Coventry and Warwickshire Businesses Invited to Apply for £4.35 Million Innovate UK Funding

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 08 seconds

Tech

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Quick Read: Coventry and Warwickshire businesses in immersive and creative tech can now apply for a share of £4.35 million through Innovate UK's Launchpad program, which supports innovation and growth.

Innovative businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire now have the opportunity to apply for a share of £4.35 million in funding through Innovate UK's Launchpad program, aimed at accelerating growth in the region’s immersive and creative technology sectors. This funding initiative, in partnership with Innovate UK, Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council, and the West Midlands Combined Authority, seeks to drive local economic growth and support technological advancements.

Eligible projects will focus on immersive and creative technology applications, including digital and mixed media, augmented and virtual reality, game engine technology, 3D environments, and motion capture solutions such as performance and facial recognition. The funding also targets innovation in sectors such as healthcare, education, future mobility, manufacturing, retail, and tourism.

Photo Credit: Innovate UK

Through the Launchpad program, Coventry and Warwickshire have already received over £3 million for business support, networking, and growth initiatives. The latest round of funding offers MFA grant support between £25,000 and £100,000, with larger collaborative R&D projects eligible for grants from £150,000 to £1 million.

Mayor Richard Parker praised the initiative, noting that

“Coventry and Warwickshire’s expertise in immersive and creative technologies positions our region as a leader in this field. The Launchpad funding allows us to attract and support cutting-edge projects that foster economic growth and job creation.”

Businesses interested in applying can submit proposals for projects that bring innovative, scalable technologies to the marketplace, contributing to the region's dynamic economy and strengthening its position as a hub for tech advancement.

Applications are open now, with a submission deadline of 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 11. Businesses can learn more and apply by visiting the Innovate UK website.

What's new

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.

Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.

The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.

Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:

We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.

In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:

The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:

This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.

The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.

By Anushka Malhotra

24 Jun