The UK-Germany Bilateral Collaborative R&D: Round 5 competition offers UK-registered SMEs the opportunity to secure £100,000 to £350,000 in grant funding for collaborative industrial research projects with German partners. Organized by Innovate UK in partnership with Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), the initiative supports innovations in Clean Energy, Life Sciences, and Engineering Biology. With up to £2.4 million available, the program aims to accelerate commercialization, strengthen international collaboration, and generate economic growth.
Focus Areas
Projects must focus on one of the following sectors:
- Clean Energy: Innovative sustainable energy technologies and solutions.
- Life Sciences: New products, technologies, and processes in life sciences.
- Engineering Biology: Biological innovations with commercial applications.
Funding and Support
- Total Funding: Up to £2.4 million.
- Grant per UK Project: £100,000–£350,000.
- Project Duration: 12–24 months.
- Small Businesses: Up to 70% of eligible costs.
- Medium Businesses: Up to 60% of eligible costs.
- Large Businesses: Up to 50% of eligible costs.
- Project Start: 1 August 2027.
- Project Completion: By 30 June 2029.
German partners must apply separately for funding through Germany's ZIM program.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- The lead applicant must be a UK-registered SME.
- The consortium must include at least one independent German-registered SME.
- UK partners may include businesses, universities, and research organizations.
- No single partner or country may account for more than 70% of total project costs.
- Projects must demonstrate meaningful UK-German collaboration.
- The majority of research activities must take place in the UK and Germany.
- Proposals must demonstrate commercial potential and benefits to the UK economy.
Project Requirements
Successful proposals should:
- Present a disruptive or game-changing innovation.
- Address a clear technological or market challenge.
- Demonstrate a strong business plan and realistic financial projections.
- Explain the benefits of international collaboration.
- Establish clear intellectual property arrangements.
- Provide a credible route to market within two to three years of project completion.
Only industrial research projects are eligible for funding.
Application Process
Applicants must:
- Form an eligible UK-German consortium.
- Select one priority research theme.
- Prepare a detailed proposal covering innovation, market opportunity, project management, financial planning, and expected impact.
- Submit the UK application through Innovate UK's Innovation Funding Service.
- Ensure German partners submit their corresponding ZIM funding applications.
Applications are assessed competitively, and funding must be approved independently by both national funding bodies.
Key Dates
- Applications Open: 28 September 2026.
- Application Deadline: 1 December 2026, 12:00 GMT+1.
- Applicants Notified: 30 April 2027.
- Project Start: 1 August 2027.
- Project End: By 30 June 2029.
The UK-Germany Bilateral Collaborative R&D: Round 5 competition provides an opportunity for innovative UK SMEs to develop commercially promising technologies alongside German partners. Through substantial grant funding and international research collaboration, the program supports innovation in clean energy, life sciences, and engineering biology. Eligible businesses should establish their partnerships, prepare strong research proposals, and submit their applications before 1 December 2026 at 12:00 GMT+1.