Ben Cullen, Knowledge Transfer Manager – Rail at Innovate UK Business Connect has shared an updated list of funding opportunities within the rail sector.
UK-Netherlands Co-Innovation and Testbeds Pilot for Quantum Tech – Closes 28 October 2025
Registered businesses in UK and Netherlands, can apply to collaborate on joint projects with application relevant partners and testbed facilities, to advance the development of quantum technologies and enable their commercial use cases.
Contracts for Innovation: Quantum Technologies for Transport – Phase 1 – Closes 15 October 2025
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £1.5 million, inclusive of VAT, to develop use cases and business cases.
Innovate UK Innovation Loans Round 23 – Closes 22 October 2025
UK registered businesses can apply for loans for close to market innovative projects with strong commercial potential. They must significantly improve the UK economy and drive societal benefit.
DRIVE35 Innovation Fund: Demonstrate – Closes 1 October 2025
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £40 million for late stage demonstration research and development projects. Projects will support the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles and a pathway to a net zero automotive industry.
DRIVE35 Innovation Fund: Collaborate – Closes 1 October 2025
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £40 million for late stage collaborative research and development projects. Your project will support the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles and a pathway to a net zero automotive industry.
Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 10, business and non-academic – Closes 5 November 2025
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.
Canada-UK Semiconductors – Closes 15 October 2025
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of at least £1 million for collaboration with Canadian SMEs on joint Semiconductors projects.
Horizon Europe Guarantee Extension – Closes 27 November 2025
This funding is to deliver the UK government’s Horizon Europe Guarantee Extension.
Eligibility
UK-based organisations who are partners on successful applications to Horizon Europe calls covered by the guarantee extension.
Bristol Temple Meads Station Innovation Zone – Year 4 – Closes: 24/09/2025 (17:00)
(CLOSING SOON)
Supporting SMEs to develop and trial new ways of improving various aspects of the rail passenger experience, with Bristol Temple Meads as the testbed site.
Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programme Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility – Closes 17/02/2026 (16:00)
This cluster aims to fight climate change by better understanding its causes, evolution, risks, impacts and opportunities, and by making the energy and transport sectors more climate and environment-friendly, more efficient and competitive, smarter, safer and more resilient.
The expected impacts of this cluster are contained in the Horizon Europe strategic plan
Find more details at a glance or click the links for details on each opportunity.