Innovate UK BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst
Innovate UK (UKRI) · Innovation grant
VariesShare of £5M per competition (three parallel calls: decision-critical systems, operational systems, assurance & compliance); per-project size set in competition brief
Grant funding for UK AI SMEs to deploy their existing AI/ML solution (TRL 5–6) with a UK medium/large organisation in high-value sectors.
Key terms
- Lead must be a UK-registered AI SME with an existing AI/ML solution at TRL 5–6
- Collaborative only: must include one UK medium or large organisation as deployer; 2–3 organisations total
- Three separate competitions (decision-critical, operational, assurance & compliance) with £5M each
- Opened 21 Oct 2026; closes 8 Dec 2026 11:00 UK time
Eligibility
- Where
- United Kingdom
- Stages
- seed, series-a, growth
- Needs VC/accelerator backing
- No
- Needs partner referral code
- No
- Must be incorporated
- Yes
- AI focus required
- Yes
- Students / researchers
- Not eligible
- Nonprofits
- Not eligible
Also required
- Requires a deployer partner organisation
How to apply
Apply via the Innovation Funding Service linked from the UKRI opportunity page; read the competition brief for project size and funding rates.
- Benefit
- cash
- Equity-free
- Yes
- Decision time
- —
- Credit validity
- —
- Deadline
- 2026-12-08
- Status
- Open
Verified 2026-10-23 · source