Innovate UK: “We want to make it simpler and easier for companies to work with us”

2026-03-19 · Source: Sifted · Field: Government & Public Sector — Public Policy & Governance, Public Finance & Administration, Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, short

Summary

Innovate UK, the national innovation agency, is undergoing a significant strategic shift under CEO Tom Adeyoola to simplify its processes and enhance support for British businesses. The agency, which has £4.4bn to spend until 2030, aims to move beyond merely funding projects to actively nurturing companies from breakthrough ideas into industry giants. This involves transitioning to an account manager-type structure to proactively guide high-potential businesses through funding, regulation, and policy landscapes. Innovate UK also plans to overhaul its grant application process within 12 months, shifting focus from written applications to assessing the founders' ability to execute. Beyond grants, the agency emphasizes its role in providing access to policymakers and further funders, and preparing the ground for frontier technologies like engineering biology, cyber, AI, and quantum to ensure they anchor in the UK.

Key takeaway

For entrepreneurs seeking to scale deeptech ventures in the UK, Innovate UK's strategic shift offers a more streamlined and proactive support system. You should engage with their new account manager structure to navigate funding, regulatory, and policy landscapes. Prepare for grant applications that prioritize your team's execution capabilities over extensive written proposals, and leverage Innovate UK's connections to policymakers for emerging technologies like AI and quantum.

Key insights

Innovate UK is simplifying processes and enhancing support to transform breakthrough ideas into industry giants.

Principles

• Shift from project funding to company support.
• Proactively guide high-potential businesses.
• Assess founder execution ability over written applications.

Method

Innovate UK is adopting an "account manager type structure" to proactively identify and signpost support for high-potential businesses, streamlining access to funding, regulation, and policy guidance. Grant applications will shift focus to execution capability.

In practice

• Access Innovate UK's account managers for tailored support.
• Prepare for grant applications focused on execution plans.
• Explore Innovate UK's policy access for frontier technologies.

Topics

• Innovate UK
• Innovation Funding
• Deeptech Investment
• UK Innovation Policy
• Grant Management

Best for: Entrepreneur, Investor, Executive

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Sifted.