Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT), Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade; administered…

Commercialising Knowledge Assets Fund (CKAF) – Winter 2026 call

Grants of £50,000 to £250,000 per project, at 100% of eligible costs, for UK government research organisations to move an existing public sector Knowledge Asset (know-how, IP, designs, R&D outputs, source code, creative outputs) with an identified potential market towards commercialisation. It is for public sector research establishments, UKRI wholly owned institutes and other public bodies whose primary function is research; universities, local government, devolved administrations' bodies, NHS trusts and private companies cannot apply. Projects run for 6, 12 or 18 months from March or April 2027, and shortlisted applicants pitch at an interview. Run by GOTT with three calls a year; this Winter call closes at 11am on 1 December 2026.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: £50,000 – £250,000
Deadline: 44 days left; 1 December
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

UK government research organisations that meet GOTT's standard eligibility: Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs), UKRI wholly owned institutes, and other public sector bodies (for example arm's length bodies) that undertake research as a primary function; GOTT's About us page lists eligible organisations (such as the Met Office, Environment Agency, National Physical Laboratory, Natural England and Tate)
The lead must own the identified Knowledge Asset and the rights to use and commercially exploit IP generated in the project, and must provide a signed senior-level letter of support from its own organisation
The award is made on a 'no subsidy' basis, so the organisation must not be acting economically or gain selective commercial advantage
An organisation can lead any number of applications, but not two for the same Knowledge Asset in one call
Unsuccessful earlier applications can be resubmitted if reviewers' feedback has been addressed
There is an annual funding distribution threshold of £800,000 per organisation
Organisations that have not completed monitoring or complied with terms for earlier GOTT grants may not be funded

What it funds

Projects that develop a pre-existing, identified Knowledge Asset (as defined in the Rose Book) towards commercialisation for a plausible potential commercial market; technology agnostic and open to all sectors:

Payroll costs for researchers, technicians and supporting staff, in proportion to their time on the project
Instruments and equipment, in proportion to their use on the project
Contractual research, technical knowledge, patents and consultancy sourced externally and directly related to the project
Essential travel and subsistence
Additional overheads incurred directly as a result of the project (with evidence of how they are calculated)
Materials and supplies required directly for the project
Subcontracting, justified and appropriate to total project costs

Total eligible costs are funded at 100% and must not exceed £250,000 including overheads. Follow-on funding for projects previously funded by CKAF or the Knowledge Asset Grant Fund is allowed if earlier outcomes were delivered.

What it will not fund

Fundamental research and development to create new Knowledge Assets
Organisations already engaged in economic activity with the asset, for example offering goods or services on the market
Funding, direct or indirect, for an existing commercial entity that is not an eligible government research organisation
'Business as usual' activities, such as those directed by Ministers or set out in an organisation's strategy or remit, unless they address new markets or customers
Projects that only benefit the applicant or its existing customers and users
Privately owned companies, including spin-outs
Multiple applications for the same Knowledge Asset in the same call
Lobbying, petitioning for additional funding, or activity of a party political or exclusively religious nature
Reclaimable VAT, contributions in kind, gifts, fines, bad debts, finance lease interest and compensation payments
Work the organisation has a statutory duty to do, or that is fully funded from other sources
Universities and academic institutions, local government, Local Enterprise Partnerships, devolved administrations and their bodies (including NHS Scotland, NHS Wales and Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland), departments and arm's length bodies that do not do research as a primary function, public corporations, and NHS secondary and tertiary care including NHS trusts

How to apply

Read the CKAF Applicant Guidance (Winter 2026), including the Commercialisation Readiness Framework (CRF), and watch the pre-recorded briefing
Get a signed senior-level letter of support from your organisation
Start the application on the Innovation Funding Service: project details (title, 6/12/18-month duration, start between 1 March and 1 April 2027) and a 250-word public summary
Answer the application questions: unscored compulsory questions, the Knowledge Asset now (previous GOTT support, the KA, commercial development, IP ownership, organisational support), CRF starting points, the project proposal (500 words), CRF end points, UK benefits and next steps, and team, risks and project management
Complete the CKAF Application Project Breakdown spreadsheet (work packages, Gantt chart, team, expenditure and invoicing forecast) and enter the same costs in the finances section
Submit by 11am UK time on 1 December 2026
GOTT checks eligibility and three independent panellists score the application; top-ranked applicants are invited to interview (invitations 4 January 2027)
At an online interview on 19 or 25 January 2027, give a four-minute PowerPoint pitch and answer panel questions (30 minutes in total, up to three attendees)

Funding is allocated in rank order of interview score. Questions about the fund go to grantfund.gott@dsit.gov.uk; technical issues with the portal go to support@iuk.ukri.org (0300 321 4357).

Have ready

Signed letter of support from your organisation at senior level, including the signatory's title (PDF, up to two A4 pages)
Up to three letters of support from external parties (optional, PDF, up to two A4 pages)
Completed CKAF Application Project Breakdown spreadsheet (work packages, Gantt chart, team composition, expenditure and invoicing forecast)
Evidence of how any overheads claimed are calculated (in the spreadsheet's supplementary tab)

Shortlisted applicants also send a list of interview attendees and their PowerPoint pitch slides before the interview.

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