How Long Does Innovate UK Take to Decide?
From the 11:00am close to the decision email, the grant offer letter, the project start and the first payment, in weeks, using the dates Innovate UK publishes in its own competition briefs.
How long does Innovate UK take to make a funding decision?
In recent competitions Innovate UK has told applicants the outcome about six to seven weeks after the 11:00am close. Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2 closed on 3 February 2026 and notified applicants on 17 March; Breakthrough Wave closed on 11 August 2026 and set 1 October as its notification date. There is no general time limit: each competition brief states its own notification date, so check yours. Winning is not the same as starting. You then have up to 90 days to complete project set-up, after which Innovate UK issues the grant offer letter, and a project approved by the 15th of a month can start on the 1st. From close to project start took four to five months in both briefs. The grant is then paid quarterly in arrears, so the first money arrives after the first quarter of work, not when you win.
Two recent competitions, close to start
| Competition | Closed | Applicants notified | Close to decision | Project start | Close to start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships, Round 2 | Tue 3 February 2026, 11:00am | 17 March 2026 | 6 weeks | 1 July 2026 | about 5 months |
| Breakthrough Wave, Competition 1 | 11 August 2026, 11:00am | 1 October 2026 | about 7 weeks | no later than 1 January 2027 | under 5 months |
Every step, in order
| Step | When | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Competition closes | 11:00am UK time on the closing date | The time is 11:00am, not midnight. |
| Eligibility, scope and assessment | About 6 to 7 weeks in recent briefs | Each brief states its own notification date. |
| Decision email | The notification date in the brief | Feedback is given for some competitions, not all. |
| Project set-up | Up to 90 days | First information due on the Innovation Funding Service within 5 days, weekends included. |
| Grant offer letter | Once set-up is complete | Approved by the 15th, the project can start from the 1st of that month. |
| “Go live” and first claim | Start date, then quarterly | Claims are paid in arrears, normally within 30 days. |
Between the close and the decision
Those six or seven weeks cover an eligibility check, a scope check by the Innovation Lead, independent assessment by five, three or one assessors, ranking, moderation and a funding panel. UKRI's guidance says only that “once a decision on your application has been made, you will be informed by email”. There is nothing to do in the meantime, and no appeals process afterwards. How each stage works is in how Innovate UK scores an application.
Between winning and starting
Project set-up is where winners lose time. UKRI's guidance sets the first deadline at five days, and is explicit that these deadlines “include weekends and holidays”. The exploitation plan and, for collaborations, the collaboration agreement are due within 30 days, and “you will have a maximum of 90 days to complete all your project set up”. A collaboration agreement between several companies is the item most likely to run late; start drafting it before the decision.
Once set-up is complete Innovate UK issues the grant offer letter. If it is approved by the 15th of a month, the project can start from the 1st of that month. UKRI says “you must not start your project before receiving your ‘go live’ email”, and costs before the start cannot be claimed.
When the money actually arrives
Later than most applicants plan for. The grant is paid quarterly in arrears against a claim for each completed quarter, normally within 30 days, with 10 per cent held back until the project ends. On a project starting 1 July, the first quarter ends 30 September and the first payment typically lands around the end of October: roughly nine months after a competition that closed in February. Plan your cash for that gap. The rules are in what costs you can claim on an Innovate UK grant.
Questions people ask
How long does Innovate UK take to make a decision?
About six to seven weeks after the competition closes, in recent competitions. Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2 closed on 3 February 2026 and notified applicants on 17 March; Breakthrough Wave closed on 11 August 2026 and set 1 October as its notification date. Innovate UK publishes no general time limit; each competition brief states its own notification date, and UKRI’s guidance says only that you will be told by email once a decision is made. Checked 12 October 2026.
How long from winning an Innovate UK grant to starting the project?
Up to about three months. After a funding offer you have a maximum of 90 days to complete project set-up on the Innovation Funding Service, with the first information due within five days, weekends and holidays included. Innovate UK then issues the grant offer letter; if it is approved by the 15th of a month, the project can start from the 1st of that month. In recent briefs the whole journey from close to project start was four to five months.
Can I start work before my Innovate UK grant offer letter?
You can, but you cannot claim for it. UKRI says you must not start your project before receiving your “go live” email, and a current brief states that costs incurred before the start “cannot be claimed”. Anything you spend early is at your own risk and your own cost.
When does Innovate UK pay the grant?
Quarterly in arrears, after the project starts. You submit a claim for each completed quarter and Innovate UK normally pays within 30 days, holding back 10 per cent of the maximum grant until the project is complete. So the first money typically arrives four to five months after the project start, not when you win.
Sources, read on 12 October 2026: UKRI, “What happens after you have submitted your application” (updated 7 May 2026) and “What happens if you receive a funding offer” (updated 8 September 2026); the Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2 competition brief; the Breakthrough Wave Competition 1 FAQ (July 2026); Innovate UK grant terms and conditions (October 2025), clause 9. Dates differ between competitions; your brief is the authority for yours.
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