Resources

The funding problem facing finance leaders in 2025

Throughout 2025, many CFOs have expressed the same frustration. Despite strong innovation pipelines, the pool of UKRI funding calls that are genuinely open to any technology has been narrow, sporadic and highly thematic. Even where there is a fit, finance teams are left to decode complex rules on grant rates, matched investment and “value for money”, with little time to decide whether a competition is worth the distraction.

Growth Catalyst 2025 is one of the few cross sector Innovate UK opportunities that is large enough to move the needle on runway, cost of capital and investor confidence. It also comes with a higher evidential bar, a formal Investor Partner requirement and a tight window between opening and deadline.

This downloadable guide is written specifically for CFOs, Finance Directors and Heads of Tax who need to make a clear, defensible call on Growth Catalyst without getting lost in scheme jargon.

What you will learn (and use immediately)

By downloading the guide, you will gain a structured way to answer three core questions:

• Does Growth Catalyst meaningfully change our runway and cost of capital, or is a standard equity round cleaner?
• Can we evidence serious investor intent at the level Innovate UK expects, not just informal interest or soft commitments?
• Is this the right moment to commit scarce internal resource to a competitive, investor led grant process?

Rather than repeating the competition brief, the guide reframes Growth Catalyst through a finance lens, so you can decide quickly whether to proceed, park or decline.

Inside the guide

The resource distils Growth Catalyst into a practical decision tool, including:

• A 60 second eligibility screen for finance teams, focused on technology scope, maturity and investor readiness
• A breakdown of grant rates, project sizes and investor multiples, translated into capital stack language
• A simple framework to model runway, dilution and burn multiple with and without Growth Catalyst
• An overview of the assessment criteria and scoring lenses, so you see what assessors will actually reward
• A checklist for aligning your Investor Partner conversations with Innovate UK expectations

You can use the guide as a standalone reference for internal discussion, or as a starting point for deeper modelling with your board and investors.

Why FI Group is a strategic partner for CFOs

FI Group is a specialist advisory firm focused on R&D tax incentives and innovation funding, supporting more than 15,000 clients across 20 plus countries. Our UK team works daily at the intersection of public funding, private capital and compliance, helping finance leaders integrate schemes such as Innovate UK calls, Horizon Europe and national R&D tax relief into a coherent funding strategy. Global operations do not need global headaches. Your HQ sees the full picture. Your teams feel the local support.

As Dr Fawzi Abou Chahine, Funding Director at FI Group UK, puts it:

“Calls like Growth Catalyst can be transformational, but only if they are approached as part of a clear capital strategy, not as a one off funding chase.”

Download the Growth Catalyst 2025 CFO guide

If you are responsible for capital allocation in an innovative business and want a concise, finance led view of Growth Catalyst, this guide is for you.

Complete the form on this page to download your copy of the Growth Catalyst 2025 CFO Guide and gain a clearer basis for your next funding decision.

The CFO’s Guide to the Biomedical Catalyst 2025

Get a concise, CFO-ready playbook for Innovate UK’s Biomedical Catalyst. The guide distils scope, eligibility, TRLs, cost models, cash flow planning, and scoring criteria into practical checklists, examples and templates. It is written for busy executive teams who want to move fast, de-risk bids, and protect equity while accelerating R&D.

Why this guide matters for CFOs

CFOs in life sciences juggle runway, match funding, audit exposure, and cross-border compliance. This guide shows how to structure a non-dilutive funding plan alongside tax reliefs and international calls, so cash flow stays predictable and governance tight. It reflects the reality that incentive regimes and evidence standards differ by jurisdiction, which demands coordinated planning rather than ad-hoc bids.

What you will learn (and use immediately)

• Eligibility and scope: typical project types, TRLs, and what a compelling clinical or technical hypothesis looks like.
• Funding mechanics: common funding rates by organisation type, match funding tactics, and how to avoid disallowed costs.
• Score maximisers: crisp problem statements, route-to-patient, value for money, risk and IP strategy, plus realistic milestones.
• Budgeting and cash flow: mapping spend to phases, aligning grant claims with tax periods, and preparing for audit.
• Evidence packs: what reviewers expect for unmet need, comparative advantage, and NHS or payer adoption.
• Consortium strategy: partner roles, governance, and letters of support that actually carry weight.
• Next steps if not funded: rapid resubmission strategy and international alternatives.

Who should download

• CFOs and finance leaders managing burn and match funding for pre-seed to Series B biotechs, medtech and diagnostics.
• CTOs and Principal Investigators needing a clean evidence chain from lab to first-in-human.
• BD and Market Access leads preparing NHS or payer-led adoption plans.
• Global groups coordinating submissions across the UK, EU and the US.

Up to £3M in Funding for Cross-Disciplinary AMR Research

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has launched a major funding opportunity for 2025: the Transdisciplinary Research to Tackle AMR call. With up to £3 million available per project, this is a rare opportunity for UK research institutions to lead bold, high-impact projects that address antimicrobial resistance across human, animal, and environmental systems.

This downloadable guide from FI Group UK provides a clear breakdown of the call, including:

• Funding scope and UKRI eligibility criteria

• Key dates, budget rules, and submission deadlines

• Requirements for team structure and research disciplines

• What’s in scope and what will not be funded

• How to engage stakeholders and build a competitive bid

• Tips to maximise success and avoid common pitfalls

Who Should Download This Guide?

This guide is designed for:

• University research teams exploring AMR, One Health, or environmental microbiology

• Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators planning UKRI proposals

• Research Development Managers supporting major grant bids

• Innovation and Knowledge Exchange teams coordinating consortia

• Health and life science SMEs collaborating with academic institutions

If your institution is preparing to submit to the UKRI AMR 2025 call, this guide will save time, improve clarity, and help you plan effectively.

International R&D Tax Incentives Guide 2025

Maximise Innovation Funding Across 20+ Countries

R&D tax relief isn’t just local. Governments around the world are competing to reward innovation. Whether you’re expanding internationally or already managing multi-country claims, our 2025 guide is your essential resource for navigating global R&D incentives.

Download your free copy of the International R&D Tax Incentives Guide 2025 and discover which tax credits, deductions, and rebates your business could be missing.

What’s Included in the International R&D Tax Incentives Guide 2025

This expert-led guide delivers:

• A full breakdown of R&D tax schemes across more than 20 jurisdictions

• Clear, comparative tables of available benefits

• Eligibility criteria for activities, expenditure, and legal structure

• Claim procedures, submission windows, and compliance tips

• Country-by-country insights into grant compatibility and IP treatment

It’s the definitive reference for CFOs, tax leads, and innovation officers managing global R&D portfolios.

Explore Incentives Across Key Markets

• United Kingdom – Merged scheme and ERIS for high-intensity R&D SMEs

• United States – Federal and state-level tax credits up to 20% or more

• Canada – 35% refundable tax credits for CCPCs under the SR&ED program

• France – CIR, CII, and CICo credits with refundable options for SMEs

• Singapore – Enterprise Innovation Scheme with 400% super deductions

• Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, Brazil, Ireland, and more

Each profile includes local tax rates, eligible costs, refund potential, and who administers the program.

Who Should Read The International R&D Tax Incentives Guide 2025

• CFOs, Financial Controllers, and Tax Managers

• Global R&D and Innovation leads

• Expansion and Operations executives

• Legal and Compliance professionals

• Any team preparing or reviewing R&D claims

International Grants Guide 2025: Navigate Public Funding Opportunities Across Europe, North & South America, and Asia

The FI Group’s International Grants Guide 2025 is a comprehensive reference for businesses and institutions looking to leverage public funding opportunities worldwide. Covering over a dozen countries, the guide breaks down national and regional schemes that support R&D, innovation, energy efficiency, sustainability, and industrial transformation.

FI Group’s international footprint—spanning 20 countries and 1,400 experts—provides clients with tailored access to over €1.7 billion in funding annually. The guide explores both non-repayable grants and blended finance models, highlighting strategic instruments like Horizon Europe, the Green Deal, and country-specific initiatives such as Canada’s Innovation Fund, Brazil’s “Nova Indústria Brasil,” and Singapore’s RIS(C) programme.

Notably, the 2025 edition emphasises green and digital transitions, international collaboration, and streamlined access through frameworks like the STEP Seal, the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Whether you’re a startup or multinational, this guide is designed to help organisations navigate complex public-private ecosystems and unlock transformative funding.

What You’ll Learn

This guide brings together detailed insights from FI Group’s global teams, outlining:

• Country-by-country breakdowns of available grants and support schemes

• What types of projects are eligible: R&D, investment, training, energy, digitisation, and more

• Application pathways for both individual and collaborative projects

• National, regional and sector-specific grant bodies you need to know

• Thematic priorities like decarbonisation, digital transformation, health, and manufacturing

Note: This webpage provides only a preview. The full analysis including; budgets, deadlines, eligible expenditures, and case-specific guidance is exclusive to the downloadable guide.

Countries Covered

• Europe: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, UK

• Americas: Brazil, Canada, Chile

• Asia: Singapore

• And overarching EU programmes including Horizon Europe, Interreg, STEP, CEF, LIFE, and more

Each country section details national and regional grant sources, funding intensities, and strategic sectors.

Top Mistakes in R&D Tax Claims: Are You Making These Costly Errors?

Download Your Free Expert Guide and Maximise Your R&D Tax Relief

R&D tax relief offers a powerful opportunity for innovative companies to recover significant costs. But making even minor mistakes in your claim could mean missed opportunities—or worse, HMRC scrutiny.

Our latest Director Insights Guide, “Top Mistakes Made in R&D Tax”, exposes the most common and costly errors companies make when submitting R&D claims—and shows you how to avoid them.

What You Might Be Getting Wrong

Without revealing everything (that’s in the guide), here are a few teasers:

• Misunderstanding What Qualifies as an Advance
  Many businesses wrongly assume that being “new to them” qualifies their project. But R&D tax relief depends on advancing baseline knowledge in a scientific or technological field—not just your internal expertise.

• Misidentifying Scientific or Technological Uncertainties
  Confusing operational challenges with true technical uncertainty can invalidate your claim. Learn how HMRC distinguishes between the two.

• Weak or Inappropriate Financial Methodologies
  Applying blanket percentages without justifying your apportionment? That’s a red flag. Our guide breaks down best-practice approaches to calculating qualifying expenditure.

The guide includes practical examples, HMRC-compliant definitions, and financial methodology insights to build robust claims.

This Guide is Perfect For:

• Finance Directors and CFOs reviewing R&D processes

• Technical teams supporting claim narratives

• Business owners looking to increase their tax efficiency

• Any company currently submitting—or planning to submit—R&D tax claims