Sectors
Digital Technologies and AI
From artificial intelligence and 6G to quantum computing and IoT, grant funding can power cutting-edge projects in the digital technologies sector.
Our team knows the Digital & AI landscape well and has helped numerous UK and EU tech companies secure impactful grants to advance their R&D ambitions.
Grant Funding for Digital Technology & AI
Grant funding offers businesses and researchers a unique opportunity to scale their impact while retaining ownership. The benefits include:
- Maintain Equity: Secure R&D capital for AI and software innovation without giving up equity or control.
- Accelerate Innovation: Fast-track development of advanced algorithms, platforms, and digital products with dedicated grant support.
- Credibility & Visibility: Validate emerging tech solutions by winning competitive grants, boosting your credibility with customers and investors.
- Collaborative Growth: Engage in funded projects that connect you with industry partners or academia, expanding your innovation network.
The UK has made digital tech and AI national priorities – the government is investing heavily (e.g. ~£2 billion over four years for AI R&D and infrastructure) under strategies like the National AI Strategy to ensure the UK leads in tech innovation. In the EU, digital innovation is equally central: flagship programmes such as Horizon Europe and Digital Europe are now investing over €1 billion per year into AI initiatives, underscoring Europe’s ambition to drive the digital transition across all industries.
Success Stories
AlphaLoops: IUK Smart Grant funding for exciting FinTech
AlphaLoops is a fintech startup transforming how asset managers handle compliance and due diligence. Their AI-powered “agentic co-pilot” automates the completion of complex documents like RFPs and DDQs — cutting processing time from 40 hours to under 5.
Digital Technology & AI themes for grant funding
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning: Advancing AI algorithms, ethical AI, and data-driven innovation (aligned with the UK’s National AI Strategy and EU AI funding priorities).
- Connectivity & Interoperability: 5G/6G networks, Internet of Things devices, and edge computing driving the next wave of digital transformation (supporting UK digital infrastructure goals and the EU Digital Decade targets).
- Cybersecurity & Trust: Technologies for secure networks, data protection, and digital trust (backed by initiatives like the UK National Cyber Strategy and EU Cybersecurity Act to safeguard the digital economy).
- Quantum Computing & Advanced ICT: Cutting-edge computing technologies – quantum, high-performance computing, and cloud – to revolutionise processing power (reflecting investments such as EuroHPC in the EU and quantum research programs in the UK).
Digital Technology & AI: Programmes and Funders
There are many funding programmes supporting digital tech and AI innovation in the UK, Europe, and beyond. Key opportunities include:
- EIC Accelerator – EU funding (grants and equity) for high-impact tech startups/SMEs (many AI ventures secure up to €2.5M grants through this).
- EIC Pathfinder & Transition – EU grants for earlier-stage breakthrough research and proofs-of-concept in emerging technologies (ideal for nascent digital and AI innovations).
- EUREKA Eurostars – International programme co-funded by the UK and EU for R&D-intensive SMEs collaborating on innovative tech (often used by software and electronics companies to partner across borders).
- Innovate UK sector competitions – Targeted calls in areas like artificial intelligence, quantum tech, 5G communications, and cybersecurity (these sector-specific grants support projects aligned with UK innovation challenges).
- Innovate UK Innovation Loans – Government-backed loans for later-stage development in innovative businesses (a fit for scale-ups in AI/digital looking to commercialise new products).
- Innovate UK Investor Partnerships – A program combining grant funding with venture capital investment to help innovative companies (including digital tech SMEs) scale faster.
- Horizon Europe (Digital, Industry & Space) – EU collaborative R&D projects in digital technology and industrial innovation (consortia can receive multi-million-euro grants for projects in AI, data, robotics, and related fields across Europe).
Winning Grant Funding for Digital technology & AI
Winning grant funding in Digital Technology & AI requires the right mix of innovation, clarity, and strategy. Digital tech companies of all sizes, at various stages (prototype development, pilot trials, scaling up), have successfully obtained grants, showing that funding is available throughout the innovation journey in this field.
Contact us for a no-obligation discussion about your project – our specialists are ready to help you navigate the grant funding landscape and turn your Digital & AI innovations into reality.
Alex Chalkley
Director
