Business Grants
Browse business grants, innovation vouchers, SME programs, export support, local incentives, and growth funding.
Business grants can support innovation, expansion, export development, workforce training, energy upgrades, resilience, digital adoption, equipment, research partnerships, and local economic development. Some are run by national agencies. Others are state, city, regional, university, chamber, or foundation programs with narrower eligibility.
The first filter is business fit. Check company size, revenue, age, location, ownership, sector, legal structure, and whether nonprofits or sole proprietors are allowed. Then check cost fit. A program may fund consulting but not equipment, prototypes but not marketing, training but not salaries, or reimbursement only after approved expenses are paid.
Many business grants require more administrative discipline than founders expect. You may need tax clearance, financial statements, quotes, project budgets, insurance, procurement documentation, job-creation estimates, environmental information, or proof that the business is in good standing. A simple grant can become slow if those records are scattered.
Use this page to find current business funding leads, then verify the official rules and prepare a practical application. Funders tend to favor businesses that can explain the opportunity, the barrier, the funded activity, and the measurable result in plain language.
Current matching opportunities
These listings are limited to open, rolling, or upcoming opportunities that match this guide. Check the official source before applying.
NSF 26-511: SBIR/STTR Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation (Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track)
Current NSF SBIR/STTR solicitation for U.S. small businesses with pilot focus on scientific instrumentation and a 2026-2027 submission cadence.
Digital Energy Challenge Call for Projects 2026: Tech Accelerator and Partnership Tracks
AFD-supported Digital Energy Challenge 2026 funds digital and AI-enabled solutions for African energy operators through a Tech Accelerator and a Nigeria-specific Partnership track with capped budgets and expert support.
UNIDO ONE World Sustainability Awards 2026
An international UNIDO recognition program for companies and start-ups with measurable sustainability innovation, open for applications until 30 June 2026.
NIH SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program (Parent SB1 Clinical Trial Optional): PAR-27-098
A late-stage small business commercialization bridge for U.S. NIH SBIR or STTR Phase II projects that need outsourced technical development, clinical studies, or market-readiness work before full commercialization.
Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 11 (UKRI)
UK Research and Innovation’s Future Leaders Fellowships Round 11 is a nationwide scheme for independent early-career researchers and innovators in the UK, with a £110 million budget and academic and non-academic rounds in 2026.
Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 1 (I3-2026-INV1): EU Scale-Up Support for Cross-Regional Innovation
EISMEA's I3-2026-INV1 call supports cross-border innovation investments through EU consortia with financial and advisory support, with a total 2026 budget of EUR 28.2 million and a single-stage deadline of 12 November 2026.
Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering 2027 Nominations (Global £500,000 Prize)
The QEPrize 2027 nominations are open globally for a one-time £500,000 engineering award, with nomination and referee deadlines in late June and July 2026 and winner announcement scheduled for 2 February 2027.
DE-FOA-0003624: IGNIITE 2026 (Inspiring Generations of New Innovators to Impact Technologies in Energy)
ARPA-E’s DE-FOA-0003624 is a 2026 cohort-focused energy innovation grant path for early-career researchers, with up to $500,000 per award and possible follow-on support.
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program 2026 (FY 2026)
USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program FY 2026 supports State Departments of Agriculture through competitive grant allocations to strengthen specialty-crop competitiveness, food safety, and distribution outcomes in domestic and export markets.
EIT EdTech Conference Open Call 2026
EIT Urban Mobility is selecting one organisation or consortium to design, plan and run the EIT EdTech Conference in Brussels for 2027 and 2028.
NMSDC Emerging Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) Program 2026
A year-long minority business growth program run by the National Minority Supplier Development Council with mentorship, structured enterprise skill-building, and investor-facing pitch training for U.S.-based minority-owned growth-stage ventures.
Transforming Water Systems Challenge 2026: UpLink & HCL global challenge for startups
A global early-stage innovation challenge by UpLink, the World Economic Forum, and HCL Group to scale water-system solutions, with winners receiving CHF 175,000 in prize support and access to the UpLink ecosystem.
Application guidance
Use the listings above as a shortlist, then build your application from the official instructions. Save the source page, deadline, eligibility rules, required documents, contact details, and any program-specific scoring criteria. If the deadline is rolling, apply early enough for review queues and budget limits. If the deadline is fixed, work backward from the closing date and leave time for recommendations, institutional approvals, financial documents, and portal errors.
Popular funding types
Business Grants FAQ
Are business grants only for startups?
No. Some support new companies, while others target established small businesses, exporters, manufacturers, local employers, or sector-specific firms.
Can grants cover payroll?
Sometimes, but many programs restrict payroll, owner compensation, overhead, capital purchases, or past expenses. Check eligible costs carefully.
What makes a business grant application stronger?
Clear use of funds, local or sector fit, credible financials, measurable outcomes, and proof that the business can complete the proposed work.