus, common weaknesses and the practical signals that separate credible applications from those that are unlikely to progress. The competition is aimed at single UK-registered SME applicants, for projects starting at TRL 3 or below, with eligible costs between £150,000 and £250,000 over 3 to 6 months.

What the guide covers

Eligibility and scope

Understand who can apply, what makes a project eligible, and where bids commonly fall out of scope. The guide explains the key constraints around applicant type, project structure, TRL starting point and the requirement for AI to be the core technical innovation.

What assessors are really looking for

Learn how assessors review technical need, development and validation, IP and defensibility, team capability, market route, risks and value for money. The guide translates the assessment logic into practical application advice.

How to build a more credible technical case

The strongest bids do more than describe an idea. They show a named baseline, numeric targets, validation thresholds, defined datasets and a clear compute plan. Our guide shows how to structure that case more convincingly.

Common reasons applications score poorly

Weak theme alignment, vague validation, unclear IP, unsupported market claims and procedural mistakes can all damage an application. The guide highlights the failure modes applicants should address early.

How to approach the application more strategically

The competition is structured through the Innovation Funding Service and assessed by independent reviewers. Our guide explains how to shape a Phase 1 proposal that reads as feasible, evidence-led and commercially relevant.

Understand the £300 million capital grant fund for offshore wind and electricity networks manufacturing.

Planning a new facility or expanding UK manufacturing capacity for eligible critical components? This guide explains how the Great British Energy Supply Chain Fund works, what is in scope, how applications are assessed, and how to build a stronger case for assistance.

What’s inside the guide

What you’ll learn

• who can apply, including the Companies Act 2006 requirement
• which critical components are in scope
• what counts as eligible CapEx and what is excluded
• how the four-stage application process works
• how to approach minimum necessary funding and value for money
• the key round deadlines and delivery window
• the commercial issues that can strengthen or weaken your application

Stay ahead of key EU funding deadlines with our 2026 First Semester European Grants Calendar.

This practical, easy-to-use guide provides a clear overview of upcoming European grant calls, helping you plan submissions, allocate internal resources, and align your innovation strategy with funding opportunities.

Designed for businesses, research organisations, and innovation-driven teams, this calendar keeps you informed and prepared throughout H1 2026.

Download your copy now and ensure you never miss a strategic funding opportunity.

Innovate UK DRIVE35 2026 CFO Guide: funding, eligibility and bid strategy

Download a CFO-ready view of DRIVE35, before you commit resources

DRIVE35 is a competitive Innovate UK grant competition for late-stage, pre-production automotive innovation. The scheme is built for delivery credibility and value for money, not just technical merit. Download this guide to pressure-test eligibility, model the cash and match-funding profile, and avoid common bid failures.

↓  Scroll to the bottom of the page to download  ↓

What this guide helps a CFO do

If you are deciding whether to back a DRIVE35 bid, you need clarity on cash exposure, governance, and compliance readiness. This guide focuses on the core finance questions that typically derail bids late, including match funding evidence, subsidy constraints, and cost traceability to milestones.

You will get:

• A 60-second eligibility screen to validate consortium and funding guardrails
• The non-negotiables: grant cap, match funding, commercial spend mix, viability checks
• A finance-led view of what “value for money” means in practice
• The bid and due diligence pathway, including the APC interview and post-award assurance expectations

Key facts at a glance

• Competition window: Opens Monday 5 January 2026, closes Wednesday 18 March 2026 (11:00am UK time)
• Total funding available: Up to £33 million
• Grant request limit: Up to £25 million and no more than 50% of total eligible project costs
• Delivery profile: Late-stage, pre-production, with a credible route to commercial deployment
• Compliance context: Subsidy Control framework and financial viability checks apply

Who should download this

This guide is written for decision-makers who are accountable for funding risk, delivery assurance, and audit readiness, including:

• CFOs and Finance Directors
• Heads of Tax and Group Controllers
• Programme Directors and PMO leads responsible for milestone delivery
• Consortium leads coordinating OEM, Tier 1 and SME participation

The eligibility and funding guardrails to validate first

Before any work starts, you should validate the constraints that routinely cause bids to fail at sift or during assessment:

• The consortium must include a vehicle manufacturer or Tier 1 supplier to an OEM, plus at least one UK SME claiming grant funding
• Grant share is capped at 50% of total eligible project costs, and projects must be at least 50% match funded
• At least 70% of total project costs must be incurred by commercial organisations
• The lead must be a UK-registered business and a grant-claiming recipient, with delivery governance and a near-final collaboration agreement expected by interview stage

Common pitfalls the guide helps you avoid

Innovate UK assess delivery credibility and value for money as heavily as the technology. The guide highlights recurring failure modes, including:

• Weak consortium fit, including missing OEM or Tier 1 coverage and unclear partner roles
• Thin value for money narrative, where UK outcomes are not quantified and “minimum required” grant is not evidenced
• Cost and funding misalignment, including ineligible costs, breached caps, unproven match funding, and budgets not anchored to milestones

How FI Group supports DRIVE35 bids

Applying to DRIVE35 is technically demanding and commercially scrutinised. FI Group supports the end-to-end process, from fit assessment through financial modelling, submission, and APC interview readiness, with a focus on compliance, evidence quality, and audit-ready delivery.

Support typically covers:

• Confirming DRIVE35 fit (scope, TRL/MRL targeting, theme alignment, guardrails)
• Structuring the consortium, governance, and partner responsibilities
• Building an auditable budget aligned to milestones and funding rates, including modelling the 3.5% APC industrial contribution impact
• Writing and reviewing IFS answers for scoring alignment and Subsidy Control defensibility
• Preparing the APC interview pack, economic response, and evidence set for due diligence

 

The funding problem facing finance leaders in 2025

Throughout 2025, many CFOs have expressed the same frustration. Despite strong innovation pipelines, the pool of UKRI funding calls that are genuinely open to any technology has been narrow, sporadic and highly thematic. Even where there is a fit, finance teams are left to decode complex rules on grant rates, matched investment and “value for money”, with little time to decide whether a competition is worth the distraction.

Growth Catalyst 2025 is one of the few cross sector Innovate UK opportunities that is large enough to move the needle on runway, cost of capital and investor confidence. It also comes with a higher evidential bar, a formal Investor Partner requirement and a tight window between opening and deadline.

This downloadable guide is written specifically for CFOs, Finance Directors and Heads of Tax who need to make a clear, defensible call on Growth Catalyst without getting lost in scheme jargon.

What you will learn (and use immediately)

By downloading the guide, you will gain a structured way to answer three core questions:

• Does Growth Catalyst meaningfully change our runway and cost of capital, or is a standard equity round cleaner?
• Can we evidence serious investor intent at the level Innovate UK expects, not just informal interest or soft commitments?
• Is this the right moment to commit scarce internal resource to a competitive, investor led grant process?

Rather than repeating the competition brief, the guide reframes Growth Catalyst through a finance lens, so you can decide quickly whether to proceed, park or decline.

Inside the guide

The resource distils Growth Catalyst into a practical decision tool, including:

• A 60 second eligibility screen for finance teams, focused on technology scope, maturity and investor readiness
• A breakdown of grant rates, project sizes and investor multiples, translated into capital stack language
• A simple framework to model runway, dilution and burn multiple with and without Growth Catalyst
• An overview of the assessment criteria and scoring lenses, so you see what assessors will actually reward
• A checklist for aligning your Investor Partner conversations with Innovate UK expectations

You can use the guide as a standalone reference for internal discussion, or as a starting point for deeper modelling with your board and investors.

Why FI Group is a strategic partner for CFOs

FI Group is a specialist advisory firm focused on R&D tax incentives and innovation funding, supporting more than 15,000 clients across 20 plus countries. Our UK team works daily at the intersection of public funding, private capital and compliance, helping finance leaders integrate schemes such as Innovate UK calls, Horizon Europe and national R&D tax relief into a coherent funding strategy. Global operations do not need global headaches. Your HQ sees the full picture. Your teams feel the local support.

As Dr Fawzi Abou Chahine, Funding Director at FI Group UK, puts it:

“Calls like Growth Catalyst can be transformational, but only if they are approached as part of a clear capital strategy, not as a one off funding chase.”

Download the Growth Catalyst 2025 CFO guide

If you are responsible for capital allocation in an innovative business and want a concise, finance led view of Growth Catalyst, this guide is for you.

Complete the form on this page to download your copy of the Growth Catalyst 2025 CFO Guide and gain a clearer basis for your next funding decision.