Key Features
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million to develop secure, sustainable or sovereign connectivity technologies that support the UK’s Advanced Connectivity Technologies programme. This funding is from DSIT.
Programme: Innovate UK
Award: Share of up to £25 million
Opens: 9th May 2026
Closes: 14th May 2026
Innovate UK are investing up to £25 million from the ACT R&D programme, this will be funded through DSIT.
The aim of this competition is to accelerate the development, demonstration and commercialisation of next-generation communications technologies that will strengthen the UK’s security, resilience, sustainability and long-term competitiveness.
Projects must focus on one of the following challenge areas:
To be eligible for this competition, projects must have a grant funding request of between £200,000 and £5 million. Projects must start by 1st September 2026 and end by 31st August 2028 with projects lasting between 3-24 months.
Lead organisation: To lead a collaborative project, organisations must be a UK registered small, medium or large business, research and technology organisation, academic institution, charity, not for profit or public sector organisation. To work alone, organisations must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise. If the lead is an RTO it must collaborate with two businesses. Academic institutions cannot work alone.
Project team: To collaborate with the lead, organisations must be a UK registered small, medium or large business, research and technology organisation, academic institution, charity, not for profit or public sector organisation or research and technology organisation.
Non-funded partners: Projects can include organisations that do not claim funding for their own work on the project. Costs must be covered from their own resources and can include UK, EU and other non-UK organisations. Non-UK partners are permitted to carry out project work in their home countries so long as results are exploited outside of the UK.
Subcontractors: Subcontractors are allowed in this competition. Subcontractors 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: As the use of national testbeds is encouraged, organisations can be involved in multiple projects. Should testbeds be involved in more than one application, you must state how all projects can be resourced and delivered if successful.
Previous applications: Previous applications can be used in this competition.
Innovate UK will not fund the following projects:
Innovate UK has allocated up to £25 million to fund innovation projects in this competition. Funding will be in the form of a grant.
Under the Research, Development and Innovation Streamlined Route rules, no more than £3 million per enterprise can be awarded in the form of a grant.
For industrial research and experimental development, you can receive funding for eligible project costs of:
For Industrial research projects
Funding available for your eligible project costs of:
For Experimental development projects which are nearer to market
Funding available for your eligible project costs of:
Research participation
The research organisations undertaking non-economic activity as part of the project can share up to 30% of the total eligible project costs. Consortiums containing more than one research organisation undertaking non-economic activity, this is the maximum shared between them. Of that 30% you can get funding for your eligible project costs of up to:
Eligibility criteria for claiming 80% of FEC funding
Book an appointment to speak to one of our advisors to discuss your eligibility to apply for this Grant Funding opportunity.
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