Advanced Connectivity Technologies: New Innovators

Key Features

UK registered micro and small businesses can apply for a share of up to £500,000 to develop affordable, adoptable and investable innovations in Advanced Connectivity Technologies. This funding is from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Programme:     Innovate UK

Award:     Share of up to £500,000

Opens: 7th Jul 2026

Closes: 5th Aug 2026

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Grant Overview

Innovate UK are investing up to £500,000 from the UKRI ACT R&D Programme in UK registered small and micro businesses.

Grant Scope

The aim of this competition is to accelerate the development, demonstration and commercialisation of next generation communications technologies that strengthen the UK’s security, resilience, sustainability and long-term competitiveness.

Projects must align with on of the following ACT Grand Challenge areas:

  • Challenge 1: Secure and Resilient Networks
  • Challenge 2: Sustainable Networks

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this competition, you project must have total project costs and a grant funding request of between £25,000 and £50,000 with total project costs equalling your grant funding request. Projects must start by 1st November and end by 30th April, lasting between three and six months.

Lead Organisation: To lead a project, organisations must be a micro or small business registered in the UK. If your business has been previously funded by Innovate UK, you are not eligible for this competition.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are allowed in this competition and can be from anywhere in the UK. Overseas subcontractors can be used, but you must state why UK subcontractors could not be used in your application.

Number of applications: An eligible business can submit only one application.

Previous applications: Previously submitted applications can be used in this competition.

Grant Exclusions

The following projects will not be funded:

  • Projects that do not meet the competition eligibility criteria or scope
  • Projects purely result in reports, academic papers or similar
  • Projects that do not evidence potential for the proposed innovation to lead to significant and positive economic or social impact
  • Projects that do not evidence value for money

Grant Funding

Innovate UK has allocated up to £500,000 to fund innovation projects. Funding will be in the form of a grant. Total project costs will be 100% funded. If your total project costs are below the minimum £25,000 or exceed the maximum £50,000 your application will be ineligible.

Innovate UK will aim to pay:

  • 50% of your grant request within a month of your agreed project start date
  • a further 40% in arrears, after approval of your 50% claim and the evidence of spend made, submitted with your claim
  • the remaining 10% of the grant 10 to 14 days after Innovate UK approve your final claim

For further information on this competition, please see full details.

Full competition details

Interested in applying for this competition?

Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.