AgriFood
Innovate UK KTN helps organisations interested in AgriFood innovation access the expert information, funding and connections needed to drive change. Our experts work with businesses of all sizes; locally, nationally and globally.
We create diverse connections to drive positive change.
Innovate UK KTN exists to connect innovators with new partners and new opportunities beyond their existing thinking – accelerating ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Creative Industries
Digital
Electronics
Energy
Geospatial
Health
Industrial Maths
Infrastructure
Manufacturing
Materials
Photonics
Robotics & AI
Security & Defence
Sensors
Transport
Water
Covid-19
Global Alliance
Innovation
Investment
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Sustainability
Our Work
Explore the diverse range of UK industries supported by KTN.
AgriFood
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Creative Industries
Design
Digital
Electronics
Energy
Geospatial
Health
Industrial Maths
Infrastructure
Manufacturing
Materials
Photonics
Quantum
Robotics & AI
Security & Defence
Sensors
Space
Transport
Water
Covid-19
Global Alliance
Innovation
Investment
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Sustainability
Featured Sector Information
Join Innovate UK KTN to Explore the Future of Earth Observation at Space-Comm Expo 2023
Discover the future of space for your business at Space-Comm Expo in Farnborough on 7th-8th June 2023, the UK’s largest event dedicated to the commercial aspects of space exploration.
Read more
Industry and academic research leaders unite at global plastics sustainability conference
Back for its 3rd year, the Global Research Innovation in Plastics Sustainability (GRIPS) conference welcomed 1,000 delegates to the Coventry Building Society Arena, with a live stream available for online viewers. The show featured a variety of talks from leading experts in plastics and materials across academia and industry, united by the mission to prevent plastic waste becoming fugitive in the environment.
Read more
Launch of Oncology Accelerator
Innovate UK’s Cancer Therapeutics programme has launched an Oncology Accelerator to support the development of early-stage health and life science innovation in the UK.
Read more
Innovation is top of the Agenda at Smart Factory Expo
Smart Factory Expo 2023 has a new home this year for Manufacturing and Engineering Week at the NEC, Birmingham from 7th to 8th June 2023.
Read more
Jet Zero Council Member Spotlight: ZeroAvia
Jet Zero Council Member ZeroAvia shares how they are scaling hydrogen-electric propulsion for larger airframes.
Read more
Pilot accelerators launched to support the development of early-stage health and life science innovation in the UK
We are pleased to announce our pilot accelerators, in collaboration with the Medical Research Council (MRC), which will allow spinouts, start-ups, and entrepreneurial minded academics to test their ideas and develop concepts with support from key stakeholders from the innovation ecosystem.
Read more
Exploring Microbiome Innovation: Insights from the Microbiome One Health Conference
Over 100 microbiome researchers and innovators gathered in Glasgow in March 2023 for the sold-out Microbiome One Health Conference, organised by members of the Innovate UK KTN Microbiome Innovation Advisory Board and the Health and AgriFood teams.
Read more
Biotechnology
The Biotechnology team at Innovate UK KTN focuses on Industrial Biotechnology (IB), Engineering Biology (EB, commonly referred to as Synthetic Biology) and Microbiomes.
Chemistry
By 2050 our industry will have embraced a circular economy and be using different feedstocks, technologies and energy sources to produce chemicals. The Innovate UK KTN Chemistry team can help you navigate these changes and identify innovation that will ensure your business, research or service remains sustainable.
Creative Industries
The Innovate UK KTN Creative team helps organisations interested in innovation in the Creative Industries to access funding, expert knowledge and to make powerful and diverse connections.
Design
Human-centred design is for businesses of any size who are interested in early-stage innovation strategy. For start-ups, strategic design helps get brilliant ideas to the right market. For established businesses, it helps reposition or expand their offering.
Digital
The Innovate UK KTN Digital team helps organisations interested in Digital innovation to access funding, expert knowledge and to make powerful and diverse connections.
Electronics
Electronics is the enabler of all things digital. It is the hardware and embedded software that allows products and processes to communicate, have power, have intelligence and awareness, be controlled, be automated and operate safely. It’s built into many sectors, including health, aerospace, manufacturing and retail.
Energy
Innovate UK KTN’s Energy Team is at the centre of our work contributing to delivering the UK’s ambitious Net Zero targets. With specialists in Nuclear, Offshore Wind, Thermal Energy Systems, Batteries, Water, Hydrogen, Sustainable Energy, Grid and Distributed Systems, Electrical Energy Systems and Solar, the team has deep expertise, powerful connections and a track record of successful projects delivering environmental and societal impact.
Geospatial
The world is powered by data; turning data into information helps us make decisions across all sectors of the economy. Innovate UK KTN hosts an innovation network that focuses on connecting the data holders and data processors with the people that can benefit from the insight geospatial data can provide.
Health
Health is critical to our wellbeing as individuals, plays a key role in societal and economic advances, and presents many opportunities for environmental impact. Innovations in health & care allow us to alleviate suffering, increase quality of life and life expectancy, and manage the needs of a changing and ageing population.
Industrial Maths
Innovate UK KTN’s Industrial Maths team harnesses the power of mathematics to meet the needs of business, government and not-for-profit organisations, helping a wide range of sectors express problems and challenges in an accessible way. We also facilitate new partnerships with an extensive network of mathematical science practitioners and diverse institutions across the UK.
Infrastructure
Against an overarching low carbon agenda, our mission is to support the development of UK innovation to deliver clean, accessible and secure energy & water systems through a digitally enabled construction sector and so provide smart, resilient and successful cities and communities.
Manufacturing
Innovate UK KTN’s Manufacturing team helps manufacturers to innovate, and innovators to manufacture. We work with a broad spectrum of organisations, sectors and technology areas, advising on innovation and connecting to partners, experts, facilities and funding.
Materials
The Materials Team at Innovate UK KTN covers a broad scope of the materials life cycle, from feedstock, processing techniques, design and manufacture, testing, standardisation, resource efficiency and circularity.
Photonics
Photonics is the science and technology of light. This includes lasers, optical systems and components, as well as fibre optics. Photonics is a £13.5bn industry in the UK, with the technology used across various UK industries and in society, from optical communications and data storage to laser sensors for autonomous vehicles.
Quantum
Quantum-enabled devices present a huge market opportunity for the UK. These technologies could transform a range of sectors including transport, healthcare, infrastructure, ICT, telecommunications and defence.
Robotics & AI
From Healthcare to Legaltech, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence are significant globalised technologies that can be applied in many sectors. The extensive industrial and academic research base in the UK can support both the national and global markets in addressing key challenges impacting societies today.
Security & Defence
The UK is committed to spending a minimum 2% of GDP on defence over the next decade, and at least 20% of that spending on equipment. This commitment represents spending some £186bn on defence equipment and support in the 10 years from 2018/19. The UK is also the second largest defence exporter, winning defence orders worth £14bn in 2018.
Sensors
Sensor technologies create measurements and convert them into digital data. This data can then be analysed to inform decision making. What’s being measured could be chemical, biological, physical, mechanical or any other quantities such as chemicals, proteins, weight, dimensions and more.
Space
Space is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK, with the ambition to capture 10% of the world market by 2030. Currently, the UK manufactures over 20% of the satellites in orbit and has established a path towards launching satellites from UK soil by 2021.
Transport
Transport connects people, places, goods and services. Innovation in transport has the potential to benefit our economy, society and environment. The transport system of the future will be more efficient, cleaner and smarter, through utilising enhanced digital, communication and autonomous technologies.
Water
The water sector impacts every person, business and industry type in the UK. We turn on the tap and expect clean water. We rely on the water infrastructure, the pipes, the sewerage treatment, the rapid fixing of leaks. And we expect environmental issues to be a cornerstone of the industry and its operations.
Covid-19
Covid-19 continues to be present in our lives at home and at work. Innovate UK KTN is ideally placed to work for the greater good and has already demonstrated its powerful connections through work on the Vaccines Taskforce, the Ventilator Challenge and advising the government on social distancing. We can bring together sectors to work on supply chain issues and our network can be a source of innovative solutions and approaches.
Global Alliance
We want the very best of the world connected to the very best of the UK. That’s why we built this programme; to form international collaborations with governments, societies, enterprises, institutions and people from every corner of the globe. It is innovation diplomacy at its best.
Innovation
We are driving positive economic, societal, and environmental change through innovation.
Investment
We work with public innovation funding and private finance providers where investment can create a positive change.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
For over 45 years Knowledge Transfer Partnerships have been helping businesses innovate for growth by accessing the UK’s world-leading knowledge base.
Sustainability
The world is changing at an ever greater pace. Industry and innovators are responding, working together to create the products, services and businesses of the future. Innovate UK KTN is here to help.
Featured Sector Information
Join Innovate UK KTN to Explore the Future of Earth Observation at Space-Comm Expo 2023
Discover the future of space for your business at Space-Comm Expo in Farnborough on 7th-8th June 2023, the UK’s largest event dedicated to the commercial aspects of space exploration.
Read more
Industry and academic research leaders unite at global plastics sustainability conference
Back for its 3rd year, the Global Research Innovation in Plastics Sustainability (GRIPS) conference welcomed 1,000 delegates to the Coventry Building Society Arena, with a live stream available for online viewers. The show featured a variety of talks from leading experts in plastics and materials across academia and industry, united by the mission to prevent plastic waste becoming fugitive in the environment.
Read more
Launch of Oncology Accelerator
Innovate UK’s Cancer Therapeutics programme has launched an Oncology Accelerator to support the development of early-stage health and life science innovation in the UK.
Read more
Innovation is top of the Agenda at Smart Factory Expo
Smart Factory Expo 2023 has a new home this year for Manufacturing and Engineering Week at the NEC, Birmingham from 7th to 8th June 2023.
Read more
Jet Zero Council Member Spotlight: ZeroAvia
Jet Zero Council Member ZeroAvia shares how they are scaling hydrogen-electric propulsion for larger airframes.
Read more
Pilot accelerators launched to support the development of early-stage health and life science innovation in the UK
We are pleased to announce our pilot accelerators, in collaboration with the Medical Research Council (MRC), which will allow spinouts, start-ups, and entrepreneurial minded academics to test their ideas and develop concepts with support from key stakeholders from the innovation ecosystem.
Read more
Exploring Microbiome Innovation: Insights from the Microbiome One Health Conference
Over 100 microbiome researchers and innovators gathered in Glasgow in March 2023 for the sold-out Microbiome One Health Conference, organised by members of the Innovate UK KTN Microbiome Innovation Advisory Board and the Health and AgriFood teams.
Read more
News
Department for Transport launch 2023 First of a Kind Rail Competition
The Department for Transport (DfT) and High Speed Rail partner are launching a new competition to accelerate innovation in the UK rail sector and enable new technologies to be integrated into the railway system.
Read More
News
Women in Innovation 2021/2022 Success Stories
Read the success stories of our 2021/22 Women in Innovation and the personal journeys they’ve been on since winning their awards.
Read More
News
Announcing the Cohort for the Faraday Battery Challenge Investment Readiness Programme 2023
The Faraday Battery Challenge Investment Readiness Programme has selected a cohort of 11 SMEs from across the battery supply chain.
Read More
News
Department for Transport launch 2023 First of a Kind Rail Competition
The Department for Transport (DfT) and High Speed Rail partner are launching a new competition to accelerate innovation in the UK rail sector and enable new technologies to be integrated into the railway system.
Read More
News
Women in Innovation 2021/2022 Success Stories
Read the success stories of our 2021/22 Women in Innovation and the personal journeys they’ve been on since winning their awards.
Read More
News
Announcing the Cohort for the Faraday Battery Challenge Investment Readiness Programme 2023
The Faraday Battery Challenge Investment Readiness Programme has selected a cohort of 11 SMEs from across the battery supply chain.
Read More
News
Hats Off to some very cool tech on Innovation Alley
With their hard hats and state-of-the-art technology, FC Labs stormed Made Smarter Innovation Alley at Smart Factory Expo in November 2022.
Read more
Funding Opportunities
Innovation Loans Future Economy Competition: Round 9
UK registered businesses can apply for loans of £100k-£2m for innovative projects with strong commercial potential to improve the UK economy.
Opens: 11/05/2023 Closes: 12/07/2023
Innovation Exchange
Net Zero
Global Alliance
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Innovate UK group
Innovate UK group is an ecosystem of expertise, funding, and powerful connections. Learn about how we can each uniquely help you achieve your innovation goals.
