Is Innovate Essex Fund open for applications?

Yes. It is open for applications, with no fixed deadline.

How much is Innovate Essex Fund worth?

Up to £15,000. It is a grant, and the funder decides what each applicant receives.

Who runs Innovate Essex Fund, and where is it available?

Essex County Council (Essex Growth Agency), with the University of Essex runs it. It is available in England (Essex).

Open nowR&D & innovationVerified 9 Nov 2026

Innovate Essex Fund

Essex County Council (Essex Growth Agency), with the University of Essex

Check if you qualifyFree to check · no sign-up · full report £19.95

Worth

Up to £15,000

Deadline

Rolling - no fixed deadline

Type of funding

Grant

Where

England (Essex)

What it is

A grant of up to £15,000 for an innovation project (testing an idea, building a prototype or adopting new technology), for trading start-ups, SMEs and social enterprises based in Essex. Larger Develop grants need a 20% cash contribution.

Checked 9 Nov 2026 on essexgrowthagency.co.uk: applications are open. Explore grants up to £5,000, Develop grants of £5,000 to £15,000 (you put in at least 20% in cash), or up to £15,000 of University of Essex support, for Essex businesses with fewer than 250 staff that are actively trading.

Official source

Who can apply

A summary of the main rules, not the full list. Essex County Council (Essex Growth Agency), with the University of Essex decides who is eligible, so read their guidance before you apply. The free scan checks these against your own business.

Business based in England
Based in (or significant operations in) Essex
Fewer than 250 employees
An innovation project (new product, service, technology or process)

You cannot apply if

Not yet trading (evidence of active trading needed)

Read the full rules at the official source

Common questions

Is Innovate Essex Fund open for applications?: Yes. It is open for applications, with no fixed deadline.
How much is Innovate Essex Fund worth?: Up to £15,000. It is a grant, and the funder decides what each applicant receives.
Who runs Innovate Essex Fund, and where is it available?: Essex County Council (Essex Growth Agency), with the University of Essex runs it. It is available in England (Essex).

Does your business qualify?

Eligibility rules are where schemes get fiddly. Gov Owed checks your business against Innovate Essex Fund — and every other UK scheme we track — in about two minutes, free. The £19.95 report then explains exactly why you qualify, drafts your answers and walks you through the real application step by step.

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Information, not financial advice; eligibility is decided by the funder. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Schemes change — confirm details on the official page before applying.