Key Features
Organisations can apply for a share of £2 million, inclusive of VAT, to develop innovative interventions, technologies, and frameworks that are designed to support children and families experiencing homelessness.
Programme: Innovate UK
Award: Share of up to £2 million
Opens: 19th May 2026
Closes: 8th Jul 2026
Innovate UK are investing up to £2 million from the UKRI Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity Mission in this Contracts for Innovation competition.
The aim of this competition is to progress innovations that improve home learning environments, educational outcomes and wider wellbeing for children and families experiencing homelessness.
Innovate UK are seeking innovative, evidence informed approaches that focus on the following – see full competition details for more information
To be eligible for this competition, your project must have total costs of between £200,000 and £500,000 (inclusive of VAT) with projects starting on 1st September 2026 and ending on 31st August 2027. Projects last for 12 months
Applicant: To lead a project, you can be an organisation of any size and be based in the EU, EEA or internationally. Working alone or with subcontracted skills and expertise of others from business, research organisations, research and technology organisations or charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups.
Contracts will be awarded to single entity only.
Innovate UK will not fund the following projects:
Innovate UK has allocated up to £2 million (including VAT) to fund innovation projects in this phase 1 feasibility study research and development competition. Contracts will be up to £500,000 for each project for up to 12 months. Innovate UK expect to fund 10 projects.
Successful projects from phase 1 may be invited to a potential phase 2 where they can further develop their solution.
Value Added Tax (VAT)
You must select whether you are VAT registered before entering your eligible project costs. VAT is the responsibility of the invoicing business
VAT registered
If you select you are VAT registered, you must enter your eligible project costs exclusive of VAT. As part of the application process VAT will be automatically calculated and added to your project cost total. Your total eligible project costs inclusive of VAT must not exceed £500,000.
Not VAT registered
If you select you are not VAT registered, you must enter your eligible project costs exclusive of VAT and no VAT will be added. You will not be able to increase total project costs to cover VAT later should you become VAT registered. Your total project costs must not exceed £500,000.
Research and development (R&D)
Your application must have at least 50% of the contract value attributed directly and exclusively to R&D services, including solution exploration and design. R&D can also include prototyping and field-testing the product or service. This lets you incorporate the results of your exploration and design and demonstrate that you can produce in quantity to acceptable quality standards.
R&D does not include:
Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.
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