Senior UK & European R&D Funding Strategist – Horizon Europe, EIC, Eurostars & Innovate UK

We are seeking a senior R&D funding strategist with a verifiable record of securing UK and European public innovation funding — not a generic grant writer. We are developing proprietary technologies in an advanced computing field, protected through pending patent applications, with further intellectual property under development. The portfolio is held across two legal entities covering two distinct technology areas, and part of this engagement is advising on how best to structure and sequence funding applications across both. Technical details follow an NDA; no confidential information is needed to apply. We recognise that the UK innovation funding landscape continues to evolve, with programme availability changing over time. We therefore seek someone who understands both UK and European funding routes and can advise where the strongest opportunities genuinely exist today. Desired Outcome We are seeking a long-term strategic adviser who can help us build a credible, staged funding roadmap across multiple programmes over the next 6–12 months, rather than simply preparing isolated applications. How This Engagement Is Structured This engagement is delivered in two stages. The initial contract covers Stage 1 only. Subject to the outcome of Stage 1, we may invite the successful adviser to undertake Stage 2 — including the possibility that Stage 1 concludes we should strengthen our proposition or wait before applying. Our preference, where appropriate, is to continue with the same adviser. Scope of Work Stage 1 — Funding Strategy (initial engagement) • Review our commercial, technical and organisational position across both entities (under NDA). • Assess whether each technology is sufficiently mature for its target funding programme, and recommend preparatory work — or waiting — where appropriate. • Identify and prioritise the most suitable currently open UK and European funding routes for each technology. • Advise on eligibility, match funding and subsidy-control/linked-enterprise implications across our two entities. • Produce a staged grant roadmap with recommended routes, sequencing and rationale. Expected Stage 1 outputs include: a written funding strategy, prioritised funding opportunities, recommended sequencing across both entities, an assessment of technology readiness, and recommendations for any preparatory work before major applications. Stage 2 — Application Delivery (conditional, for the right specialist) • Structure our R&D programmes into fundable work packages, budgets, milestones and eligible costs. • Develop the technical, commercial and impact narrative assessors expect (including exploitation and commercialisation strategy). • Lead the preparation of high-quality applications and manage submission (we remain the legal applicant). • Provide guidance through the assessment process and, where applicable, post-award reporting. Potential Routes (where appropriate) • Horizon Europe (including the EIC Accelerator) • Eurostars and other Eureka programmes • Innovate UK / UKRI competitions and collaborative R&D • Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), where appropriate • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) • Other relevant UK and European innovation programmes Essential Experience • Verifiable experience leading successful applications, with clients/partners willing to confirm your role if shortlisted. • Direct, recent experience of Horizon Europe (including the EIC Accelerator), Eurostars and/or Innovate UK / UKRI competitions. • Experience working directly with SMEs, not solely universities or research organisations. • Working understanding of eligibility, match funding and subsidy-control/state-aid principles. • Deep technology, AI, software, cybersecurity, advanced computing or comparable sectors. • Ability to translate highly technical concepts into assessor-ready narratives, and excellent written English. Desirable Experience DASA/defence dual-use; advising UK companies since the UK's association to Horizon Europe; structuring funding across multiple entities or technology lines; collaborative R&D and consortium building; university partnerships and KTP; commercialisation, exploitation and impact planning; IP awareness and working alongside patent attorneys. Confidentiality & Evidence of Expertise The technologies are confidential and protected through existing IP rights and ongoing patent activity; shortlisted applicants sign an NDA before any technical disclosure. Shortlisted applicants should be prepared to provide evidence supporting their claimed experience — public award announcements, client references, published project information or similar. No confidential information is required at any stage of applying. How to Apply — please include: 1. A brief summary of your UK/European R&D funding experience. 2. Competitions/programmes where you played a leading role in a successful application, with year (no confidential detail needed). 3. The approximate number of applications where you played a leading strategic or writing role, your proportion of successful applications (or other representative performance metrics), and the approximate total value of successful awards to which you made a leading contribution. Please also indicate how that funding was structured (single-applicant, collaborative or consortium). 4. Any direct EIC Accelerator or Eurostars experience, and the stage reached. 5. Your experience working with companies at Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) comparable to those you consider appropriate for Horizon Europe, EIC Accelerator or Eurostars. 6. Your role in each successful application (lead writer, strategist, consortium manager, etc.). 7. Describe one unsuccessful application, the principal reasons it was unsuccessful (where known), and what you would do differently now. 8. Any defence/dual-use experience. 9. Based solely on this posting, which funding programmes or currently open calls would you investigate first — and briefly explain your reasoning. 10. Your availability over the next three months. 11. Your pricing: a proposed structure and fee for Stage 1, plus an indicative pricing model for Stage 2, and any minimum engagement size you normally require. Pricing Primarily fee-based (day rate, fixed fee, milestone or retainer). Any success fee must sit alongside a transparent base fee and comply with the relevant programme's rules. Please also identify any costs that fall outside your quoted pricing structure. Important We are seeking demonstrable, verifiable expertise — describe your direct involvement in specific applications, not generic marketing. Our objective is to maximise the likelihood of securing substantial non-dilutive funding through a disciplined, evidence-based funding strategy and carefully sequenced applications, and this may become an ongoing relationship covering multiple applications across both entities over 12–24 months for the right specialist.