Women in Innovation

Accelerate your company’s growth through innovation

Innovate UK Women in Innovation was launched in 2016 to encourage more women to apply to Innovate UK funding opportunities. Since its inception, the programme has enabled brilliant women across the UK to fully achieve their vision for their businesses and change the world.

Our research into women innovators highlighted access to funding and finance as their biggest barrier to success. They also struggled with the lack of visible role models and inability to reach the right networks.

Over the last nine years, we’ve championed women entrepreneurship and aimed to dismantle barriers to growth, whilst inspiring more women into innovation.

The Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards are open to all backgrounds, sectors, regions and innovation areas. We want to support women who are at a critical stage with their business, where an award will enable them to take an important step forward. The funding should help you make a real difference to innovation in the UK including in and beyond your sector or innovation area.

The Women in Innovation programme is a powerful catalyst for change, not just for the brilliant women entrepreneurs it supports, but for the entire UK innovation landscape. By breaking down barriers and amplifying diverse voices, Innovate UK are fostering a more inclusive and dynamic ecosystem that drives progress across all sectors. This programme is about more than funding – it’s about creating role models, building networks, and inspiring the next generation of women innovators to dream big and transform our world.

Stella Peace, Innovate UK Interim Executive Chair