Catalyst Fund - NeuroWare

Scheme overview

The NeuroWare Catalyst Fund helps researchers move promising neuromorphic technologies beyond the lab and towards real-world use.

Whether you're exploring a new use case, developing a proof-of-concept, building a demonstrator or working with partners to address a strategic challenge, the fund provides flexible support to help validate ideas, engage users and accelerate adoption.

Our aim is simple: to help researchers translate cutting-edge neuromorphic innovation into technologies, products, services and demonstrators that deliver economic and societal impact for the UK.

At at glance

Total funding available: £1.8 million at 100% Full Economic Cost (FEC) across multiple funding rounds to September 2030
Award size: £10,000-£100,000+, depending on funding route
Funding rate: 80% FEC
Project duration: 6 weeks to 12 months
Applicant organisations: UKRI-eligible UK research organisations
Application deadline: Monday 12 October 2026 at 16:00 BST

Download the full guidance

Review the applicant guidance to select the right funding route and learn more about the scheme

Apply

Ready to apply? Download the application form and email your completed application and supporting documents to info@neuroware-ikc.com

Frequently asked questions

Have a specific query? Review our FAQs

Scope of the Catalyst Fund

The NeuroWare Catalyst Fund supports projects that help move neuromorphic technologies closer to real-world adoption.

We welcome proposals at different stages of development, from early feasibility studies and proof-of-concept activity through to technology validation, demonstrators and challenge-led projects. Projects should address a clear need or opportunity and show how the proposed activity will strengthen the pathway towards adoption, deployment, commercialisation or future investment.

We particularly encourage projects that bring together researchers, industry, public sector organisations, end users and other partners to accelerate impact and build the wider UK neuromorphic innovation ecosystem.

Catalyst funding routes

We've created three funding routes to support projects at different stages of development. Whether you're testing an early idea, advancing a technology towards deployment, or addressing a strategic challenge with partners, there is a route designed to support your next step.

Scoping & Discovery Awards

Rapid, flexible funding for early-stage activities that help define opportunities, test assumptions and prepare future projects.

Suitable activities may include:

use-case definition;
technical feasibility assessment;
customer discovery;
market validation;
partner workshops;
demonstrator specification;
preparation of larger funding proposals.

Typical award value: £10,000–£25,000 at 100% FEC

NeuroWare contribution: 80% FEC

Typical duration: 6–12 weeks

Open Catalyst Awards

Funding for investigator-led projects that can demonstrate a clear pathway towards real-world application, adoption, commercialisation or follow-on funding.

Suitable activities may include:

proof-of-concept studies;
technology development and validation;
prototyping and system integration;
benchmarking and performance assessment;
early-stage demonstrators;
technical de-risking;
customer discovery and market validation;
commercialisation planning.

Typical award value: up to £100,000 at 100% FEC

NeuroWare contribution: 80% FEC

Typical duration: 6–12 months

Strategic Demonstrator Awards

Funding for challenge-led projects that address clearly defined use cases and opportunities identified by engagement with industry, government, end users and other strategic partners.

Projects should:

address a clearly defined use case, strategic challenge or demonstrator opportunity within one or more priority application sector (see priority application sectors below);
demonstrate clear external demand;
involve relevant users, stakeholders or partners;
demonstrate a credible pathway towards adoption or deployment;
deliver a clear and measurable translational outcome.

Strategic projects may involve industry, public-sector organisations, government, defence and security partners, regulators, investors or end users. In line with UKRI guidelines, grant funding to industry partners is not permitted, except where an organisation is engaged as a specialist subcontractor in line with the procurement rules of the lead research organisation. For further details, please see the FAQs.

Typical award value: Up to £100,000 (100% FEC)

NeuroWare contribution: 80% FEC

Typical duration: 6-12 months

Higher-value awards may be considered in exceptional circumstances where there is significant strategic value and strong partner commitment.

Eligibility

The NeuroWare Catalyst Fund is open to individuals based at organisations eligible to receive UKRI funding and who meet UKRI's investigator eligibility requirements.

Applicants must:

be based at an eligible UK higher education institution, research organisation, NHS body with research capacity, public sector research establishment or research and technology organisation;
meet UKRI's standard investigator eligibility requirements;
be supported by their host organisation; and
be able to demonstrate that they will remain employed by, or supported through, their host organisation for the duration of the project.

We welcome applications from individuals at all career stages and encourage proposals that bring together expertise from different disciplines, sectors and user communities.

Inclusive participation

Additional support

We are committed to ensuring that all eligible applicants can participate fully in the Catalyst Fund. Additional financial support is therefore available to help remove barriers to participation, including accessibility support, specialist assistance, caring responsibilities and other reasonable adjustments.

Requests for additional support will be considered separately and will not influence funding decisions. See the applicant guidance for further details.

EDI monitoring

Upon submission of an application to the Catalyst Fund, all Project Leads and Co-Project Leads will be invited to complete a separate EDI monitoring survey. Participation is voluntary. Information collected will be anonymous, stored separately from the application, will not be used to assess applications, and will be reviewed only in aggregated and anonymised form to help improve future funding activities.

Technical scope and priority application sectors

NeuroWare technical workstreams

Projects should align with one or more of the following technical workstreams:

Existing neuromorphic systems
Next-generation technologies
Neuromorphic photonics
Computational neuroscience

Priority application sectors

We welcome high-quality proposals across the full breadth of NeuroWare’s mission. However, particular priority may be given to projects aligned with:

Defence and security
Financial services
Health and life sciences
Aerospace, robotics and autonomous systems
Industrial and energy systems
Semiconductors and advanced hardware
Standards, benchmarking and adoption infrastructure

Applications outside these areas remain welcome where they can demonstrate strong alignment with NeuroWare’s technical workstreams and translational objectives.

Explore our workstreams

Funding and eligible costs

All applications must be costed using the UKRI Full Economic Costing (FEC) methodology.

NeuroWare will fund 80% of approved FEC, with the remaining 20% normally provided by the applicant research organisation(s) participating in the project.

Funding may be used for eligible project costs in line with UKRI and institutional costing rules, including staff, travel, consumables, specialist services, facilities and other justified project costs.

Full details of eligible and ineligible costs can be found in the applicant guidance document.

Download applicant guidance

Assessment criteria

Applications will be assessed against the criteria below. The weighting shown is indicative and may be applied proportionately according to the type, scale and maturity of the proposed project. As a result, not all criteria will carry equal importance for every funding route.

Additional consideration for Strategic Demonstrator Awards

In addition to the criteria above, Strategic Demonstrator Awards will be assessed on their strategic value to the NeuroWare programme and wider UK neuromorphic innovation ecosystem.

1

Strategic fit

Alignment with NeuroWare's mission, technical workstreams and funding objectives.

Indicative weighting: 15%

2

Strength of need or opportunity

Evidence of a clear problem, opportunity, user need, market need or strategic challenge. For challenge-led strategic demonstrator projects, external demand should be well evidenced.

Indicative weighting: 20%

3

Technical feasibility

A credible technical approach, realistic delivery plan and appropriate methodology.

Indicative weighting: 15%

4

Potential for impact

The extent to which the project could accelerate adoption, deployment, commercialisation or future investment.

Indicative weighting: 20%

5

Partner and end-user engagement

Where relevant, evidence of meaningful engagement with partners, stakeholders or end users and a clear role for those parties in the project. Where such engagement is not required, applicants should explain why this is appropriate for the project.

Indicative scoring weighting: 10%

6

Team capability

The expertise, capacity and project management approach needed to deliver the proposed activity successfully.

Indicative scoring weighting: 10%

7

Value for money

A realistic, justified and proportionate budget that represents good use of funding.

Indicative scoring weighting: 5%

8

Responsible research and innovation, EDI and risk management

Appropriate consideration of equality, diversity and inclusion, responsible innovation, ethics, national security, export control, data protection and other relevant risks.

Indicative scoring weighting: 5%

How to apply

Applications to the Catalyst Fund must be submitted by 16:00 BST on Monday 12 October 2026.

Before applying, please ensure that you have:

read the full applicant guidance document;
downloaded and completed the application form;
sought all necessary institutional approvals to apply;
collated the project financial information and any letters of support to accompany your application; and
familiarised yourself with the funding terms and conditions.

Email your full application to info@neuroware-ikc.com.

All documents required to support your application can be accessed below.

Full guidance

Find the right funding route and review the applicant guidance here

Application form

Download the Catalyst Fund application form

Terms and conditions

Successful applications will be subject to these terms and conditions. Please ensure that you are familiar with them before applying

Frequently asked questions

Have a specific question? Review our frequently asked questions document

Need more information?

If you still have a question after reading the applicant guidance and FAQs, get in touch by emailing info@neuroware-ikc.com

Catch up on the Catalyst Fund webinar