What are R&D Grants?
R&D Grants offer crucial financial incentives for businesses embarking on projects in key government priority areas. These grants provide financial funding support, enabling you to pursue innovative projects.
Accessible to businesses of all sizes, many grants are specifically designed to support SMEs. Funding is available from various UK government departments (e.g. DSIT, DESNZ, Defra), including Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency who oversee and promote these funding opportunities.
Why should you consider Grant funding?
Grant funding provides a unique opportunity to accelerate your business growth by securing financial support for your innovative projects. Below are our top five reasons why you should consider R&D Grant funding.
Grants provide a financial boost without the need for repayment, allowing businesses to invest in innovation without concerns around interest, debt, dilution or intellectual property rights.
Securing grant funding is a competitive process with applications undergoing a rigorous review process. Being awarded funding is a prestigious accolade which showcases your commitment to innovation and your ability to meet rigorous selection criteria. This will enable you to leverage further opportunities to secure funding and further your brand amongst clients and investors.
Grant programs often come with access to a network of experts, mentors, and potential partners, and enable you to collaborate with other businesses or publicly funded organisations such as universities or research technology centres of excellence. Engaging with the wider R&D ecosystem also provides opportunities to upskill employees through knowledge sharing.
Embarking on a project which has been awarded Grant funding is a surefire way to know that the work you are conducting is having an impact on the future of your industry and on society as a whole.
The UKRI Strategy 2022-2027 report shows that public investment in Research & Development attracts a further £2 of private R&D investment for every £1 of public money.
The UK and innovation
The UK has a rich legacy of pioneering innovations, from the Industrial Revolution to the digital age, continuously shaping the future of technology and industry. With a history of groundbreaking achievements, such as the development of the steam engine, the discovery of penicillin, and the creation of the World Wide Web, the UK remains at the forefront of global innovation, constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Innovate UK’s mission is to drive productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to realise the potential of new technologies, develop ideas, and make them a commercial success.
The UK boasts a robust innovation ecosystem, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government to drive technological advancements.
Innovate UK provides tailored funding and expert guidance to help businesses of all sizes navigate the innovation landscape, from early-stage research to market-ready solutions.
By championing new technologies and innovative ideas, Innovate UK plays a pivotal role in boosting the UK economy, creating jobs, and enhancing the country’s global competitiveness.
Our streamlined Grant services
1. Pre-Award:
We help you secure funding by managing the entire application process, ensuring your submission stands out.
Confirm project fit and refine your application strategy.
Draft and revise all sections, including technical and commercial inputs, aligned with competition criteria.
Build a robust project budget and risk register.
Handle all administrative aspects to ensure timely and compliant submissions.
Strengthen your proposal based on feedback and assist with resubmission, if needed.
2. Award notification
Transition smoothly from funding success to project delivery with our expert support.
Manage registration and compliance within funding platforms
Ensure match-funding requirements and financial evidence align
Review collaboration agreements, exploitation plans, and grant offer terms.
Handle all administrative aspects to ensure timely and compliant submissions.
Finalise spend profiles and create an actionable project management plan.
3. Post-Award
Keep your project on track with our comprehensive post-award management services.
Meet our team
Matthew graduated from Leeds University with a BA in Management Studies and from Bath University with an MSc in International Development, and is also Scrum Master, Agile PM, and PRINCE2 certified. With over five years of experience in grants management, Matthew has led notable projects, including a £4+ million Energy Catalyst grant for clean energy in Africa and Asia and a £2+ million Wellcome Leap grant supporting continuous fetal monitoring at the University of Oxford. He has a talent for streamlining grants services, providing post-award support, and coordinating high-impact research initiatives.
A big family man, Matthew enjoys time outdoors with his wife and two sons, often running and biking in the Oxfordshire countryside. A fan of unique travel and food adventures, he also reads, writes, and speaks basic Korean.
Claire holds a BSc in Chemistry and a PhD in Chemistry and Molecular Biology. With experience spanning academia and industry, she supports clients in developing R&D grant proposals across UK and European funding agencies. Her career includes work in sustainable chemistry, bioeconomy, and circular economy initiatives, especially those aligned with the UK’s Net Zero goals.
Before joining, Claire was a senior innovation consultant for a pan-European firm, collaborating across industries such as industrial biotech, agritech, and novel materials. She finds great satisfaction in helping companies leverage grants to boost their growth.
Outside of work, Claire enjoys cycling, climbing, and gardening, where she’s recently taken up the challenge of growing her own veggies!
Check your eligibility for R&D funding now
Discover which UK government incentives your business could qualify for with our quick and easy self-assessment tool. In just a few minutes, you’ll receive a tailored report outlining the funding opportunities available to support your innovation and growth.
R&D tax credits, grants, Patent Box and R&D allowances are all schemes are designed to help ambitious businesses like yours thrive. Don’t leave potential funding untapped—it could be the key to fuelling your next big idea.
R&D Grant Funding – FAQs
Contact us
How do we calculate our fees?
At Kene , our fees reflect the quality of the service we provide. We always want to offer value, and our rates are an honest and competitive reflection of what we do – we apply the same diligence, rigour, and consistency to all our work. But we won’t cut corners or sacrifice client service in order to be that ‘cheap’ R&D consultancy.
As part of our commitment to outstanding service, we invest in our highly skilled and educated team of engineers, sector specialists, chartered tax advisers, and R&D specialists – our fees allow us to maintain that commitment.
Our full-service, end-to-end R&D tax claims are success-based. The fee is charged as a percentage of the claim which we agree upon before any work takes place. This fee covers the full scope of work including technical workshop(s), information gathering, report writing and full support in the event of an enquiry from HMRC. You will also be appointed a dedicated project manager who will be on hand to assist throughout the claims process.
Success-based; only pay if your claim is successful
Dedicated project manager and in-house sector experts
Full support beyond claim submission
Find out if you qualify for R&D funding
Discover which UK government incentives your business could qualify for with our quick and easy self-assessment tool. In just a few minutes, you’ll receive a tailored report outlining the funding opportunities available to support your innovation and growth.
R&D tax credits, grants, Patent Box and R&D allowances are all schemes are designed to help ambitious businesses like yours thrive. Don’t leave potential funding untapped—it could be the key to fuelling your next big idea.
Why should you consider Grant funding?
Grant funding provides a unique opportunity to accelerate your business growth by securing financial support for your innovative projects. Below are our top five reasons why you should consider R&D Grant funding.
In an initial consultation, we’ll determine if your business is eligible for R&D tax credits. We will clarify any legal provisions and seek the necessary financial information to initiate your claim.
Before we submit your claim, you’ll see a final version of your comprehensive R&D report. We will handle any HMRC inquiries and provide ongoing support, including record-keeping guidance for future claims.
Before we submit your claim, you’ll see a final version of your comprehensive R&D report. We will handle any HMRC inquiries and provide ongoing support, including record-keeping guidance for future claims.
Before we submit your claim, you’ll see a final version of your comprehensive R&D report. We will handle any HMRC inquiries and provide ongoing support, including record-keeping guidance for future claims.
Before we submit your claim, you’ll see a final version of your comprehensive R&D report. We will handle any HMRC inquiries and provide ongoing support, including record-keeping guidance for future claims.
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