Contracts for Innovation: Innovation in play to improve child outcomes
Organisations can apply for a share of £3 million to develop practical solutions that reignite the importance of play and increase access to high quality, real world play experiences, improving outcomes for children and young people.
Key facts
- Funding amount
- £3 million total fund, with phase 1 projects between £200,000 and £500,000 inclusive of VAT.
- Deadline
- 28 Oct 2026 · 30 days left
- Region
- UK-wide
- Business type
- Innovative businesses & R&D-led teams
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Plain English summary
This £3 million Contracts for Innovation competition from UKRI seeks practical solutions to improve child outcomes through play. Organisations of any size can apply to develop innovations that increase access to quality play experiences, with individual phase 1 projects up to £500,000. The focus is on real-world, non-screen-based solutions to enhance learning, development, health, and wellbeing for children and young people up to 18.
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Who this is best for
- Innovative businesses & R&D-led teams
- Organisations based in UK-wide
- Projects aligned with innovation funding
- Teams seeking funding around £3 million total fund, with phase 1 projects between £200,000 and £500,000 inclusive of VAT.
Who should not apply
- Individuals applying in a personal capacity (unless explicitly permitted)
- Applicants who cannot meet the official eligibility criteria below
Eligibility checklist
Tick what applies to your organisation before applying.
- Open to organisations of any size, including those based in the EU, EEA or internationally.
- Projects must have 50% of the contract value attributed to R&D services and the majority of work carried out in the UK.
Official source
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